<p>Most people with desktops get along pretty well here, due to Athena stations all over campus. However, it's always nice to have a laptop for the convenience. If you intend to major in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering, I highly recommend a laptop (preferably with at least 1 GB Ram). You will have many classes that will require you to slave away at lab...and I think you'll be more comfortable using your own computer...(while running iTunes, Eclipse, Facebook, Scheme, Photoshop, Matlab, AIM, and 20+ other procrastination programs at the same time...hence the 1GB+ RAM recommendation). Course 15ers (Management Major) should consider laptops too...just because you do so much work in groups (reports, presentations, spreadsheets) it'll be nice to able to do your work anyway. Other than that, I really don't see other majors carrying their computers too much.</p>
<p>I'm personally addicted to laptops. I have one stationed as a desktop in my room and I carry my other one around for general use. (Stationed one is Toshiba Satellite, and portable is Lenovo T-43 Thinkpad) My 1.00 class spoiled me. (For some (programming) classes such as 1.00, and I think 6.001 now, they'll just give you a free laptop to use for a semester. 1.00 were Dell Inspirons when I took it, and 6.001 I hear are new thinkpads that they just got this year.)</p>
<p>Oh and finally, I think you CAN use the Internet as soon as you get on campus. At least I did during Orientation before my permanent assignment. You will need an ethernet cable (I think they pass them out free during Orientation somewhere), and plug it into the LAN jacks in your room. Open IE and it'll take you to the registration page...all you need is your Kerberos username, MIT ID or something and you should have access within 15 minutes. You can do this because this just registers you on the MIT network, and has nothing to do with getting a stationary MAC address. I could be wrong, but trying never hurts.</p>
<p>You can also connect if you just have a wireless card, I believe (if you want to use both wireless and a physical LAN connection you have to that ~15 minute setup for both). And, yes, you're right binks. (I know because I'm a freshman and I've been connected all week).</p>
<p>If a student is buying a new Windows laptop, should they also buy virus protection software, or is that something that can be downloaded from MIT? If so, is there a charge for it?</p>
<p>As for the wireless connection, I haven't had an issue with it's security. I run a firewall for general online use, but I know people that just use the network without any more protection than VirusScan and they're fine. Just be smart about where you are going on the Internet.</p>
<p>Students can register for MITnet as soon as they arrive on campus, and either connect to the wireless network or plug into an ethernet port. You'll need your MIT information (kerberos id and password) to register.
-Jared</p>
<p>I know this was asked before, but I was wondering what you prefer, Mac or Pc? both seem to have their pro's and con's and was wondering what you think.</p>