Print and Graphic Media Student Resources

The following supplies are needed for many courses:

• A portable hard drive, and at least two “thumb” drives (flash media drives): these are discussed below.
• Notebooks and 3-ring binders for notes and materials.

These items are available at the RIT Bookstore, the RIT Digital Den, and many other retailers including the RIT Bookstore, the RIT Digital Den, and many other retailers including office supply stores, discount stores, and on-line.

Please note: In addition to these supplies, there will be additional books and supplies required each semester by individual instructors for specific classes. For budgeting purposes, $300.00 is a typical cost for books and supplies for most semesters.

Students are encouraged to select recommended items that are most relevant to their specific interests and that fit within their individual budget limitations. Prices and specifications listed are current as of August, 2021. As these computer and software products are frequently updated, it is likely that specifications and pricing could change by the time the incoming class purchases materials, so students are advised to consider these as guideline recommendations only.

COMPUTER
Although Department of Graphic Media Science and Technology students have access to fully equipped computer laboratories outfitted with high-end Apple computers, a Macintosh or Windows-based personal computer outfitted with the appropriate software will allow students to compete necessary course work away from the laboratories: in the dormitories, off-campus or at home. The recommended specific system chosen will ultimately be based on budget considerations and a desire for portability. To best meet the demands of the required software it is recommend that students purchase a system with as much RAM and storage (hard drive space) as the budget will allow. The following information is provided to guide in making a selection here.

APPLE COMPUTERS

There are three ways to purchase Apple products from RIT Digital Den:
1) in person
2) by phone (585) 424-6766 x204
3) online at http://www.rit.edu/fa/digitalden/or directly from Apple’s RIT store: http://store.apple.com/us_edu_14393/
 

iMac or iMac Pro 21.5" – 27" (All-in-one best value desktop)
Estimated Price*: $1249.00 – $4,999.00+

MacBook Pro 13" or 16” (Best portable, but more expensive)
Estimated Price*: $1299.00 – $2799.00+

Mac Pro (Best desktop for both power and expandability, only recommended for experienced power users)
Estimated Price* (computer only, monitor purchased separately): $5999.00+

APPLECARE (*HIGHLY suggested for any Apple Product)
Price: $169 for iMacs, $299 for desktops, $379 for MacBook Pros

The AppleCare Protection Plan extends your built-in hardware service and 90-day telephone support to three full years from the purchase date of your new Apple product. This comprehensive plan includes telephone support, Apple-certified repairs, web-based support resources, and powerful diagnostic tools — all for one economical price. It is HIGHLY recommended for laptops/portables.

WINDOWS-BASED COMPUTERS

Listed below are comparable PC computers. We recommend a Dell with the following minimum specifications, and setup of Apple-Hardware-based for most of the GMST environment. The objective is explore those product options and providing education pricing through

http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/6099/campaigns/welcome-to-dell-university

Desktop PC – Example: Dell Inspiron 27 7000 Series Touch Screen Desktop
Estimated Price: $1,508*

Notebooks – Example: XPS 15 2-in-1 Laptop
Estimated Price: $1,449 - 1,999*
*We always highly recommend purchasing the 3-year warranty on parts and service (listed as 3 Year Mail-In Service). Prices are included in the estimates above.

You may also want to consider BOXX at www.boxxtech.com for alternative PC solutions. They are a bit more expensive than Dell, but we have installed them with great success and reliability in many of our PC labs.
*Note: All prices are subject to change and offered as a starting point. Contact the RIT Digital Den or go to www.store.apple.com or www.dell.com for the latest prices. Be sure to reference the student /education pricing.  Available extended warranties are recommended

COMPUTER SECURITY:
Students are advised to invest in a laptop lock (approximately $40.00), available at the RIT Digital Den, most computer stores, and on-line. Students are advised to never leave their laptops unsecured.

Remotely accessible server storage is available for temporarily moving files through the RIT network. USB “thumb” drives can be used for smaller, portable needs. It is recommended that students consider a 1-2 TB portable USB drive for larger projects and data backup, and for more efficient portability between laboratories and other environments. Students are encouraged to save their work in multiple locations: many of the classes require cumulative projects throughout the term and hardware failures can wipe out hours of work.

USB Flash Drives:
Prices on these small storage devices, often called “thumb drives,” range from $10 to $160 depending on storage capacity. Students should consider purchasing two such drives.

External/Portable Hard Drives:
1 – 2 TB Drives are available from companies such as LaCie and Western Digital, among others. Prices start at around $75.00, and these are available at RIT’s Digital Den, computer stores, office supply stores, and on-line. Drives with USB 3.0 connectivity are recommended.

Secure Digital (“SD”) cards:
Department of Graphic Media Science and Technology students can sign digital cameras for course assignments, most of these require SD storage cards. These cards cost around $30.00; it is recommend that students have their own SD card.

Many students use tablets such as the iPad and Galaxy Tab for a variety of applications both in and out of the classroom. When specific class assignments call for a tablet, the department offers them to check out for the purposes of the specific assignment. As with other computer requirements, students should consider solutions with the highest capacity their budgets allow.

As an accompaniment to any equipment purchase, students are strongly encouraged to acquire insurance for their personal gear and any equipment that they check out from the RIT equipment “Cage”. To learn more about student insurance programs, please see information about Student Insurance and www.collegestudentinsurance.com. A $6,000.00 limit is advised for first year students. If you would like additional suggestions for other IT-related equipment, please contact Joel Yates.

For most courses in the Department of Graphic Media Science and Technology, Microsoft Office Suite (Office 365 University) and Adobe Creative Cloud are the software products that are extensively used. These products are available at student-discounted pricing at RIT’s Digital Den.

Microsoft products, including Project, Visio, Operating Systems, and more...

Azure Dev Tools for Teaching, formerly MSDNAA, can be found at https://azureforeducation.microsoft.com/devtools for students interested in downloading any software provided to RIT by our partnership with Microsoft.

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