Tablet PC

Tablet PC information for Fall 2011

Students are required to personally purchase a tablet PC from a vendor of their choice, based on specified requirements and recommendations. The recommended tablet for Fall 2011 is the Lenovo ThinkPad X220T. The recommended tablet fulfills all hardware specifications set by Speed School.

The Academic Technology Committee has recommended the new Lenovo X220 Tablet for Fall 2011.

Lenovo has partnered with UofL to offer two configurations for Speed School students at a significant discount. The Standard Model ThinkPad X220T is available at a cost of $1,090 plus tax (26% savings).  The Select Model ThinkPad X220T is $1,409 plus tax.

Orders are NOW being accepted through iTech Xpress or Lenovo UofL portal.

If a tablet is purchased from iTech Xpress, a loaner tablet will be provided for tablets which need repair.

Click here to learn more about the features of both the standard model and the select model.

J. B. Speed School of Engineering's Tablet PC Program began in Spring 2006 when the faculty passed a resolution that all freshman engineering students would be required to have a tablet PC for use in Speed School classes. The requirement went into effect Fall 2007. In Fall 2010, the tablet PC requirement is extended to include all Speed School undergraduate students. Non-Speed School students taking a Speed School course should check the online Schedule of Courses to see if a tablet PC is required for the course - for example, all ENGR 100 and 200 level courses require a tablet.

Tablets ordered now should be delivered in approximately 4 weeks; tablets must be ordered by July 15 to be delivered by August 15. Orders placed after July 15 may not be delivered until after the start of school. This would be a problem since tablets are used in Speed School classes from the very beginning - have a tablet before school starts. Tablets will be delivered to the address you provide when ordering.

Although all incoming students must have a tablet PC, it is not required that it be purchased through iTech Xpress. Students may choose another vendor or model, but it must be a "tablet" meeting requirements. Tablets purchased elsewhere will also need to be serviced elsewhere, and are not eligible for a loaner tablet while under repair.  Be mindful that models purchased through retail outlets may have only a one-year standard warranty with no accident protection. Also, some tablets may also have only a touchscreen and not be equipped with the more desirable active digitizer.

Required software is available to all Speed School students via a $25 technology fee, assessed each semester to all enrolled Speed School students. Software for the fall semester 2011 is now available and can be downloaded after registering for the fall. This software includes Microsoft Office, Windows 7 operating system upgrades, and other technical software.

If you experience trouble maintaining wireless connection, please double check to make sure you have the latest driver from Intel.

Details on the specific requirements and software are presented on this website and can be accessed from the menu links.  However, they are not necessary unless plans are to purchase a tablet different from the one recommended. Questions concerning the program may be addressed to Associate Dean Mike Day at day@louisville.edu and Frequently Asked Questions will be answered at FAQ.