IT equipment
IT equipment available for loan
We provide IT equipment for loan, such as portable screens and projectors, audience response handsets, and microphones and speakers
- To make a booking, sign in to the equipment loan portal with your Essex IT account.
- Once your loan has been confirmed visit to The Media Centre (Colchester Campus) to collect your equipment.
Support for moving IT equipment
We provide technical support when you need to move IT equipment, for example if you are moving offices.
We require at least two weeks notice and requests must be approved by your line manager.
You may not need to book if your move has already been approved by the The Space Management Group (SMG) or if your move is part of the SWAE project. Please check with your line manager before booking a move.
Purchasing IT equipment
Digital Innovation and Technology Services (DITS) provide an IT purchasing service for the University.
Academic departments and professional service sections are bound to purchase IT equipment through us, except where there is explicit authorisation from DITS to purchase directly.
Computer hardware and accessories
- Browse our product catalogue (.pdf)
- Complete an order request form (.xls) and email it to it.purchasing@essex.ac.uk
To order equipment under the Centrally Funded Devices scheme, sign in to the CFD portal with your Essex IT acccount (restricted to Voucher Holders only).
Software
Please check the Software Hub before submitting a new software request form.
We require at least 4 weeks’ notice from date of purchase to the software being made available. Where possible, all purchased software will be made available on the Software Hub.
Mobile phones
- Browse our mobile phone catalogue (.pdf)
- Complete the mobile phone order request form (.xls) and email it to it.purchasing@essex.ac.uk
Also see our Mobile Communication Device Policy (.pdf)
Information about the Centrally Funded Devices (CFD) scheme
Under the Centrally Funded Devices scheme, participating departments and sections can exchange electronic CFD Vouchers to obtain standard computer equipment at no direct charge.
CFD Voucher holders and allocations
View CFD Voucher holders and allocations (.pdf)
Voucher Holders
Each department or section must nominate a CFD Voucher Holder. This is the person who is responsible for receiving and administering the CFD Vouchers for their department or section. They will also have access to the CFD online purchasing portal.
Allocation
CFD Vouchers are allocated on an annual basis, usually around July or August The number of vouchers you get is based on the number of full time staff (FTE) in the department or section.
CFD Vouchers can only be used in the year they are allocated for - they cannot be used once they expire.
Equipment available to purchase
Standard equipment
eVouchers can be used to obtain standard Windows desktop or laptop computers from our product catalogue at no direct charge– just look for the blue CFD Voucher logo.
PC CFD Vouchers can be used to purchase laptops but this would incur a top-up charge. Laptop CFD Vouchers can be used to purchase PCs however there is no refund for the difference in price.
Non-standard or additional equipment
CFD Vouchers can also be topped-up with additional funds via a cost code to obtain higher specification Windows computers, laptops and Apple Mac computers.
Apple Macs
If you need to order a Mac you should talk to your Voucher Holder and ask them for their authorisation. If they agree they will need to submit a CFD Voucher and supply a cost code for the extra cost that will be incurred.
- Apple units supplied from our distributors stock have an estimated delivery of 7 working days;
- Apple units requiring Apple customisation have an estimated delivery of 15 working days.
Software
Microsoft Windows and Office will be installed on your computer for free under the Microsoft Campus Agreement. Other software packages are free to download from our software catalogue. Most Adobe products and Microsoft Visio are Premium Services and will incur a cost and require a cost code.
Purchase deadlines
The deadline for ordering IT Equipment, both CFD and premium products (non-CFD orders), is 31 May of the financial year it is to be paid in.
Warranty and support
This warranty applies to DITS-supplied equipment only
Support and warranty repairs are provided free of charge for the following equipment:
- Desktop computers under 5 years old
- Laptop computers under 4 years old
- Monitors - we will replace any broken monitor that has been provided through the CFD scheme in the last five years free of charge. Replacements for monitors that fall outside of this may be chargeable.
Equipment within warranty but is beyond economic repair will be replaced on a like for like basis free of charge.
All equipment beyond its expected life, will not receive any support from DITS, and will be securely disposed of by us under the WEEE directive.
