What may be an expensive dream is now an affordable reality aslaptop computers are more accessible to Sacramento Statestudents.

Major computer companies are now giving discounts to students tobuy one of their very own.

“Apple gives a $100-200 discount for students,” sayssenior Bryan Yee, a clerk at the Hornet Bookstore. “Dell alsogives a five to eight percent discount for students.”

Companies like Apple, Dell and Gateway have payment plans forcollege students.

The prospective buyer must make the purchase through thecompanies website.

All three companies are linked to the Hornet Bookstore websiteat www.foundation.csus.edu/ bookstore.

Students who do not want to buy a laptop can now borrow a Delllaptop computer from the Library Media Center.

For four hours a registered Sac State student who is in goodstanding and has no library holds can use one of thelibrary’s laptops.

“The computer can’t leave the library,” saidRubby Hampton a supervisor of media operations in the Library MediaCenter. “It’s basically on an honor system.”

There are no theft detection devices attached to the laptop butif students do not return the laptop to the Media Center at the endof the four-hour period a $2,000 fine is immediately imposed on thestudent.

“We think that will do the job,” Hampton said.

The library currently owns three Dell laptops that are availablefor student use. Since the program started at the beginning of thefall semester it has been well used by the students, Hamptonsaid.

Students can use the borrowed computers to type reports, browsethe Internet and download information from the Internet to a floppydisk.

After each use all activity from the previous user iserased.

The library media center plans to continue the program nextsemester.