What is Projekt Neptun?

We are committed to providing students with the best possible device to ensure that the laptop is a helpful tool over a long period of time - preferably throughout their entire studies. It is also important to us to support our customers beyond the purchase in order to be able to provide fast, inexpensive and effective help should problems with a Neptun laptop occur.

The story behind

Projekt Neptun was launched in 2001 at ETH Zurich as part of the ETH World Initiative with the aforementioned goal: To provide ETHZ students with mobile computers of the highest quality at a price that is affordable for students. For this purpose, an evaluation and test procedure was developed, which examined in detail both the hardware and the support and warranty services of the manufacturers.

After successful establishment within ETH Zurich, the project was successively opened to all universities in Switzerland between 2005 and 2007. The offer was adapted in such a way that, as far as possible, students from all courses of study, including non-technical ones, could find a device that met their requirements.

Since the opening of sales to all universities meant that distribution by ETH Zurich was no longer justifiable, a spin-off took place in 2011. With VSETH in league, Dominik Candreia and Lisa von Boehmer, both long-time project collaborators, founded Stonepine Labs GmbH. The non-profit commitment was maintained despite the founding of the GmbH, and the project was continued with a handful of employees to cover costs for the benefit of the students. In May 2016, Projekt Neptun was finally integrated into the non-profit foundation "Stiftung Studenten-Discount" (SSD).

The concept

The recommended hardware can be ordered during two sales periods, so called "Waves" a year, which open for four weeks each at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. In 2021, the two Waves, which are based on the semester dates of the universities, were supplemented by a third BYOD Wave. This is aimed exclusively at upper secondary school students and allows them to purchase a laptop or tablet in June/July, in time for the start of the new school year.

The sale takes place exclusively online, against prepayment. Due to the restriction to time-limited sales periods, we are able to achieve very high discounts on the offered hardware. Also, the availability of the offered models in the corresponding configuration is guaranteed - something that is usually not feasible with year-round sales. Windows devices can optionally be ordered with a US keyboard. Where available, we offer a Linux version, or devices without a pre-installed operating system (DOS).

Since the recommended devices can only be ordered online, our team visits a large number of universities throughout Switzerland during the sales Waves. On our Demo Day tour, the devices are presented and students have the opportunity to ask questions or get advice. We also operate a showroom at the ETHZ Campus Hönggerberg. If both are too far away for you, you can use our online consultation options.

Differences to other student offers

In contrast to other offers for students, our focus is on the most comprehensive service possible, which, in addition to the selection of high-quality equipment and direct price negotiations with manufacturers, includes advice before the purchase, satisfactory processing of the order by our sales partners, but also support for hardware problems after the purchase.