<p>We're going to be buying my daughter a laptop, which will be our first (have had only desktops so far) - any recommendations on brands, or where to buy? Is it best to buy from the campus bookstore? We got a card from Dell a couple of days ago with a "deal" for the new graduate, didn't know if it'd be better to buy at the last minute, from the school.</p>
<p>The campus bookstore doesn't have any computers in stock. They can only order them and that would take a while. However, don't buy any software like Microsoft Office until you get to campus, since you can get those titles significantly cheaper after your daughter's academic discount.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the info! I asked because a co-worker of mine had bought a computer for his daughter the xmas before she went to college (Boston College), but then was told that students had to buy their computers from the school in order to be hooked into the network on campus. I didn't know how prevalent this kind of thing was...</p>
<p>The notion that all students must purchase their computers from the school in order to be hooked into the network on campus is ludicrous. I guarantee that any new computer you purchase, manufactured since the beginning of 2005 (or even 2004 or earlier), will be MORE than capable of handling and operating on the school network. All one needs is a computer capable of using high-speed internet (cable-modem)... so long as you have a laptop that doesn't solely depend on dial-up (using the phone jack) for internet, it will work at UCSB =)</p>
<p>If you were to buy a computer at a store like Best Buy or Circuit City, or even Office Max or Walmart for that matter today, or anytime in the next few months, it would without question work on the UCSB network.</p>
<p>It IS true, however, that purchasing expensive software at stores like Best Buy and Circuit City is NOT a good idea, because they are sold with like 75% discounts once you arrive on campus. Just make sure the campus sells it, and that its on discount. Products like Microsoft Word and Excel and Powerpoint are usually heavily discounted =)</p>
<p>Thanks -- yeah, it was at least 4 years ago that that student started college, so obviously things have changed. :)</p>