Computers

<p>lol well it is a nice tool to have for math. um another question if I get a computer other than thier packages can I download all the softwere they would put on it for me?</p>

<p>Yes, you just need to be on the Case network and have a Case ID. You download stuff off the software center website once you're logged in.</p>

<p>hey stargirl,</p>

<p>were you the one chosing between Case and Rochester (and UCSD i think)</p>

<p>What did you choose in the end?</p>

<p>No, I'm already a student at Case. :)
Though back in the day I was choosing between Case and CMU for the record, and I'm glad I chose the way I did. I like it here.</p>

<p>what kind of software does Case put on your comp? Is it something you have to have?</p>

<p>Heh, gigE cards aren't even $50. Try $11 plus shipping from [url=<a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cs_id=1050101&p_id=1994&seq=1%5DMonoprice%5B/url"&gt;http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cs_id=1050101&p_id=1994&seq=1]Monoprice[/url&lt;/a&gt;]. ITS will probably pop it in for you at no charge.</p>

<p>$16 plus shipping for a [url=<a href="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cs_id=1050102&p_id=2507&seq=1%5DPCMCIA%5B/url"&gt;http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cs_id=1050102&p_id=2507&seq=1]PCMCIA[/url&lt;/a&gt;] version if you're a laptop user.</p>

<p>FYI
this has almost nothing to do with this thread
but
The way I see it
if those of you are not opposed to it
a Mac might be the better way to go at this junction in Computer History</p>

<p>because:
1. Windows is launching a new operating system in Winter 06. This means for your new laptop not to be a a paper weight in 2 years, you need top of the line stuff. i.e. ~$3500+ even through the Dell store at Case's website
2. Apple just released Mac OS X Tiger about a year ago, this means they won't have a new OS for a while.
3. Mac's with intels are FAST, and a new 17" 2.16 GHZ Duo Core Mac Book Pro top-of-the-line is only about $3,100 before the after apple student discount. </p>

<p>Listen to me or not
just some thoughts from an admitted computer geek
oh BTW
I'm not one of those Mac Freaks either, and I don't suggest them just so people can feel "cool" or "elitist" or whatever, I do actually hate those people who get Macs because they think they're cool.
I am currently and have always owned windows machines. But I'm not a total stranger to macs....</p>

<p>just a thought</p>

<p>ok another question. I like to get TV off the internet (yes it is kinda illigal to download but the way I see it is I can tape it or download it and downloading is easier). I usually do this through torrents. Does anyone at case know if you can get torrents there or if I should get a bunch of shows and put them on DVDRs before I come?</p>

<p>Lee, sorry to say though your not enitrely right. Your computer's cost does not directly correlate with what the current OS (Operating System for all you who don't know) is. A computer bought now can easily run Windows XP or the newest Windows, Windows Vista.... O, and by the way, you DO NOT have to spend a large sum of money to buy a new computer. I recently customized and purchased a new laptop for my sister since she is going to college a bit earlier than most. The total came to like $1500 from Dell. You might think it is a crappy computer, but it definitely is not, considering the hardware packed inside it can rival some low to medium-end GAMING machines (which only has the best and only the best hardware). Again, as long as your machine (computer) is not ancient, you CAN run recent and upcoming Operating Systems. Here is a page that relates to this topic for all you computer finatics: <a href="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1843945,00.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1843945,00.asp&lt;/a> It also compares it to the newest Apple OS, so you can decide yourself which computer you would like. If anyone wants help searching for a cheap, but also a "good" laptop/computer, I'll always be willing to give my input.</p>

<p>Hmmmm, It seems that Dell took the laptop that I used to customize for my sister. I'll be sure to update anyone who is interested on any good deals I may find.</p>

<p>I don't want to say to much about it as it is illegal activity but lets just say you can get all the tv shows you want when you get here in bout 5 sec and you won't need to use torrents.</p>

<p>O btw, all this talk about needing the Gigabyte cards is cuz Case is connected through fiber optics, which is like 25x the speed of your normal Cable connection. If you guyz think your Internet is fast, you'll be AMAZED by what you have at Case. 1 Gb of information would prolly take o say around an hour to two hours (if not more: if your connection isn't too good with the download server) for a cable connection to download would take a few minutes for the fiber optics line to transfer. You'll be living in Internet Heaven! The only way to obtain the maximum speed though is to have a card capable of handling the large amount of data transfer....a Gigabyte card. So if you only have a 10/100 Ethernet Card, your download obviously won't be as fast cuz your speed for download is capped at 100 Mb. Accordingly, I'm pretty sure many will encourage people to get Gigabyte cards IF POSSIBLE.</p>

<p>Moc knows :D 5 secs is all you need, and torrents you won't need cuz of the amazing download speed :D :) :D WOOT! I can't wait!</p>

<p>Ok, Icon, I never said that the OS ciredtly relates to the price. I simply mean the hardware required to run vista, at full capacity, will cost more. Sure you can run it without the new interfaces, and reduce it back to XP style taskbar etc. But then, whats the point of dropping the $100 on a new OS if you're not going to use it fully? Honestly, for most people the OS matters little. The RAM requirements and the Vid card is enough to make it significantly more expensive, granted most older PCs do have at least 128 MB of ram, but even now, many newer laptops come with very average graphics accel. cards, many of which may or may not run vista. (and of course, all of this is speculation, since real, actual OS specs have not been released). Not to mention, the slower performance of running a high end OS on an older machine. </p>

<p>Your article even says</p>

<p>" Thus even for PC owners who have purchased new machines in the last year, hardware upgrades of one type or another—either a new graphics card or, if a machine's graphics can not be upgraded, possibly a new system—may be necessary to run Windows Vista's Aero Glass effects.</p>

<p>Given Microsoft's suggestions, even buyers of new PCS in coming months will have to pay extra attention, and often spend extra, to ensure they choose systems with the graphical oomph necessary to run the Aero UI—if they expect to upgrade, analysts said. "</p>

<p>I mean, look at the past windows OS's, if you bought a computer 4 years ago meant to run Windows Me or 2000, and you load XP onto it, will it run? Sure it will, no doubt, provided you have the HD space, but, it will run slower on benchmark tests and even every day type of operations because of the extra processor/memory requirements of the newer, and generally speaking for the case of Windows, much more resource intensive OS. Not to mention, this will only get you so far. In a few years, that machine will essentially be a paper weight. Which is fine for a lot of people who only do Word Processing, Email, AIm, etc. </p>

<p>For myself however I do play, albeit not highly graphics intensive, games, usually CS or SC, and I do a lot of graphic design/photoshop type stuff, and I am using a machine with XP that originally was built for Me. I have shut off the fancy transparencies, and elminated many start up programs, changed it to the old windows 2000 style interface, blah blah blah blah, and i Still cannot smoothly run iTunes, Photoshop 7 and Illustrator CS all at the same time with out significant hang-ups.</p>

<p>I hear ya. I run the same programs as you, games, gfx editors, etc. Ok, if you are gearing your laptop for gaming or gfx editing, you are right, but still you can find deals far cheaper than $3100 even for a gaming computer. However, most people will not be needing more than the core programs for word proccessing, web surfing, etc..... In that case, a $1500-$2000 laptop would do :D or even LESS if you get lucky!</p>

<p>I agree
I was more speaking from my point of view, so yeah
you're right about the $1500 machine though, I know a lot of people who are looking at refurbs and stuff for college.</p>

<p>I Love Case's Network =d</p>

<p>My original plan was to refurbish my current laptop (4 year old Pentium 4m (but on the Intel 845mz chipset (which equals lesser performance than a Pentium 3m of the same era :( )), as I didn't think I'd be able to afford a top-end laptop, and I really like to buy high-powered machines for greater longevity (I hope to make one computer last for all years of college...), but I recently found out that my grandmother is going to give me 1000 dollars for a computer for graduation, so Macbook Pro, here I come! Anyone else going for one of them?</p>

<p>If you have an older computer available, I think it would be a good idea to bring it also as a back up (just to write papers, access email, etc.). If your main laptop develops a problem, it's nice to have a back up. </p>

<p>Apple right now has a Mac mini (tiny desk top) that allows you to use your own monitor and USB-based keyboard & mouse for $600. You will have unique challenges running some of the Case course registration software on a Mac, but Mac's (so far) are immune to viruses and you are not constantly dealing with security software updates and re-loads.</p>

<p>The idea of a backup is appealing...but unfortunately, the old laptop is on its last legs as it is (dying hard drive). As to the troubles of running certain things on a Mac, I'm expecting to remedy that with Apple's new Bootcamp software that will let me dual-boot Mac OS X and Windows XP...should work, I'd think. My idea is to use the Mac partition for everything possible, and just use Windows for stuff that isn't available on Mac.</p>

<p>that's a really good idea actually!
the mac thing that is</p>