New PC laptop features
About this article
This article highlights major changes and new features introduced by the latest laptop models offered through the E-Warrior Digital Life and Learning Program. It is intended for all students and employees who are scheduled to exchange their laptops during summer 2016 or during the 2016-2017 academic year.
This year's laptops: What's new? (HP Elitebook 840 G3)
No internal CD-DVD drive
This is the third year that WSU is offering standard laptop models without an internal, optical CD-DVD drive. Laptop manufacturers have been moving away from optical drives for the past few years. Shedding the optical drive allows the laptop to be thinner and lighter, increases battery life, and eliminates numerous points of mechanical failure. This is also in line with recent changes in media distribution. Music, movies, and software are no longer being distributed via CD-DVD and cloud services and large-capacity external drives are replacing CDs for file storage. If you still rely on an optical drive, you can:
- Purchase an external CD-DVD drive
- Check out an external CD-DVD drive from the Technical Support Center (AskTech@winona.edu], 507-457-5240, Somsen Hall 207)
- Find your media online (e.g., Netflix, YouTube, or the Krueger Library's Films on Demand)
- Consult with TLT (tlt@winona.edu) on the possible conversion of your CD-DVD-based media to an online format
256 GB solid state drive
This is the third year that WSU is offering standard laptop models with a solid state drive (SSD) instead of a standard, mechanical hard drive. SSDs are roughly four times faster than traditional drives, resulting in quicker start-up, disk writing, and application performance. Note that the size of this year's drives are 256 GB. Take a look at how much hard drive space you are using now to store your data on your laptop, particularly multimedia files (e.g., music, video) and any large applications (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, games). If you have more than 256 GB of personal data and applications on your laptop now and have concerns about storage, please contact the Technical Support Center (TechSupport@winona.edu, 507-457-5240, Somsen Hall 207).
USB 3.0 ports
Both standard laptop models come equipped with USB 3.0 ports that can transfer data up to 5 GB/sec. By comparison, the older USB 2.0 ports achieved speeds up to 480 MB/sec. USB 3.0 ports are backwards compatible and will accommodate older devices using the USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 standard. You should notice an increase in data transfer speed when you use your external hard drive or flash drive, particularly if that drive is designed to use USB 3.0. If you are in the market for an external drive, make sure you get one that takes advantage of USB 3.0.
Thinner and lighter
Largely because the mechanical drives have been eliminated, the new laptop models are over a pound lighter than the models we distributed three years ago. That's a lot less weight in your backpack.
Touch-sensitive screen
The screen on the new HP EliteBook is touch-sensitive. The screen responds to your finger and special HP Pen (i.e. optional component) that can be purchased at the Bookstore or Technical Support Center (Somsen 207) when you pick up your new device.
Video card
Those of you exchanging old laptops should experience cleaner, faster video performance, something that will be particularly noticeable when watching movies and using graphics-intensive applications.
New docking station
If you purchased an HP docking station for your HP 840, it is not compatible with your new HP EliteBook X360. The new dock runs on the powerful USB-C port. WSU employees can purchase a docking station through the Technical Support Center (Somsen Hall 207) for approximately $105.
What's new with software?
Default Browser
The default browser is set to Chrome this year. This means that if you click on a link inside an email or document it will open up in Chrome. Last year the default was Internet Explorer (IE). You can change your default browser by typing 'default programs' at the start menu. Select Set Your Default Programs and then choose the browser you set as default.
Windows 10 operating system (HP EliteBook 840 G3 PC)
Office 2016
The HP EliteBook comes with Microsoft Office 2016 pre-installed. Lync (Skype for Business) is still at 2013 so that it continues to work with our phone system.
Office 365
Office 365 also has Office Web Apps, cloud-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
- Up and Running with Office 365 (Lynda.com video)
StarID
Currently your StarID and password is used to access student e-services and the class management system including registration, grades and transcripts, financial aid, housing, and bill payment. Your WSU ID and password is currently used to access WSU Email, WSU wireless, MyWSU campus portal, OneDrive for Business, class storage, printing, etc. On August 8, you will access all these resources using your StarID and password.