Books and Computers
The most convenient way to get your books!
URI Bookstore's Textbook Box & Carry Program is a best way to start your first semester off right. Your textbooks will be conveniently boxed ahead of time and delivered to your residence hall [held in a central distribution room at each residence hall] or if you are a commuter, your box will be ready to be picked up in the Memorial Union Building [Atrium room 2nd floor].
Here is how Box & Carry works. During the second week of August, the URI Bookstore downloads fall class schedules for those students who have registered for the program. The bookstore gathers all required textbooks in-stock in late August, charges them to a short-term bookstore charge account at the Bookstore and sends a post card to your home with a pick up number and pick up location. If you live on campus in one of the Residence Halls, your box of books will be directly delivered to your residence hall [a central distribution room in each residence hall] where you will pick-up your box on the day you move in. If you live off-campus, your box will be available for pick up in the Memorial Union building, signs will direct you to the Atrium room[s] on the second floor.
You may register for this program during Orientation, or online at http://www.bookstore.uri.edu. Go to the bookstore web page and click the “Box&Carry” icon and follow the directions to register. Deadline to register by is August 15th. However, it is best to register during Orientation.
When registering for this convenient program, students may select a preference for new or used books. Where selected, used books will be added to your order if available, otherwise new books will be substituted. Used textbooks cost 25% less than new. Generally, the condition of our used books is very good.
The short-term bookstore charge account at the bookstore gives students an easy way to:
- Defer payment until October. Interest free.
- Charge missing books arriving too late to add to the initial box.
- Return books for full credit in the first 2 weeks of the semester
- Charge additional books to your account .
A separate bookstore bill will be mailed at the end of September with full payment due to the Bookstore by October 24th. A $20 service fee will be billed to your account in the fall program and covers one academic year. The service fee will be offset by a number of coupons to be used at the URI Bookstore in your box.
The URI Bookstore fills nearly 8,000 orders in this program each year. 90% of freshmen participate in the program and many students continue to use it for their entire academic career. We encourage freshmen to register during Orientation in June. We recommend students budget $400 per semester for their freshman year textbooks.
For more information about Box & Carry, please visit http://www.bookstore.uri.edu.
RAM Computers – your University Computer Store.
Whether you’re buying a new computer for college or plan on bringing an existing machine from home, we have you covered.
Buying a Computer? Get a Rhody Ready Computer
This comprehensive program enables new students to buy fully configured, URI supported computers and have them set up, tested and ready to go in their residence hall room before they arrive on campus in September. Most families make their decision to buy a Rhody Ready system during or shortly after orientation in June. We encourage families to wait to buy a computer for their student until after June 1 as URI configurations and pricing are posted on the RAM Computer Store web site at that time.
Every year about 1,000 freshmen families participate in this part of the RAM Computers program. With campus wide wireless networking and plummeting prices, laptops for several years have been the most popular choice. All systems come at academically discounted prices and include a full 3-year warranty and required software. We think the No Touch Warranty, included with each system, rounds out the program perfectly. A call to RAM Computers in the Memorial Union means you don’t have to touch your computer problem again. They will dispatch a service technician to your room until 9:00 p.m. and solve any hardware or software issue for you. If a hardware failure occurs which needs to be corrected in the RAM Computers service department, students will be lent a replacement machine to keep them up and running.
Supported systems are from Apple, Dell, HP and IBM/Lenovo. RAM Computers handles all warranty repairs for Rhody Ready Computers through their service center in the student union.
For additional protection, 95% of computer buyers purchase accidental damage warranties. This covers things like spills, drops or worse and costs about $1 per week for 3 years of coverage. If you are one of the many unlucky families who face this issue, you’ll be glad you had it.
Bringing an existing computer from home? RAMCare is right for you.
RAM Computers offers RAMCare coverage for computers that students bring to URI from home. For a $149 annual fee RAM Computers will take care of any hardware or software problems you experience and include the in-room service just like that enjoyed by Rhody Ready customers. As long as your computer has an active manufacturers warranty there are no additional charges for any parts or labor and if your computer is in service for a hardware repair they’ll lend you a replacement to keep you up and running. If your computer no longer has a manufacturer’s warranty, you can still cover it with the benefits of RAMCare but you’ll be responsible for the cost of replacement parts should you experience a hardware failure. If you have an out of warranty failure RAM Computers will continue to lend you a replacement for up to one month to give you time to decide whether to repair or replace your computer.
For more information on Rhody Ready Computers or RAMCare.
Please visit RAM Computers here or call the store at 401.874.2679
