Should I purchase a laptop or desktop computer?
Today it is possible to have all the power of a desktop computer in a notebook computer. You can take notes in class, carry it to your classmate's house, and even sit on the grass in the Quad while you do your schoolwork. Several locations on campus will provide wireless computing opportunities for you. While a notebook computer gives you freedom to work anywhere, there are responsibilities that go along with laptop ownership. Laptops are more susceptible to theft and because they are portable, care should be taken to protect them while they are being transported from one location to another. Desktops are a viable option, but you lose the advantage of mobility. Nationally, the collegiate trend is definately favoring laptops.
Should I purchase a new computer, or what if I already have a computer?
We highly recommend you purchase a computer with the campus recommended specifications. If you already own a computer, you can bring it with you and use it until you become familiar with your departments computing practices and recommendations. But please be aware that older computer systems may not be sufficient for the duration of your stay at HSU. HSU has recently started deploying a wireless network on campus in select locations. If you are buying a laptop, you should consider purchasing an additional wireless network card to access our wireless network areas as they are added to the system. Cards should be compliant with the Standards for Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). Any network card bearing the Wi-Fi logo should be compatible with HSU's wireless network.
Where should I purchase a new computer?
You are free to purchase your computer from any dealer who carries the recommended standards. The HSU Bookstore staff is well informed of HSU's computing standards. The Bookstore sells network-ready computers from both Apple and Gateway to Humboldt State University students, faculty and staff at educationally discounted prices. For more details you can visit:
http://www.humboldt.org/bookstore/cmptrs/cmptrs.html
The Bookstore's Apple authorized service center for warranty repair is Capital Business Machines, located in Eureka. Gateway offers 24/7 telephone support with mail-in laptop and on-site desktop repair.
Do I need a modem or a printer?
If you live in a residence hall, you do not need a modem, but you may find one useful if you intend to send and receive faxes from your computer. You will need a modem to connect to the HSU network if you live off-campus. We recommend a 56 Kbps modem or broadband. You will also need an account with a local Internet service provider. You may want to purchase a printer for convenience. While you can copy your work to a diskette/zip and print it in one of the HSU labs, most people find that the labs tend to be very busy at peak times of the semester.
What else will I need?
If you are bringing a computer with you and will be living in a residence hall, you will need a 10/100Base-T ethernet network card installed in your computer. It is required to connect to the HSU network. Ethernet cards are considered "user" installable. There are no facilities available on campus to install the card for you. We recommend cards made by 3Com and Xircom, as other cards may not demonstrate the desired quality of performance on our network. Please be sure to bring CDs/floppies of your computers operating system, the software drivers for your ethernet card, and any other software you may have installed on your computer. You will also need to have an Ethernet cable to connect to the campus network. If you wish to purchase your cable before arriving, you should buy a Category 5 (Cat5), 8-wire cable, with RJ-45 plugs on both ends. A 25 foot cable should reach your wall jack in most cases. You also should consider purchasing a power surge protector with a replaceable fuse or a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). It's a good idea to check to see if your system is covered by a homeowner's insurance policy, in case of theft or accident. An independent copy of all the software and data on your computer is strongly advised. Install and use virus detection software! Make a practice of regularly updating the virus definition files For more information about Resnet, please visit:
http://www.humboldt.edu/~resnet/
You may also email questions to resnet@humboldt.edu, or call 707-826-5532.
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