Purchasing a Computer

1. Do you recommend laptops or desktops?

   Laptops offer mobility at a higher price than desktops. Laptops are not necessary, but they allow greater freedom to study outside one's dorm room, such as outdoors, in the library, or in the student center. Desktops offer lower prices and more power at the expense of mobility.

2. What type of laptop should one buy?

   Hillsdale College works specifically with Apple and Dell and can offer purchasing advice for computers from those companies. Because Hillsdale College does not offer technical support for student-owned machines (except for ResNet-related issues), students should purchase a warranty and service agreement with their machine.

3. Are there any discounts on purchasing a computer through ITS?

   Students can get educational discounts from either Apple (3.5-7%) or Dell (varies in amount). For more specific information concerning Apple and Dell prices, see the Purchases page.

4. Is there a problem with theft for laptops?

   Laptop theft is virtually unheard of.  ITS is not aware of any laptops reported as stolen.

5. What do most students prefer: laptop or desktop?

   Many incoming students use the computer labs during their first semester and ask for what they need for Christmas. The choice depends upon the student's study and social habits. Using a laptop enables a student to use the wireless network on campus.

6. Can students bring laptops to class?

   Yes. There is no college policy against using laptop computers in class. However, individual instructors may prohibit or restrict laptop use in class, so students should ask their instructor. Classrooms in Kendall and Lane have power outlets and Ethernet plugs built into the desks and both buildings are covered by the wireless network.

7. Do students need printers in their dorm rooms?

   Printers are convenient but not necessary in dorm rooms. Students can print black and white documents at no cost in the computer labs.  Color printing is available in three of the labs, ranging from 25 to 50 cents per page.

Residential Network (ResNet)

1. Are all the dorms and Greek houses connected to the network and Internet?

Yes.  In fact, about 86% of the students on campus own their own computers and are connected to ResNet.

2. What do you need to be connected in the dorms?

An Ethernet card and patch cable are required. For more specific requirements check out the ResNet System Requirements.

3. Where can you get a network card? Are they all the same?

You can get network cards at Radio Shack, Wal-Mart or other such stores. For information about network cards check out the Get NIC page.

4. Is there an extra cost for connecting to the ResNet?

The cost of ResNet is accounted for in a student's general fees, so there is no additional cost other than purchasing the hardware if they don't have it already. This hardware generally costs less than $50.

5. How fast is your connection?

   ResNet has a partial T3 connection, with a speed of six megabytes per second both on and off the Internet.

General Computing

1. What lab facilities are available? Are they adequate for the entire student body?

   There are five computer labs available for student use. During the school year, on weekdays, at least one lab is open and attended by a lab assistant from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. These hours seem to be more than sufficient for student use. For more specific information about the labs see the Facilities page.

2. What about storing information?

   All students are given a space on the server to store their personal files. Each student's personal storage space should be kept under 50 megabytes. ITS reserves the right to enforce or modify this limits at any time and without notice. Students may access this space from any computer with Internet access. For more information about students' personal storage space, see the Shared Server Space page.

3. Are there any courses on computer use?

   "Computer Applications for the Liberal Arts" is a two-credit, team-taught course that introduces students to "the computer-based tools commonly used in scholarly activities, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, telecommunications and graphics."  Also, "Introduction to Computers" is available, which assumes no previous computer experience.

4. Will new students be given an email address?

   Yes. New students will be given a username and password at registration which will allow them to check their email from anywhere in the world that has Internet connectivity. All usernames are first initial followed by last name. For example, William Johnson's username would be wjohnson. Students should limit their mailbox size to 50 megabytes or less. This total includes email messages, attachments, address book, tasks, and calendar entries.

5. Is any technical support available for students in the case of hardware problems?

   ITS offers technical support for resolving network port and cable problems. For technical needs that fall outside of ResNet connectivity, students are directed to local vendors or to their computer manufacturer.