Invading many aspects of student life, laptops are becoming more and more commonplace on campus. The Computer and Networking Services’ (CNS) laptop fair at the beginning of the semester aimed at getting computers to more people and keeping AUB a modern digital campus.

The most obvious deterrent from laptop purchase is cost. Ranging from $900 to $2,500, laptops can create more problems than they solve. This is not to mention the fact that students are on a much tighter budget than most laptop buyers. These factors, coupled with maintenance and care issues, keep the lips of many students sadly vacant.

To combat this, the laptop fair offered low prices and financing plans. One deal included zero percent interest, another allowed $45 per month payments. “We made sure that the deals at the fair were bellow market price” said Rim Kadi, the CNS administrator involved with the fair. On campus support teams will be available to fix any problems students might have. Furthermore, all deals included a three-year warranty. ensuring reliable service for a student’s stay at AUB.

However, the laptop fair was a geek’s equivalent to a royal baquet, in which all of the princes of the kingdom were present and well dressed – albeit for sale. Dell, IBM, HP and Fujitsu Siemens were all represented, bringing their best products to the table. Laptops came configured for student use, with the most popular and useful software ready to go. CNS provided the students with the best of the market at a student budget.

Planning for this fair started months ago and was interrupted by the recent war. It is an impressive feat that CNS was able to bring together such reputable companies with such incredible prices in the aftermath of such a violent conflict. “Next time we will be more prepared” Kadi said.