Regarding WIFI cards (or chips) to purchase

You will be very glad to know that by the time you arrive, CMU would have rolled out 802.11n almost campus-wide on academic buildings.

check this out: http://www.cmu.edu/computing/news/wireless2/schedule.html

Tim 22 April 2008

If you're bringing a harddisk over, make sure you carry it with you in your hand carry luggage. Otherwise you'll have a very big paperweight when you reach Pittsburgh. The big luggage scanners will wipe out your data, but the hand carry luggage scanners are alright though.

If you're thinking if getting a laptop, the prices here aren't really more expensive than getting them in S'pore. Plus you'll save some luggage space and weight.

Or come here and custom-make your own monster desktop!! Hehe... I love my Alienware...

And one more thing, if you're staying on campus in a dorm room, then most likely you'll need to get this little thingy called a balun which allows you to plug your network cable into the old network outlets in most of the dorm rooms. Bring a network cable along from home if you have a spare one. As for the baluns, DO NOT buy from the computer store on campus, they're a ripoff selling at over US$20 for one!! Instead, buy from us current freshies who will be moving off campus next sem when you arrive.

Alternatively, you can also go to Macdonalds to get a balun too, almost every Macdonalds in S'pore has them, just ask and see if you don't believe... usually they'll give you one for free.

Kevin

Derek says: So good meh? I think you need to purchase at least a happy meal.

/* Desktop tips: Buy and assemble practically everything here! No need to go hunting for (or spammed by bo chup lurkers at the SLS escalators) pricelists at SLS....all the great deals are on the Internet. Oh oops, you don't have a computer to surf the Web with, that's why you're reading this, stupid TJ. Well clusters or friends provide you with Net access too! Anyway, the best deals are usually on www.newegg.com (and also, those price grabbing websites will link you to the lowest prices) and after conversion, they are usually cheaper than Sim Lim Square prices. Plextor DVD burner for US$150 as opposed to S$450 for example.

Consider yourself free from having to go all about SLS for the best deals (there usually aren't any)! Consider yourself free from having to sheepishly go back into the same store with the salesperson with the I-told-you-so look after realising that that store DOES have the cheapest price in SLS! Consider yourself free from the terrible service at Unlimited, Laser and Jorjy's! Freedom!!!! TJ */

/*Tips from SSA Prez... haha, get a MAC LAPTOP.. yes, the lovely Apple G4 powerbook (G5 should be out soon)... now is the time to experience OS X and the beauty of the Apple systems... dont worry, CMU is one of the rare school take actually supports apple (some undertable deal?).... dont get a cheesy toshiba or IBm or sony laptop... get a mac... as for desktop, i recommend you go with DIY to get the most bang for the buck

Comp Spec:

Apple G4 Tibook 800Mhz G4 512 meg rams 40gb HD 20gb iPod!!!

PC Desktop: 2.5 ghz P4 512 meg Ram 80gb System drive 200gb Storage drive 2 X 120gb Video/Audio Raid array G550 Matrox dual head (need to upgrade this guy) M-Audio Audiohphile 24/96 Canopus DV Storm 2 Pioneer A04 DVD burner Behringer 1622 mixer Shuttle Xpress controller 2 X 22" Mitsubushi Moniters

Marcus*/

Get a Tablet PC! It's a great way to jot down notes. No need to carry huge files of paper around, no need to use a hole-puncher at all, keep everything digitally in your tablet, and jot notes there too! It's a wonderful way of keeping track of all your studying stuff, and easy to maintain too, just back it up periodically in case your tablet dies on you.. The best thing is that your notes can be converted to pdf and stuff, so that helps propagate notes around to people who fall asleep =)

I got a Toshiba M200, and overall I love it! Sure, it had hard disk issues, and sounds etc, but that's just the parts failing, the essence that is the tablet is still wonderful! As I speak, my tablet is in the Toshiba service centre again sob sob. But don't like that dissuade you from a tablet! Just get a different brand at most =)

Contact me if you want a demo of tablet features and see how notes look like. Writing on a tablet is almost like on paper except that you can erase your stuff instantly if you make mistakes (or if you doodle a lot), and there's of course the cool factor.

Som