<p>one other tip kind of back up… get in the habit of emailing your files/homework to yourself in a gmail type mail…that way can access it from any computer at any time…ie in the library or yours crashes and you can use someone elses if you open your gmail.</p>
<p>it would never fail, if there was a problem with omputer it would happen late at night (so backed up or not…no access to it) and the homework was due in the am. if he emailed to gmail acct…could go to roommates computer open his gmail, edit in a google doc and print.</p>
<p>D may major in a science or math…not computer science, not engineering. Is a Mac just as good as a PC for those?</p>
<p>And here’s my computer idiocy story…which we are just beginning to be able to talk about now at home.</p>
<p>Because of fall sports, D did most of her college apps over Christmas break. The morning of December 20, S’16 wants to play a computer game which requires a download. I say okay and start the download. OF COURSE it is a virus, which eats all the essays (none of which had been uploaded to the Common App yet), does some other funky stuff and requires our computer guy to come and take the computer away for three days. </p>
<p>A USB hub… I never thought of that. Adding that to the list.</p>
<p>Also I bought plane tickets for move-in today! I also bought a blazer, a pair of shoes, some scrapbooking supplies, and socks yesterday. I’m crossing stuff off my list… but then I keep adding things.</p>
<p>I absolutely love reading all the graduation and prom stories. Thank you so much for sharing them. </p>
<p>Big thanks and hugs to BT and KS!</p>
<p>ML, I’m flying PMKjr up to Boston on Wednesday!</p>
<p>At Northeastern their summer reading program is called First Pages and everyone reads the book; faculty, staff, freshman and upperclassman. The book this year is Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, who will be coming to speak at NU the first week of classes. I think that is so cool! PMKjr is planning on taking the book with him to camp, so I’ve just started it and so far I like it very much.</p>
<p>Ok, hold onto your hats, PMKjr registered for his classes this morning! He had been sent a form to fill out of classes he was interested in and we thought he’d register at orientation in a few weeks. Then his advisor called this morning and now he’s done! Wow! We’re so excited for him! He’s taking four classes (two with labs) and two seminars (one for students still undecided on major and one about being in honors college.) None of the colleges I attended had seminars, so I’m not exactly sure what that means but his advisor said they were required.</p>
<p>The class I’m most interested to see what he thinks of is Computer Science as lately he has been kicking that around as a possible major (& that’s why he has a PC!) At first I thought that CS sounded like a limited major (not that I shared that with my son!) but as my sister pointed out, I was just being a dinosaur. Every industry uses computers, even art, so it’s really a major with endless potential. Now I feel very modern!</p>
<p>For backing up, in addition to emailing files to yourself, we use an online service for five dollars per month unlimited. It backs up automatic and we don’t have to think about it anymore. You choose what directories to backup and that’s all.</p>
<p>mpabon, could you share the name of the site (crpytically, I guess, so CC doesn’t get upset)? I looked into one, but the storage space was limited. I have a LOT of files I should back up every month. Thanks!</p>
<p>GSharp obviously know what he’s talking about and I don’t know what my older son’s most recent computer cost because he bought it with his own money. He’s hard on his computers, both the Dell and the Lenovo he’s had have physically fallen apart. (Buttons don’t work, hinges have broken.) Also if your kid is a space cadet you might not want them to get a wireless mouse, my kid has replaced his a couple of time. (Also his own money!)</p>
<p>pmk, good luck to your son on his trip! Boston is nice this time of year - not too hot yet. That’s great he could register for classes already! I’m hoping DS figures things out by himself OK when he’s at orientation next week.</p>
<p>Just curious: Is there a reason y’all are all saying Gmail, as opposed to another e-mail provider? Does Gmail have magical powers of which I’m unaware?</p>
<p>YDS, that’s what my kids use for everything else. so it’s easier for them to do it on gmail than another service – they’re more likely to remember to back up…</p>
<p>the reason son uses gmail, is 1) accessible from any computer 2) if the homework is unfinished he can use the google doc to edit it and then print it out. . maybe yahoo does too not sure</p>
<p>Well S2 is signed up for an intensive Arabic course this summer. It’s just three weeks, but about 4 hours a day. He’s going to have to do four years of language if he sticks with International Relations. Language has never been his strong suit. We figure either he can get a jump on first year Arabic so he’s not too at sea. Or if he’s unexpectedly good at it, he might place into a more advanced course. Or he could decide Arabic is too hard and do a different language at Tufts. </p>
<p>He didn’t have a job, but this will still give him time to do some of the work I’d like him to do for my office during the second half of the summer along with getting wisdom teeth out and other fun stuff.</p>