<p>A rep at Orientation said if you want to send any packages to USC, to send them after move-in day. My son wants to consider sending his computer on the plane, but we are not sure that is a good idea (breakage, for example). We can ask friends/relatives to hold packages for us or mail things via UPS. I just don't want my son feeling obligated to wait all day for UPS packages. Does UPS have a set delivery time and are they reliable for mailing packages? Anyone have experience sending a home made computer to USC long distance?</p>
<p>I shipped an Alienware tower (probably one of the largest PCs on the market) back and forth from the east coast for three years. A few small things got banged up over time, but it is quite doable. One thing you may want to invest in is a hard shell case. A cardboard box will just take a beating and may not hold up. I bought a shipping crate designed for musician amplifiers and used heavy foam to pad the computer. It adds a bit of weight, but provides much more security. </p>
<p>I recommend ground shipping over checking the computer as airline luggage. Baggage handlers are not very gentle, and all the airline fees make it very pricey. </p>
<p>In terms of shipping times, you just need to make sure the package arrives on or after move-in day, or USC will not accept the package. Your son won't have to wait around because things are automatically delivered to the Customer Service Center for his dorm. The staff there will sign for the package and he can pick it up that same day.</p>
<p>Ned5555, you shipped an Alienware tower back and forth?? Wow. </p>
<p>(Apologies in advance for sort of hijacking this topic, mdcissp but...) But could you give advice about how useful getting an Alienware laptop might be? My s wants the power and thinks he'll need the portability, but I wonder if this heavy laptop will just be too unwieldy to use on a daily basis for class. So I guess I'm asking for your opinion (since I assume you are a gamer) if it might be better for him to have an Alienware tower in his dorm room and also a lighter less powerful notebook pc for daily tasks.</p>
<p>Thanks for any advice you can offer since we are on the verge of making computer purchases.</p>
<p>Sorry- I'll add to the hijack because it looks like mdcissp's question was answered. My son has an Alienware tower/desktop also for gaming. (He says the dorm internet is better and faster than ours at home!) He never needed or wanted a laptop (business major- just finished freshman year.)</p>
<p>A large alienware laptop is pointless. They are so heavy that you might as well get a desktop that will provide you with a larger screen.</p>
<p>Depending on your son's major, he may not even need a laptop. I bought a small portable one for class, but as an engineer I hardly got any use out of it. Even in my GEs, I still preferred to write notes by hand. These days my laptop gets a lot of use though, because I like lounging on the couch while still having internet access ;)</p>
<p>The laptop vs. desktop topic has come up here before, and it usually boils down to your learning style and major. Some people are fine with pen and paper, others want internet at their fingertips 24/7. Desktops are also less prone to theft, and are easier to repair if an individual part fails. </p>
<p>If it's in your budget, having a desktop in the room and a less powerful laptop to take to class when needed can be nice. However, if you go with something huge like an Alienware notebook, it won't be fun lugging it to class everyday. Many lecture halls only have anemic desk surfaces that flip up from the armrest, so a large laptop won't leave a lot of room for anything else. </p>
<p>You also may want to look into the Alienware brand specifically, because I have seen some horror stories about laptops plagued with hardware and software problems. I've also come to the realization you pay a lot just for the glowing head and other brands have similar systems for a lot less money.</p>
<p>This is extremely helpful cc411 and 2+2=5. And might I further ask 1) did you find discounts on Alienware? My s has found a 5% student discount but is there another better way? 2) do you lock your desktops/towers to your desk in your dorm rooms? How?</p>
<p>Ned5555, why does it always come down to the best solution requires spending more $$? LOL. Also, my s isn't intrinsically a glowing head kind of guy (his current system was hand-built) and there are rumors of a new processor or video card or graphics card (I am sure I have this mixed up, but something important) that is just on the horizon, so perhaps he'll be waiting to make a purchase. In any event, the Alienware laptop seems less attractive (to me, anyway). Thanks for all the help.</p>
<p>A few questions: Can you tell UPS a specific delivery date like on or after Aug. 20? Do you see a lot of gamers or is it just a few scattered around campus?</p>
<p>I personally think that alienware desktops are a waste of money, especially if you are able to build your own computer (like you said your son already has). I also built my desktop and I would recommend newegg.com for hardware purchases.</p>
<p>As far as laptops go, I bought a Dell and have had no problems with it at all. You should check out gotapex.com on a regular basis because they post tons of promotions for Dell desktops and laptops. I was able to get ~40% off the retail price of mine when I was laptop shopping the summer before freshman year.</p>
<p>To mdcissp: There are tons of gamers on campus. They'll range from the casual gamer who plays when friends are around (typically console games) to those who are addicted to a computer game and don't even go to class. I had a apartment-mate who was addicted to World of Warcraft. It's a pretty sad sight.</p>
<p>Repair issues aside (he'll look into that further), my s is looking at the Area-51 m15x which is lighter and smaller than the other laptops Alienware sells. Anyone have specific feedback on that model? He plans to plug it into an external monitor for desktop use. Could this be an exception to the rule? He's a Game Design major so he's pretty sure he wants portability for possible LAN parties or whatever.</p>