Please help in understanding computer stuff list of dorm essentials

rrjs82 · 08-02-2009, 10:51 PM

Hi, I am mom of an incoming freshman. We just bought her a laptop, the Dell Studio XPS13. Anyway, I am looking on the UD list of "room essentials" and there are a few items relating to computer stuff and I do not know exactly what they are or if we need them. Never have had a laptop, or any of this wireless stuff so I would appreciate any help.

What is/do we need 1) Ethernet card/cable (I think laptop includes ethernet card? What about cable? Do I have to by that? 2) It lists seperately "power strips with an internal circuit breaker", and "surge supressors". Are these two different things (or are there surge supressors that are also power strips with circuit breakers?). If they are different what is each used for? Is the surge suppressor for the laptop and the power strip with circuit breaker for other appliances?

Sorry to be so clueless. Any help would be appreciated, I want to start buying this stuff and get everything in order. I'm starting to panic and feel so overwhelmed with all that is needed.

whldch · 08-03-2009, 08:24 AM

Your child's laptop should be able to connect wirelessly and by way of a wired connection. Most new laptops have this built in, meaning you should not have to buy any type of card. You should check at home to see that both are working. Hopefully your child knows how to do this, it's easy (at least the second time). In the dorm, it is safer and faster to use the wired network, this requires ethernet cable. We got 25 feet. I would get it on Ebay or local computer shows for under $10, it is much more expensive at local stores. It is called CAT5 cable. I once bought like 10 for my child's friends for $5 each when Comp USA sold it for like $60. You should get a half way decent surge protector to plug all this stuff into behind the desk. This will serve as power strip and circuit breaker for the electronic necessities. These can run from $2.99 to $50 or more. I got ones for $10-15, any hardware store can assist. Once you get to school, your child has to go on the Udel site and establish his/her presence and get what is called an IP address. Takes 10 minutes or so and should be done for wired and wireless access. It is menu driven. Good luck. Udel is a great place.

the_mom · 08-03-2009, 10:20 AM

I second the 25ft cable suggestion. Depending on how the furniture gets setup, the desk can be pretty far away from the outlet.
There are IT folks around to help if you have any problems getting your computer connected.

rrjs82 · 08-05-2009, 06:21 PM

Thanks for the info. Just to be clear - I don't need both a surge protector and a power strip with internal circuit breaker? Why do they have both things on the UDEL list for "room essentials"?

whldch · 08-06-2009, 10:36 AM

Most are one and the same. Unless the power strip is real cheap it will contain a surge protector that has a built in circuit breaker. The label usually tells you the level of surge protection in joules which most people don't understand. Go to a hardware store you trust and tell them what you need, it should run you $10-15.