Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get Microsoft Office for my Mac?
Yes! If you wish to put Microsoft Office on your Mac, you can purchase the software at http://indwes.e-academy.com for an educational price.
What is iWork?
iWork is basically Macs substitute to Microsoft Office. There are three equivalent programs. Instead of Word, Pages is used, instead of Powerpoint, Keynote, and instead of Excel, Numbers.
Are iWork and Office compatible?
Yes! iWork applications will open every Microsoft Office file, and you can save iWork files as a pdf, office file (word, powerpoint, or excel), rtf, or plain text file as needed for different software. You will be able to post each iWork document on blackboard with ease, and send projects and pages through email, etc. with no problem.
Which program should I purchase--Microsoft Office or iWork? Will I be required to have one over the other?
You can purchase whichever software will serve YOU best. It is completely preference. Some people who have previously used Microsoft Office want to stick with what is familiar and transition with no effort. That is completely fine. However, if you want your machine to work consistently across the board, others prefer to use iWork which will be set up like every other application on your Mac. As the Apple coordinator, I personally prefer iWork and some of it’s creativity components, but either will work properly on the computer. Some departments have their preferences, also. Please contact Rachel Marconi at rachel.marconi@indwes.edu if you have questions.
What is the warranty on the computer?
You are given one year of Applecare parts protection and 90 days of phone service with your computer. From there, you have the option of purchasing the extended coverage Applecare. This would cover your machine for an additional 2 years on top of the given year.
Do I have to purchase Applecare immediately with the machine or do I have time to decide and purchase later? Would you suggest purchasing the extended coverage?
You have one year from your purchase date to decide to purchase Applecare. However, it MUST be within that one year. If it is one year and one day after the purchase date, it would not be honored. For instance, if you purchased on June 15th, you would have until June 15th of the following year to purchase Applecare. It is not a requirement by any mean, but I would suggest purchasing Applecare. We sell reliable machines, but should something happen, it’s nice to know that your computer will be serviced for those 3 years of your college experience.
If something goes wrong with my machine, do I have to send it off for repair?
No. Because we have an Apple Authorized Servicer on campus, IT Express, you don’t have to even leave campus to have your machine repaired. If you are under the Applecare protection your machine can be worked on for free.
Can you fix iPods?
Unfortunately not. Our Apple Authorized Servicer is available for repair to machines, but not for iPods at this point. It could be a possible addition in the future, but if you are experiencing problems with your iPod, the first suggestion is to reset. If that does not work, you can connect it to iTunes and try to restore the iPod. Keep in mind, if you restore, it will set our iPod back to factory settings and remove the content, so make sure the content is backed up elsewhere. If you continue to have problems with the iPod, you need to call Apple directly at 1-800-MY-APPLE or set up an appointment at an Apple retail location. The closest one to campus is at the Keystone Fashion Mall.
Can I run Windows on a Mac?
Absolutely. Each Mac has bootcamp which enables you to choose which operating system you launch your machine in -- Mac OSX or Windows XP or Vista. The purchase of this additional operating system is required, however. You can also run both operating systems at the same time by using VMWare Fusion or Parallels.