Technology

List of 9 frequently asked questions.

• What type of laptop is recommended for Masters coursework?

  The Masters School offers special discount pricing for hardware as well as software. Please contact our ServiceDesk at support@mastersny.org before purchasing your device(s) to take advantage of the School-provided discounts.
  
  Please read through each of the four laptop options below and choose the best option for your student(s).  If you would like to discuss your students' needs to ensure that you choose the proper device, please email the Director of Technology, Bhavin Patel to schedule a consultation via phone or Zoom.
  
  General Use Apple Laptop (Upper and Middle School):  The Apple MacBook Air. Lightweight and fast, the MacBook Air is the best Mac option for the majority of computing tasks, like email, browsing the web, word processing, etc.  You can purchase new Apple products with a discount using the Apple education pricing discount from this website: https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop
  
  
  General Use Windows Laptop (Upper and Middle School): The 14in. Lenovo Thinkpad T14. Larger display and slightly lighter than a MacBook Air, and is also customizable to your needs.  For discounts on Lenovo products, please email Support@MastersNY.org
  
  IEC/Computer Science (Upper School): Lenovo Legion Y740 with Intel i7 proc, 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD drive, and an NVIDIA graphics card.
  
  Visual Arts (Upper School): Apple MacBook Pro.  There are various sizes and specs to this model.  You may choose the one that best suits your needs.  You can purchase new Apple products with a discount using the Apple education pricing discount from this website: https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop
  
  All new laptops should be purchased with a minimum of 8GB of RAM and nothing smaller than a 256GB Solid State Drive (16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD are recommended).
  
  We strongly recommend purchasing a warranty: Apple Limited Warranty* and AppleCare+ or extended 3-4 year on Windows laptops.  Opting in for the accidental damage protection is also strongly recommended.
  
  Chromebooks are supported on the Masters network but not recommended due to their limited functionality with application support, specifically with Microsoft Office products and Zoom Video Conferencing (for remote learning). 
  
  For more information or questions, please email the Director of Technology, Bhavin Patel.

• Will The Masters School Technology Department provide support for students' personal devices?

  The Technology Department provides basic troubleshooting and triage for student laptops and devices which prevent the completion of academic work. Depending on the hardware model, the Technology Department can also assist with certified-hardware repairs for student laptops and devices.

• What software is recommended for parental controls on student devices?

  1. Apple Parental Controls: For the majority of parents and students, this will be the most popular way of managing their kid’s devices.  It may be cumbersome to setup and it requires time and patience to go through the process, but it allows you to stay in the Apple platform for products.  It is very detailed and does a great job of enforcing restrictions.  All of the step-by-step instructions can be found from the link above.
  

   
  2. Google Family Link: This is a great tool for parents and kids who use Android devices and are on Chromebooks (it also works for Apple iOS).  It is free and gives the parents insight into how their kids are using their devices.  It can also block apps, such as Messages.  This would have to be done with a personal Google account.  The School’s account cannot be managed by Family Link.

   
  3. For paid solutions that are very robust, we recommend a subscriptions to the Bark or Qustodio apps.  Free trial versions are available for both apps and we recommend the test drive before purchasing the subscription.  These apps can provide all of the data and most of the restrictions that parents look for and it covers internet, phone calls/texting, and social media platforms.  These are the all in one solutions that most parents need to make managing kid’s devices easy.  There are many apps that will provide similar functionality on the market and we encourage parents to try them in order find the best fit for your family's needs.
  
  For more information on this topic, please email our Director of Technology Bhavin Patel.

• Does the school provide me with a copy of the Microsoft Office Suite for my personal laptop?

  The Masters School offers a significantly discounted price of $15 for purchasing legal copies of the Microsoft Office Suite for Windows and Apple computers. Purchasing the standalone version of the Office suite is recommended, although you may obtain a free subscription to Office 365 online through the school as well. For information on how to purchase Microsoft Office through Masters, please contact the Masters SeviceDesk at support@mastersny.org.

• Is printing, copying and scanning available for students 

  on campus?

  Yes! The Library and the Fonseca Center currently have enterprise multifunction copiers that can print, scan, and make copies. Students can submit print jobs to these copiers from any device on campus while connected to the “Masters” wireless network, and use their ID cards to release these jobs for printing at their convenience.  Printers are also available in our multimedia labs.

• Can students print to school printers from personal laptops?

  Yes. Students can print from any Windows, Apple, iOS, or Android device.

• Do students have access to color printers?

  Yes. Several color printers are available in the multimedia labs across campus.

• Can boarding students purchase a printer for their dorm room?

  Yes. Please keep in mind that students are not able to connect wireless printers to the “Masters” wireless network. Students will need a USB cable to connect any purchased printers to their personal computers.

• How do I contact the Masters ServiceDesk?

  Email ServiceDesk@MastersNY.org from a Masters email address, or Support@MastersNY.org from a non-Masters email  address.
  
  You may also reach the ServiceDesk by calling (914) 479-6500 during business hours (M-F, 7:30am - 4:30pm EST, USA)
  
  Need to borrow a computer or other tech equipment for the day? Call, email, or stop by our office located in Morris Hall Room 106!