<p>I was just wondering if we have to buy our own ethernet cord, or if Columbia provides them for us. If we have to buy it, is a Belkin Cat5, okay?--I mean is it compatitable with Columbia's ethernet jack?--or are all jacks the same? I obviously don't know much about computers or connections, but thanks to anyone who's willing to help.</p>
<p>Tbone</p>
<p>Bring your own. Why would they give you one?</p>
<p>Yeah, there's really only one kind of ethernet cord. Any Cat5 cord will do, just make sure it's not like a one foot long cord. 5 feet should do it.</p>
<p>10 feet is a better bet. 5 feet would work if you leave ur room exactly like they set it up for you but, at least in JJ, their setup is hardly efficient. the ethernet jack is usually right under the desk but if you move the desk like i did, you need more cord</p>
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but if you move the desk like i did, you need more cord
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<p>Get a wireless router, dude.</p>
<p>Why would you need a wireless router? You've got wireless on other parts of campus and you're only going to be moving in a tiny room when you're using the computer in your dorm. Seems like a lot of work to just avoid a nice, sexy, flesh toned, thick, cat5 ethernet cable.</p>
<p>the only time a wireless router might be necessary is if you live in a suite and might need to use your laptop in the common area....otherwise if you are in JJ I think 10-15 feet should cover it since the jack is usually in the middle of the room and in a carman room it would be a good idea to maybe get a 15-20 ft cable since there is alot more you can do in terms of rearranging your room that might place you significantly farther from the jack. </p>
<p>Also you can of course wait till you get here, see what your room layout is like and then get an appropriate cable...the book store sells them for a decent price though i'm not sure what kind of selection you'll have and of course there will always be the hundreds of office supply or electronic stores in manhattan that you can go to.</p>
<p>Can I use a wireless router that I bring in Carman? I thought I read somewhere (possibly not) that I couldn't.</p>
<p>its against the rules but people do it anyway....i dont think u need one in carman though...really the only place i can imagine one being useful is an EC suite.</p>
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its against the rules but people do it anyway....
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<p>Where does it say that? I presume it's a security/traffic issue. Do they actually shut down ports and enforce it?</p>
<p>I'm not extremely computer savvy, but I can speak from experience that having a wireless router EXTREMELY Fcks up the internet for everyone. </p>
<p>I was at Yale last year for a summer program where we all had to plug in ethernet jacks. Someone though, was using a router despite warnings not to do so. It ended up causing a week of no one being able to get online. The tech guys explained that computers sensing the wireless network try to connect to that first over the LAN which just really fcks everything up.</p>
<p>Haha... that was kinda vague. </p>
<p>But oh yea, speaking of which, I believe many computers themselves can be automatically turned into wireless routers! (other ppl can connect through your comp to internet if you turn it on).</p>
<p>You can do this if you make your computer an access point. More trouble than it's worth though. Security issues go through the roof.</p>
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Where does it say that? I presume it's a security/traffic issue. Do they actually shut down ports and enforce it?
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<p>its in the material they give you during orientation with the paper about illegal file sharing....and i'm sure the rule is posted somewhere on CUIT's website. I dont think they would bother enforcing it in any way unless someone complained or they notice that the university wireless network (which doesnt cover the dorms anyway) is being disrupted...so the answer is no, they don't really enforce it and i knew several people who had a wireless router in their suite including my own suite senior year.</p>
<p>I imagine if you put a password on your wireless router, rather than leaving it open, most of the problems that truazn talks about are taken care of.</p>
<p>My S will be a SEAS student in a few weeks. He is shopping for a laptop but meanwhile got advice from his orientation leader against buying a laptop. The orientation leader recommends a desktop. Says engineering students need a lot of computing power, etc etc. I am not computer savvy, so want to make sure S spends wisely on computing needs. Please advise pros and cons of laptops and desktops. I also am told that if there is a virus etc or other problem with desktop University won't fix it but will with laptop. Thanks.</p>
<p>You can find this information including heavy, sweaty debate about desktop vs. laptop in the College Life Section under the Computers Forum.</p>
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He is shopping for a laptop but meanwhile got advice from his orientation leader against buying a laptop. The orientation leader recommends a desktop. Says engineering students need a lot of computing power, etc etc.
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<p>it depends on which engineering major he is planning on doing. If he is going to go into a more cushy one like financial engineering or anything in the IEOR department then he won't need much computing power however, it is true that a desktop is probably a good idea for most engineers but its not like you will be paralyzed without it. I had a desktop and for running certain programs it is very necessary but of course you have to obtain these programs somehow. However practically all the school computers on campus have these programs though the restrictions on the computers can get annoying pretty quickly. Many of my friends had two computers. It is no secret that laptops are all the rage now and computing on the go has become standard protocol. If you can afford it i would suggest buying a decent desktop and a lower-end laptop with an emphasis on portability. As a side note, Apple has a very good deal for students on mac laptops.</p>
<p>Shraf, I am grateful for your considered reply. Can a student get by without any computers at all, laptop or desktop? That is, by using the ones on campus. I have no idea what he wants to study nor does he. But it may be wise to buy a computer anticipating the major with the heaviest computer power requirements. He is somehow against Apple. Prefers Gateway, thinks it is cheaper than Dell. What do you think? Are there places to buy computers close to campus? What happens if you have a problem with your desktop? Your suggestion of two computers is a neat solution.</p>
<p>By the way, where can I educate myself about all the computer majors? Apart from websites, I mean are there discussion threads on CC?</p>
<p>My S should not have got into any of the Ivy League, no initiative, wastes the summer with his friends whilst this helicopter parent frets and worries.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, sir.</p>
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Can a student get by without any computers at all, laptop or desktop? That is, by using the ones on campus.
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<p>While it is certainly possible, it will get annoying quickly. Every class he will take first year except for physics and math will pretty much require some sort of use of word. Gateway did, u.writing certainly did, most of the pre-profs do, even 1 of the chem classes did (they had to write reports on cutting edge research or something). Having to go to the computer labs is incredibly annoying, even just to go print stuff. They are poorly climate controlled (they are either too hot or too cold) and they are more often than not crowded with people who are just wasting time.</p>
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He is somehow against Apple. Prefers Gateway, thinks it is cheaper than Dell.
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Dells are shoddy. They always feel like they will fall apart and often do in some way. Gateways tend to be a little better made. Personally, I love my apple macbook. OSX is a great operating system and the macs are put together really well. But only he can overcome his prejudice against macs (I know because i used to feel the same way)...</p>
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Are there places to buy computers close to campus? What happens if you have a problem with your desktop? Your suggestion of two computers is a neat solution.
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<p>No, don't know, and totally agree with a condition. I don't know of any computer stores in Mside Heights and dragging a tower around downtown or to Bklyn/Queens would be annoying.<br>
Having 2 comps is a good idea, however, as a freshman you simply wont need it. Probably not even as a sophmore. To my knowledge, there are no majors that are super computer heavy before jr year (with the exception of CS [and maybe EE]). Until then, using the school comps for things like matlab, maya, autocad, etc I think is just fine since you are forced to go to a lab in Mudd somewhere instead of your room which should hopefully make you want to work (note that this only applies to specific projects, not writing papers like i said above)</p>
<p>Shraf, thanks again. Let me summarize what I understand you wrote: it will be very inconvenient without any computer; first 2 yrs no need for heavy computing power, hence perhaps no need for desktop. So, to start with, a laptop? Later a desktop. Right?</p>