<p>As I sneak off to the Apple store everyday afterschool, I dream of taking one of those nice snow white ibooks home with me-(no, i am not implying i plan to steal), but don't tempt me. </p>
<p>So, anyone have a mac at ucla? how wired, or UN-wired is UCLA? Wireless someplaces? Anyone have a ibook or powerbook and would like to share their experiences using a mac while at school? How handy is it in the classroom? Will I have problems using it while taking science classes, or something? Share please! Hopefully you won't pop my bubbles.</p>
<p>Consider buying your mac laptop (if thats what you decide to get) at the UCLA store. If you go now, you can get a 12" powerbook for $999 if they still have any. The ibooks are pretty cheap right now as well.</p>
<p>In all honesty, you won't be bringing your laptop to class - definitely not science classes.</p>
<p>UCLA has some wireless hotspots on campus, and there are plans to make the majority (if not all) of the campus wireless in the upcoming years, but who knows if thats going to happen. Quite a few people in the dorms have wireless APs, and its not hard to leech off one of those, or just bring your own ;) I used to work for network services at UCLA, and unfortunately one of the problems with the wireless routers (and wired ones too) is that if they aren't configured properly, they can take down an entire subnet of the network because it begins to act as a DNS server. Then I got to go figure out which port it was and shut it down haha. Anyway, just make sure you configure your router correctly if you get one.</p>
<p>99% of UCLA students do not bring their laptops to class. For the love of God, don't be that smug bastard who sits in the center of the front row, typing his notes loudly on his widescreen iBook just to show off his new high-res desktop wallpaper which he changes before each and every lecture...</p>
<p>As long as a student isn't obnoxious about it, I could care less if they brought in papyrus to write on. For some, using the computer in class works well for them..more power to em. ;)</p>
<p>I am still a desktop guy...DP G5 Power Mac baby!</p>
<p>if i buy the mac at the UCLA store, do they provide virus protection, free computer help, and stuff like that? Is there discounted software I could get? I want to get microsoft word, or the equivalent for about $30, think its possible? And, also, the UCLA store doesn't happen to have financing does it? $999 IS really cheap for a powerbook, but at the same time I wanted to build credit, be responsible, blah blah blah, and not spend $1000 right off the bat. </p>
<p>But...Icarus, if I plan to go the campus store way, any tips on how to procure that cheap mac before it's gone? When's the best time to buy?</p>
<p>Using a laptop is quite inconvenient when it comes to lectures. Though I type relatively fast, writing is still the preferred method of taking notes; it's harder to do quick diagrams on computer (but I'm not tech saavy like some people). </p>
<p>One of my reasons to get a laptop: I get to type in bed instead of sitting at a desk.</p>
<p>i agree eiffel, it helps me process information when I write things down. i heard beds aren't good for cooling efficiency since there isn't any airflow between the bed and the bottom of the laptop. have you felt a powerbook after 4 hours of use? no wonder people say they lose sperm count.</p>
<p>skybaker is right. My Dell Inspiron's main fan overheated and shut down when I tried playing a DVD with my laptop while curled up in bed, with the laptop resting on the mattress.</p>
<p>eh it looks like they're out - sorry, skybaker. But i still recommend going to the UCLA store... you can get educational discounts even when they aren't trying to get rid of the old models when the new ones come out.</p>
<p>yea but airport has already become standard in the new ibooks. it'll be a hassle to start off with a notebook that you need to make adjustments to. how can one not ge wireless internet capability nowadays?</p>