desiw

Can anyone advise on what computer to get and if there are any applications/software that the school suggests? Also, I heard that wireless connection is spotty in some RCs. We were thinking about the Macbook Pro. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Booklady

Here you go:
Student purchasing options | Yale ITS
Student Technology Collaborative recommendations | Yale ITS

Booklady

I just wanted to add that the tech support at Yale is excellent. D has a Dell laptop, and has had a few problems with it. We got the 4-year warranty, which has more than paid for itself: she's had the screen and keyboard replaced, and a number of minor issues resolved, all free of charge. For the minor problems, a tech support person came to her room to fix them!

desiw

Thanks Booklady! As a general question to those parents of Yale students or pre-frosh: Did you go with a Mac or PC (Dell, etc.)? Just wondering if students found one better than the other.

eating food

I currently have a mac and I'm getting a new one for next year! Supposedly the Mac to PC ratio is about 1:1.

entomom

My D has a MacBook Pro and loves it. She's in Davenport and has had no connection problems that I've heard of (not so for cell phone reception ). For software she uses MS Office for Mac (Word, Excell & PowerPoint), it's less than $100 for academic purchase.

desiw

Thanks so much for your help, Entomom & Eating Food! We were leaning toward the MacBook Pro, but he's never had a mac before. Entomom: what do you mean by "academic purchase?" (Sorry if this is a stupid question).

eating food

Yeah... when I got my first mac, I had never had one before either. They're extremely easy to pick up - especially so for Yale 2013 admits .

entomom

Not a stupid question at all! Students and faculty can purchase software at reduced rates at just about any college vendor. They just have to show their university ID or other proof of enrollment. Here's the info for Y:

Main page:
Buying Computer Hardware and Software | Computers | Telephones, TV, Computers | Planning Your Move | Yale College | Class of 2013

MS Office:
e-academy: Microsoft Student Select Program | Yale ITS

Other software:
Software Library & Resources | Yale ITS

This was the first Mac for our family too. My D (who's pretty middle-of-the-road as far as understanding computers) says she'll never go back to a PC again. I just bought us an iMac for home, and I agree .

mc1600

will students know of their room assignments in addition to their roommates during the summer? not only what room, but what kind of furniture is in the room?

amlmd

mc1600, here's the link to the answers to all your questions:

Rooming Information | Planning Your Move | Yale College | Class of 2013

mc1600

thank you very much. will they also tell how how many doubles and singles are in your room?

goolsci

Yes, when you get the rooming assignments over the summer you get a list of all rooming assignments in your college. From that you can determine who is in your entryway, suite, and bedroom.

So yes, you get your rooming assignment in addition to your roommate and suitemate assignment. Furniture is very standard. The common room is unfurnished. The bedrooms you get a bed, a desk, a chair, a dresser and some type of closet/wardrobe.

stringkeymom

back to computer questions: do any students use desktops or are they all on laptops? my son has a macbook, but the screen is small (in my opinion) and much more fatiguing on the eyes than the large flatscreen we have on our desktop. i'd like to send him with both options so he could use the laptop to take notes in class, library, etc.

njdad

laptop only. desktops are dinosaurs. you can bring a laptop home on vacations, etc.