Located across from the bookstore on the lower level of the Carmichael Student Center sits a small storefront packed to the brim with tech. A table of Macbooks to play with sits just feet from the entrance, and calculators and phone accessories line the walls. OwlTEC may be on the small side, but it serves as Kennesaw State’s hub for all your technological needs.
Technology
When I walked into OwlTEC for the first time on a Saturday morning, I was greeted by the associates while they worked with a couple of other students. I looked around the small store and noticed just how much variety they have in their products. They offer all kinds of Apple products: Macbooks, Beats headphones, iPads, even the latest Apple Watch. However, if you’re more of a Microsoft person, they are pretty limited. They only offer a couple of Dell laptops and the Microsoft Surface. However, they do offer a variety of accessories: keyboards, mice, and headphones. They also have a small wall dedicated to calculators, so you never have to go without a graphing calculator for your math classes. Since OwlTEC is technically part of the Kennesaw State Bookstore, you are able to get your tech with financial aid at the beginning of each semester. Or you can use K-cash on your Talon card anytime.
Protection Plans
On top of selling tech, OwlTEC also offers protection plans for your devices via Safeware. The protection plans are specifically designed with the college student in mind. They offer anywhere between 1-4 years of servicing. The plans cover any kind of manufacturing defects, system failure from normal use. They even cover handling damages including screen cracking and liquid spills. Each plan also includes one year of theft protection, so if your device gets stolen from a secure area, Safeware will replace the device for you. It is recommended that you use the device manufacturer’s warranty if it applies. That said, if you purchase a used device or the damage isn’t covered in the warranty, Safeware can be extremely useful. Safeware is also considerably better than AppleCare+ since it offers an extra year of coverage, a $0 deductible, and no limit on the number of claims you can file. If you decide against a protection plan, OwlTEC does offer servicing. OwlTEC offers virus removal for PCs, data transfer, battery replacements, and more.
Chalk & Wire Software
OwlTEC offers Chalk & Wire software, a program that offers a unique and collaborative learning experience between faculty and students. It helps to create academic and professional portfolios and create interactive and user-friendly digital assignments. It also offers a streamlined way to give feedback on projects. Chalk & Wire is required for all teacher education candidates, so if you’re interested in teaching it is certainly something worth looking into.
Though it is small and somewhat limited in its products, OwlTEC is a great resource for any tech needs you may have that UITS may fall short on. It is incredibly useful if you have Apple products or you were thinking of getting a Mac. It’s also perfect for if you were wanting to get a laptop for school but have little to no idea where to start. No matter what your situation may be tech-wise, OwlTEC will have something to offer you.
For more information on some of the best technologies for the college students, read our article, “The Latest Cell Phones from MWC”.