Laptops - ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY?

[txc205]

Do we have to have a laptop on the rock? Aren't the computer labs open late?

[Suzzallo]

You should have a laptop. You might be interested in sharing files with friends or download study materials from upper class men. The amount of file to download/sharing is huge (maybe up go 5 GB of notes, software, lab video, recording lecture). School only give you few hundreds MB diskspace on the network drive. Bring USB pen drive too.

[oc23]

laptops aren't ABSOLUTELY necessary, but they're nice to have -- very convenient.

i mainly used mine for histo lab in 1st semester, anatomy in 2nd semester, and path this semester.

some people bring their laptops to class to type notes or follow along with slide presentations. but there are monitors all around the classrooms, so unless you're really nearsighted, it's not an absolute necessity.

[Taliessence]

Suzzallo..what type of USB pen drive are you talking about? What do you use it for?
THanks


You should have a laptop. You might be interested in sharing files with friends or download study materials from upper class men. The amount of file to download/sharing is huge (maybe up go 5 GB of notes, software, lab video, recording lecture). School only give you few hundreds MB diskspace on the network drive. Bring USB pen drive too.

[oc23]

it's a memory stick. it's small (size of the thumb or a little longer), and you stick it to the usb port of the computer. the capacities range from 32mb to 2gb. it's more often called a flash drive.

[Taliessence]

Thanks!


it's a memory stick. it's small (size of the thumb or a little longer), and you stick it to the usb port of the computer. the capacities range from 32mb to 2gb. it's more often called a flash drive.

[Dru]

Another good accessory to take along is a fire wire, or a wire that you can hook between two lap-tops to trade information.

If you plan to use your laptop as a sterio or movie-player, a set of "better" speakers is also a good investment.

Dru

[rossmedicalstudent2004]

hi,

i think you'll find life much better with a laptop, and they're relativelyu inexpensive to buy.

cheers :shock: :D

[neb]

What size flash drive do we need ?

[Suzzallo]

What size flash drive do we need ?

256 MB is good enough.

[CountMacula]

What size flash drive do we need ?

256 MB is good enough.

Though if you can get a 1G then you can flash a whole CD.
2 or more actually because many of the class CDs floating around don't fill up the whole CD capacity.

[bevo]

a little clarification

firewire isn't used to connect 2 computers together. Its another format, like usb. Its technical name is IEEE1394 or something like that.

Before usb 2.0 came out it was the fastest means of connecting peripheral devices out there, like digital video cameras, to your computer. Until recently, it was pretty much only standard on apple computers.

USB comes into pretty much 2 flavors. 1.1 and 2.0 . 2.0 is MUCH faster than 1.1. Same uses as firewire.

You dont use these 2 standards to hook up computers normally. Although there is a special usb cable that will allow you to connect 2 computers together with the help of some software. Its not your standard usb cable though. It'll have a little box in the middle of the cable.

Another option is a an ethernet/crossover cable. Its an ethernet cord that has some wires crossed into a different arrangement that will allow you to connect 2 computers via ethernet without the use of an ethernet hub.

Also, I think if you have 2 wireless network cards and use ad hoc? mode that it'll be able to connect the 2 wireless cards without the use of a wireless hub.
(but you need to get into the card properties to get it working)

bluetooth also isn't wireless. bluetooth a a rapidly expanding technology to connect you're peripherals to you computer without the use of wires and what not. For example, connect your home computer to your printer, pda, phone, etc

[neb]

My laptop doesn't have a cd-rw drive would it be a good idea to get one before I come in May. How much easier will it make my life if at all?

[Hobbes1845]

Does it matter which platform of computer you bring, or are Mac's generally not tolerated by the system?

[Suzzallo]

What size flash drive do we need ?

256 MB is good enough.

Though if you can get a 1G then you can flash a whole CD.
2 or more actually because many of the class CDs floating around don't fill up the whole CD capacity.

1 GB of pen drive is not cost effective. 256 MB pen drive and below is cheap (around $60) but if you go beyond 256MB the price goes up like crazy. For example, 1 GB pen drive cost $348. If you want spend that much for USB storage, you should buy Pockey USB external hard drive (40 GB, $250) or iPod (20 GB, $399). They're small and convenient too.
You can also listen to music and record lecture using iPod.

[link626]

you could also get a mike and use your laptop as a tape recorder.... using the right software of course.

it seems a laptop will be worth more than your $800 investment in getting one.

[Junito]

This may seem like a stupid question, but what is the power source in the classrooms? I have a laptop and I installed a USB 2.0 card that requires its own power supply, and I plan on using various devices at the same time when classes are going on. My problem is will I have enough sockets? Should I bring my own power surge protector? Is the electrical out put in the university (ie classrooms and library) in the Dominican or US format? I would appreciate any input on this matter.

Juni711

[MitchDC]

I'm not sure what devices you are planning to use during lectures, but the plug in the newer classes are 110 (us power). But, you'll only have one outlet per seat.

MitchDC

[Nooks]

Oh tahts cool - just got mine -- I will have to read the manual -- is it complicated?

[bimtob]

I just ordered my laptop today!
iBook G4 933

Nooks,
If you want to record with your ipod you need one of these:
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/italk/
I'm thinking about maybe getting one, but I don't know how useful it would be for me to record lectures. Besides I need all that space for music :wink:
I've got most of my CD collection in it already. I plan on not bringing all those CD's so I'm digitizing all my music.

[MitchDC]

Uh oh - Macs are not recommended by the University for use with the University network or the local phone company for Internet access at home. I hope you knew that.

MitchDC

I just ordered my laptop today!
iBook G4 933

Nooks,
If you want to record with your ipod you need one of these:
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/italk/
I'm thinking about maybe getting one, but I don't know how useful it would be for me to record lectures. Besides I need all that space for music :wink:
I've got most of my CD collection in it already. I plan on not bringing all those CD's so I'm digitizing all my music.

[bimtob]

Thanks MitchDC

The key word is recommended. In my experience this pretty much means that if you can't make it work they won't help you. Macs, Linux computers, etc. WILL work with any TCP/IP network (which is what most networks these days are), and can even connect to windows network shares and domains, but if the network guys don't know your platform then you're on your own to know how to make your computer work with their network.
In my previous life before getting this crazy medicine idea I was a computer/network guy so I think I can manage.
When I get down there and get set up I'll be glad to help any fellow mac users out (when not studying). :wink:

[Junito]

I would like to have either a recorder or a digital camcorder from which I can record each lecture. Does the university have this technology available? Since it is going high tech, maybe it can record each lecture and have them available for students. So I definitely will need one surge protector device (to provide extra power hook ups for my devices: Laptop, digital camcorder or recorder).

Juni711

[link626]

I would like to have either a recorder or a digital camcorder from which I can record each lecture. Does the university have this technology available? Since it is going high tech, maybe it can record each lecture and have them available for students. So I definitely will need one surge protector device (to provide extra power hook ups for my devices: Laptop, digital camcorder or recorder).

Juni711


looks like you're set.

how many people actually record the lectures?

[MitchDC]

I'd say about 5 students in our class recorded lectures. More started out doing so, but just didn't have another 8 hours to re-hash a lecture every day. They give you good lecture notes and most feel that recording the lectures is not necessary, or time efficient. Of coures, you are more than welcome to record the lectures if you want.

MitchDC