<p>Where do you store your laptops daily so people don't steal them? Under your beds? Like what if you don't feel like taking your laptop one day, so you leave it in your room. What do you do with it?</p>
<p>lock your door.</p>
<p>To be honest, theft isn't common on East Campus. The only points of entry are your window (which especially isn't a problem if you're not on the first floor) and your door. I kept my door locked whenever I wasn't in the room... though my roommate lost his keys many a time, so I was forced to leave the door unlocked even though no one was in the room. I still left my laptop on my desk.</p>
<p>Actually, a friend of mine left early for one of our breaks, and he keeps his door unlocked at all times, as in even when he's sleeping. Anyway, his friends went into his room and moved all of his stuff into a spare room! He lived in a different dorm, so I didn't get to see his reaction or his friends' handy work.</p>
<p>Having said that, don't worry a whole lot about security on East. If you live on Central, then things become a little more risky, at least in my opinion.</p>
<p>There are also several devices designed for locking up laptops. I don't believe they're very expensive.</p>
<p>Like seahorse said, I never worried about security on East. I know it doesn't sound like the smartest thing, but my roommate and I actually never locked our door (even when living in K-Ville, spending nights there, and sometimes not even coming back to the room for days straight) - and we both had laptops that we kept unlocked on our desks. Over Spring break, we actually left the door unlocked for the entire week and had nothing stolen. If you are really paranoid, there are laptop locks that you can use to attach your laptop to your desk and carry around a key for. But really all you need to do if you're that worried is just....lock your door. I was worried about security stuff too before I got to Duke and bought one of those laptop locks fully planning on using it, but after being at school for a while realized it's totally unnecessary. People would even leave laptops out unattended on the tables in the study rooms in Lilly without a problem - especially if there are 20 or so people in there - or they'd just ask someone at the table to keep an eye on it when they ran to get coffee or something. I did that all the time.</p>
<p>Is wireless internet connection free too, or do I have to use cable DSL.</p>
<p>I used wireless last year. yeah, it's free, but not all rooms get it. I'm not sure if my wireless connection worked really well because i was directly above the commons room or because my dorm was right next to the library, but I had a great connection. Some people just use landlines because it's easier for them.</p>
<p>Is East Campus close to the city at all? I read some article where a kid got robbed his first day @ Duke.</p>
<p>East Campus is in between 9th Street and Durham (the city part of it). They are both very close to campus. Durham is a city and has its share of crime issues like any other city. When leaving campus, you need to make sure you are using your common sense, and you should be fine. Going with a group of people is definitely the smart thing to do at night. However, to warn you, students have been mugged off of East Campus and have even had guns pulled on them. Just remember, be careful.</p>
<p>For those of you who have cell phones, are you required to have a Duke cell phone Plan, or can you have your own?</p>
<p>I wasn't aware there was a Duke plan. :p Most people use their own. Verizon seems to get the best reception. I used Cingular and had issues on East (especially while inside) and some parts of West. So far it's worked fine on Central.</p>
<p>One final question: what if you chose not to bring a computer at all? What are the advantages of a laptop/desktop if there are 21 computer labs at Duke that you can go to and get your work done there for free? Does anyone there NOT have a computer?</p>
<p>Would I be basically the only one without a computer?</p>
<p>Well probably not the ONLY one but I personally don't know anyone who doesn't have their own.</p>
<p>
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What are the advantages of a laptop/desktop if there are 21 computer labs at Duke that you can go to and get your work done there for free?
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</p>
<p>Well I like being able to install any new programs I want, not have to worry about internet filters (not sure if the library has those, but the ones in my HS were sometimes way too strict), and have a ton of space to store things like DVD rips and MP3s. Sure I use my computer to work, but I use it for a ton of other things as well (and if anyone says 'porn,' I'll slap them :p ).</p>
<p>So it's not a HUGE advantage, just some small things like music, dvd's, etc.</p>
<p>Well, if you're looking to use a computer for anything besides work, I'd say having your own is a huge advantage.</p>
<p>I don't know why you wouldn't get your own computer, UltimateFrisbee. It's so much easier than going to the computer lab everytime. Computer hardware keeps getting cheaper, you can find some basic function ones for a few hundred dollars these days.</p>
<p>Also, although Bostock is open 24/7, Lilly closes at 4. It may not seem like it now, but there may very well be nights when you have to stay up past then working on a paper (or some other kind of work that requires a computer). Truthfully, I don't think I'd risk it.</p>
<p>Yea, I agree. Being able to work in your room is much more convenient than having to trudge over to Lilly, Brown, or G-A computer labs when you want to do work. You can find a cheap laptop or desktop that could probably fit your budget. Talk with OIT.</p>
<p>bandcampgirl, he could always go to Brown, G-A, or Carr which I believe never close</p>
<p>keep a watch on slickdeals.net. there will definitely be laptops for under 1000 that are more than able to do word processing, etc. your basic needs.</p>