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▢ Decide on a laptop or desktop computer
▢ Decide on Mac or Windows (and how about a Chromebook?)
▢ Decide on your backup strategy, so you don't lose your work.
▢ Acquire an ethernet cable and adaptor if you don't own them
▢ Acquire a headset with microphone if you don't own one
▢ Acquire a webcam if your computer doesn't have one built-in
▢ Acquire a personal printer (optional)
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▢ Update your web browser (Chrome, Firefox) to the latest version
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Deciding a laptop or a desktop computer
It really depends on your personal work style and preferences.
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Many major manufacturers, such as Dell or Apple, offer educational discounts to students (more info below). Purchasing an extended warranty is advisable and bringing any warranty information and parts/cables that came with your computer to campus is recommended in case service work is needed.Before you even arrive on-campus, put together a backup plan. Options include: an external hard drive and online services like Google Drive, Office 365, or Box. There are few things worse than losing years worth of data when your computer's main drive misbehaves.
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Windows (and what about Chromebooks?)
Mac or Windows... this is entirely your preference. Both platforms are fully supported by Whitman and have full access to the college’s resources, including printers and networks. We estimate that student computers are split about 50/5060/40 (Mac/Windows). The decision comes down to personal preference, so research which will best suit your needs. If there are particular Major areas of study you are interested in at Whitman, you may wish to consult with those departments to see if they have any advice in this matter, but this is entirely optional. No Major at Whitman will require you to own a particular type of computer.
A word about Chromebooks: These wonderful, low cost computers will work in many cases at Whitman, but not all. If you bring one of these, be prepared to encounter difficulties in properly formatting documents for class assignments. You will also not be able to install software used in your classes (often free of charge) because Chromebooks will not allow software that runs outside of the Chrome web browser to be installed on the computer.
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Before you arrive on-campus, put together a backup plan. Options include: an external hard drive and online services like Google Drive, Office 365, or Box. There are few things worse than losing years worth of data when your computer's main drive misbehaves.
How much of the campus is wired?
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- For an old PC, you'll want to have at least an Intel I3 processor with 8GB RAM (recommend 8GB16GB recommended), running Windows 10.
- For an old Macintosh, you'll want at least an Intel I3 processor with 8GB RAM (recommend 8GB16GB recommended), running OS X (at least version 10.14).
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