<p>A question for the current/recent Columbia alums: which type of computer is most widely used on campus --- Macs or PCs? What type of computers, if any, are available for student use (like in the library, computer labs, etc)? Do you get better support for one vs the other? Is there someplace on campus with computers with high end/professional video editing capabilities? If so, what program(s) are used?</p>
<p>Related question: is the entire campus wireless accessible? Thanks!</p>
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<p>Obviously PC is significantly more widely used. Mac has something like a 5% market share; however, Macs show up on college campi way more than that. No reason not to get a Mac if that’s your thing because less people use it.</p>
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<p>As far as I know, and I could be wrong, there aren’t public Macs. The vast majority of the public computers are PCs, with some of the public computers in specialized labs (comp sci, engineering graphics, etc.) being Unix/Linux machines.</p>
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<p>Doesn’t matter. The only tech support you need from Columbia – and the only support they’ll give you – relates to getting your computer hooked up to the Columbia network. That’s pretty simple, and CUIT will help you get online if you have a problem. CUIT isn’t in the business of giving you free technical support if your computer crashes; in such case, you’ll have to deal with the normal channels.</p>
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<p>There definitely exist computers on campus that have such software (e.g., a genomics professor I had uses it in connection with his research), but I’m not aware of any standard computer labs that have it. Of course, I don’t know what software is installed on every single lab computer.</p>
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<p>No. Basically, none of the dorms are:</p>
<p>[Wireless</a> Coverage Map](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/acis/networks/coveragemap.html]Wireless”>http://www.columbia.edu/acis/networks/coveragemap.html)</p>
<p>“As far as I know, and I could be wrong, there aren’t public Macs. The vast majority of the public computers are PCs, with some of the public computers in specialized labs (comp sci, engineering graphics, etc.) being Unix/Linux machines.”</p>
<p>they’ve recently added big apple computers in many computer labs, butler and lerner both have quite a few apples. browsing terminals which are open to anyone are all PCs.</p>
<p>In terms of wireless you get mild coverage in hartley and wallach, and you might get a little coverage in furnald/john jay. most people just connect their computer to the wall because it’s 2-4 times quicker than the wireless, others just set up wireless routers. in the dorms, general columbia wireless only comes in handy when you’re working in a lounge, and need to look up something, even then you can usually connect onto someone’s open network, ask someone for a password, or go back to your room.</p>
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<p>there are a bunch of public macs now…in a computer cluster of like 10 computers you’ll find like 3 or 4 that are macs. </p>
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<p>columbia makes software for both PC and Mac available (like antivirus for instance) but the support is basically very limited no matter what kind of computer u have. </p>
<p>there is a very extensive mac vs. PC discussion from a year ago …basically i would suggest getting a mac laptop because you get the best of both worlds since you can run windows on your mac if you need it and you still get to take advantage of the superior mac hardware.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, all three of you! I knew I could count on you three Columbia experts (waiting for Denzera to weigh in… 
) for all the info and more that we were looking for. You guys are terrific, thanks! </p>
<p>p.s. to C02: uh, thanks for the marketshare analysis of Mac vs PC, haha…but some campuses are significantly more mac than others,…but anyway, she’s actually considering bringing one of each, one for hard core graphics/film editing and one small lightweight one the carry about for regular schoolwork and general compatibility. Oh, and that wireless coverage map was great – thanks!!!</p>
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<p>This is not essential by any means and I’m sure she could make due with one computer, but good deal if she (you?) can afford to bring two computers / have them laying around / etc. I had a laptop and a desktop for part of my time at Columbia, and for me it was nice to have the benefits of a laptop without having to make your laptop the computer that’s hooked up (and unhooked up) to your tv, printer, exeternal monitor, etc.</p>
<p>Columbia will help you when your computer crashes. My pc crashed a few weeks ago and I went to get it fixed. It wasn;t a problem and I wasn’t the only one getting their crashed computer fixed, either.</p>
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<p>What part of Columbia? Did you go to the helpdesk at 102 Philosophy? Have an RCC help you?</p>
<p>Maybe you lucked out for whatever reason (someone felt like being nice? someone didn’t know they weren’t supposed to?), but one should not expect that “Columbia will help you when your computer crashes.” It’s CUIT’s policy NOT to do so. CUIT doesn’t have the resources to provide CU students with generalized tech support and computer repair. And it’s also a liability issue for the school if they start undertaking to fix peoples’ computers and end up screwing things up.</p>
<p>I’d buy one of those sub 3 lb. “netbooks” that they have now if you’re also going to have a full fledged desktop in your room. Easier to transport and should take care of your everyday tasks like taking notes in class and bringing it to study sessions to go over notes and look things up.</p>
<p>Good suggestions, all. Thanks very much, You all are very helpful and appreciated!</p>
<p>Most of the campus computers are PCs. Like 95% of those I’ve seen.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, more people have personal Macs than PCs. There was, I think, a pretty huge surge in the past couple of years.</p>
<p>As someone who was hesitating on what computer to buy last year let me tell you…get a macbook. You have no idea how awesome those things are. I had NEVER touched a Mac before getting my laptop and got accustomed to it in a manner of minutes. It’s…awesome. Perfect for school and media (which lets face it; is what students mostly use it for). No virus hassle or codex headache…just get the windows version of office for compatibility reasons and you’re golden.</p>