The CSL will coordinate purchases of any computing equipment and accessories, parts and software for CS Faculty, Staff and Students using University funds (only). Repairs for Department-owned computers will also be coordinated.

The CSL must follow University and State purchasing rules. In rare situations, these rules make purchasing specific products or purchases from specific vendors difficult.

Any order over $5,000 will require a purchase order, which adds at least two weeks to the purchasing cylce.

If you have any purchasing questions, please contact lab@cs.wisc.edu

Ordering CSL Standard Workstation Configurations

The CSL maintains one or more current "standard" workstation configurations that are designed to be cost-effective, meet most research needs, and allow us to efficiently support and maintain the computing equipment of the Department. If the standard configurations do not meet your needs, please contact the lab and we will work with you to order the equipment that meets your needs and that we can support (as appropriate/necessary).

To order a CSL Standard workstation, please use the web form at https://www-auth.cs.wisc.edu/order/

Ordering a Monitor

The CSL maintains a list of current recommended monitors. These can be ordered using the web form at https://www-auth.cs.wisc.edu/order/

If you would like to order a different monitor, please contact the CSL with the model number, and we will order it for you from a reliable vendor at the best price we can get.

Ordering a laptop or other non-standard computers

The CSL does not maintain a list of recommended laptops, because laptop choices are very personal, and laptop models change often.

The three most common laptop brands used in the CS Department are Apple, Lenovo (thinkpad) and Dell. Please follow the instructions below for those brands:

Ordering an Apple laptop or workstation:

Standard Configurations:

If a standard configuration fits your needs, provide the Item Number from the DoIT Techstore for the laptop and any accessories. The item number starts with a "C". Make sure that you are using the "department" store, not the personal store, as prices and offerings can be different.

Send mail to lab@cs.wisc.edu with the item numbers, and a UW fund to charge, and we'll order it.

Custom Configurations

To order an Apple custom configuration follow the instructions at the DoIT Techstore

1. When you get to the "Review your proposal" screen, save a copy of the page with all the details of your configuration
2. Submit a request to lab@cs.wisc.edu with the fund to charge and a copy of the configuration
3. On the "proposal information screen" add a comment to contact lab@cs.wisc.edu for payment. Please also provide the CSL # of the request you have opened with us about the purchase

DoIT will then contact us for payment, and submit the order to Apple

Lenovo (Thinkpad) orders

The simplest way to to order a lenovo laptop is to pick a pre-configured model, or to specify which type of thinkpad you want (i.e., "T61", "X29") and what features.

The following instructions are out of date, and may not work. If you need a custom configured thinkpad, please contact the lab and we will attempt to get updated instructions from Lenovo:

1. Go to https://www.directlenovo.com/customer
2. Create an account if you do not already have one, using a cs.wisc.edu or wisc.edu email address. Our account number is 2030344. That account will get UW pricing.
3. Configure a laptop and any lenovo accessories that you want to purchase
4. Go through the checkout process including "Add to Cart". At the bottom of the page will be a link to "Save Cart" Use that link to save the cart. Please use a meaningful cart name -- for example, include your name in the cart name.
5. Go to your saved cards, and "Move/Copy" the cart to David Parter's saved carts ("David Parter" in the pull-down menu).
6. Send email to lab@cs.wisc.edu asking us to purchased the saved cart. Please provide the cart name and UW fund number.
7. If you want any non-lenovo accessories, include that information (manufacturer/model number) in the same mail message, so that we can verify that the accessories we order will work with the laptop we order.

We will place the order and let you know when it arrives. You will be responsible for installing and customizing any software that you need.

Ordering a Dell laptop or special configuration

Buying from dell is somewhat tricky.

1. If you have not already done so, please create a request in the lab's request tracking system. To create a request, send email to lab@cs.wisc.edu with a meaningful subject (e.g., "Dell server for megatron project"). You will recieve an auto-reply message that contains the CSL tracking number (the "CSL number")
2. Go to http://snipurl.com/1swrv (this is shortened from a long complicated Dell url)
3. Navigate/browse the Dell web site, and add the laptop of your choice to your cart
4. Save the cart as an E-quote
   • Please give a meaningful name. If you can, include the CSL # in the description or name
5. Dell will send you email about the saved quote. Please forward that to lab@cs.wisc.edu with purchasing instructions and funding information
6. If you want any non-Dell accessories, include that information (manufacturer/model number) in the same mail message, so that we can verify that the accessories we order will work with the laptop we order.

We will retrieve the saved e-quote and to make the purchase.