<p>dragon lady that is good advice for the alarm clock as my d has a learning loss and needs either a loud one or vibrating clock to get OOB. her loss is unilateral and she usually sleeps on her good side.</p>
<p>I think I’m going to go on the websites of some larger universities to look at their computer suggestions. Son’s small LAC “suggests that the student bring a computer.” How’s that for a computer suggestion? </p>
<p>And I’ll have to find out about whether the bookstore sells the software…they are clearly more in the “gift shop” category than some of the other college bookstores I’ve seen.</p>
<p>Yikes, I’m busy for a few days and now have to go through pages of posts!</p>
<h1>theorymom - my son signed up for the IMGD courses - he emailed the department chair and got permission. As for the computer, remind your son that WPI has the Jawa Pit (or whatever it’s called) where he’ll be able to scavenge computer parts to build his own or modify what he has. My son will be taking the desktop he built (which he fondly calls “Optimus Prime”) and a reasonable laptop he bought with graduation gift money. Do you get the feeling our kids need to be roommates?</h1>
<p>Dell has horrible customer service - will never buy another. Son’s laptop is an HP, bought at Provantage.com, which had his model at a very good price. If I recall correctly, WPI can get student discounts at HP and Apple in addition to Dell.</p>
<h1>theorymom:</h1>
<p>Here’s what he needs, as opposed to what he neeeeds.
[WPI</a> Computing & Communications Center (CCC) - Student Computers](<a href=“http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/CCC/Student/]WPI”>http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/CCC/Student/)
Note the dedicated graphics card for IMGD – but it doesn’t say he needs two of them! You could start out with this configuration on that Alienware system and build up within reason. The one with the glowing keyboard will meet the specs and then some (before adding any manufacturer upgrades at all to the $1,799 base model). The $1,199 one will too, although you might need to add RAM (I didn’t check the base specs).</p>
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<p>LOL oh yeah, he and his Dad are having the big “discussion” right now.
Fur is flying!</p>
<p>He does not want him to have the alienware machine anyway. He wants him not to have a gaming machine. (what I was trying to say but S was not listening) He can go play games with friends at the lab or in their rooms. He does not NEED a gaming machine so good he will sequester himself in his room to play on it. He thinks he is forward looking, but he is just so unaware of what the future holds he can’t possibly know what he will want or need in 3 years.</p>
<p>We are not probably going to win the argument, but the result will be the same. He won’t be getting the machine of his dreams. He’ll have to get a job next summer and save for it.</p>
<p>Firefly - yes they would be 2 little peas in a pod </p>
<p>I wish S could take a desk top. It would make the computer buying ordeal easier and it would be more satisfying for S I am sure. He would definitely be a scavenger.</p>
<p>I IM’d you re IMGD. I am getting a bit frustrated since 2 of his classes require “permission” and we can’t seem to get any feedback.</p>
<h1>tm, WPI suggests 32-bit (not 64), unless their recommendations are different for IMGD. In fact, they warn that not all of the software used there has been tested on 64-bit. We made a point of avoiding 64-bit.</h1>
<p>downtoearth, the vibration is apparently pretty intense, so I bet it’ll at least get her attention.</p>
<p>I looked up on the school’s website my son is going to and it has a link to the recommended systems, but they have yet to update the links for this year. How’s that for the ability to plan in advance?</p>
<p>Consumer Reports had a review of laptops. The most telling part was when they compared the customer service. Apple was the leader by a longshot, with the others barely making it above pathetic. Deciding factor for us, considering my S will be on his own in this situation</p>
<p>There was actually a “pathetic” marker? As I’ve said, any issues with two desktops and three laptops have been exceedingly rare, if at all.</p>
<p>Havent heard from S on his camping trip since yesterday morning on the drive up. He said he was turning off his phone to conserve power since he wouldn’t be able to charge it in a canoe. Just wondering how the weather is going and oh yeah… asking how it’s going to sleep in a tent when he can barely stand his pillows not being fluffed. :)</p>
<p>I have sent a specific question to the help desk re Vista (as 64 bit comes on many systems we are looking at) including the 64 bit premier issue of the home edition. I’ll see what they say before pulling any plug on a purchase though. They make the point that they have not tested it on all their software. But they are not necessarily suggesting it won’t work, just that they can’t guarantee that it will. They may have completed testing since then. I am hoping so anyway. The 64 bit does not raise the price considerably and we would go with that unless they directly advise us not to.</p>
<p>We have come up with an acceptable system for everyone at under 2K and with his 1K contribution, we are paying about what we thought we would pay. It is an HP so I sure hope their reliability issues have been solved. Still less than HALF of his original gamers dream machine. He begrudgingly admits that this one we may be willing to buy with his help, will probably last his full 4 years, 3 at least. We told him we can revisit new computers at that time.</p>
<p>H is now a MAC guy. S remains a PC guy for now - probably because of the gaming potential at this point. Also much of the work he will do in the game design coursework requires a PC not a Mac. Mac’s are quite expensive as well.</p>
<p>H worked as a program manager for Microsoft for many years, many years ago. He was in the computer industry before that as well. We started out with a Morrow, then a Mac (the very first one as a matter of fact), switched to PC platforms when he went to Microsoft, and now he is back to a Mac and very much prefers it. I take all the cast offs <g> So I may get a Mac again eventually.</g></p>
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His help == the $1000 you’re giving him for not smoking? Hee hee… This young man should go into International Negotiations! ;)</p>
<p>More seriously, glad you seem to have worked things out. If I’d been the kid, I’m not sure I’d have had the chutzpah to approach my parents about any computer after the adventure you went through with him this semester! You are strong parents!</p>
<p>Hey, I might have missed an update here – how did the painting turn out?</p>
<p>lol
we don’t mind the 1k bribe. we made it when he was about 6 and it worked. If kids don’t start smoking by the time they are in jr high, they probably won’t. $1000 would seem like a fortune to a young boy. Great incentive. We’ll keep our end of that bargain. And it is his money to do with what he wants. He has chosen to spend it on a computer that is more than he needs and may end up outdated despite his hopes. We had promised to buy him a computer for graduataion (just not a 5 friggin K dream machine) so with regard to that he really hadn’t approached us with buying one, we had offered it. He just was living in some dream world to think we would OK dropping that amount of dough on a laptop! We figured on spending about $1000 ,when all was said and done, on a notebook for him, and that is what we will be spending. The non-smoking money would have been given out regardless. He may regret spending it that way. I guess we’ll see.</p>
<p>The painting is <em>OK</em>. But I did not end up getting it finished in the way I wanted to. So I am disappointed that I had to present it. But I am still working on it and I think it will be a good one eventually. Not the success of my last term final, but you can’t hit one out of the park every time I guess. Thanks for asking.</p>
<p>hey Dragonlady, and CBBBlinker. I’ve been talking to Fireflyscout and another parent, Skithesteeps (that makes 5 of us CCers) of a WPI freshman, about trying to connect on drop off day. Feel free to IM me and I will let you know how to contact me that day. I am heading out of CC communication in just a few weeks, but will be taking the kiddo to college. It would be fun to connect with my cyber pals.</p>
<p>Drat! I just typed a whole reply here and it got lost in cyberspace! Gr-r-r. Here we go again…</p>
<p>Dragonlady – way too funny that you were at WPI! Now I’m sitting here trying to get a picture in my mind of who was sitting in front of me. I have heard about the Sonic Boom alarm clock. I mentioned it to S a while back and he was horrified at the thought. I’m probably overreacting, and he’ll end up being fine about getting up on time. I’ve probably been enabling him to some extent through HS, i.e. he knew I was there to throw him out of bed if he didn’t get up as soon as the alarm went off.</p>
<h1>TM – a meet up on drop off day is definitely in order! (I’ll PM you.) WPI seems to have a critical mass represented here on CC.</h1>
<p>S was totally into the whole IMGD thing – he went to the WPI Frontiers Program last summer and did IMGD. He submitted a game as his Flex Path project for admission. Now? He’s not sure he wants to major in it – he’s leaning more toward Computer Science, & Aeronautical & Mechanical Engineering. (Although he’d still like to take some IMGD courses.) He signed up for the Air Force ROTC program and ultimately wants to fly planes. Oh my! Who is this guy and what has he done with my S???</p>
<p>Re: computers – S has been a dedicated Mac user through HS. Our graduation gift to him is his college education, as it was for D. They both get it. D’s school provides laptops to freshmen, which get swapped out for a new model at the start of junior year. We’ll probably help S buy a new laptop for WPI – I have no idea what kind. (If the machine is in front of me, I can use it. Knowing what to buy? Not a clue.) I’ll leave the decisions up to S & H.</p>
<p>We’re still at the beach, it’s still raining, and now, just to make things really fun, our septic system is giving us major problems. I’m staying out of the way of the plumber, hoping for the best.</p>
<p>Oh happy day!!! The septic system is fixed. My joy knows no bounds!!!</p>
<p>Hi kids! I don’t expect to be on during the summer, will check back in after taking the D to Freshman Year. Getting ready for the big Grad Party for tommorrow & I am supposed to be cleaning right now, but this is more fun! Then taking our annual 2 week vacation on June 27th to July 11th. Everybody have a safe healthy summer!</p>
<h1>tm, I love the idea of meeting up on check-in day. I’ll IM you.</h1>
<p>CBBBlinker, I was about 4 rows in front of you, about 4 seats to the left. I have red hair, and I’m tall (not that you can tell when I am sitting!). As he was handing out the next gift, I looked back at you, so that I would recognize you if I saw you later in the day (to tell you about the Sonic Bomb). I think you noticed me looking at you.</p>
<p>I can relate about the septic system problem. A few weeks ago (on a holiday weekend, of course) we had a problem with blockage due to the ever-decreasing diameter of our aging pipes. The septic guy cleared the blockage, but he said I need to have the pipes power-snaked. I intended to take care of it before our party (tomorrow!), but you know how that goes… Oh well, I guess we’ll just hope for the best.</p>
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<p>Ooo – you’re good, dragonlady. I do remember you!!! See you again in August.</p>
<p>So the septic is fixed, but now we (temporarily) have no water as the plumber’s trying to do something that will prevent the same septic problem from happening again. Oh well, that just means I can’t do the chores I had planned – and get to spend time on CC instead!</p>