Your steps for preparation:

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Whitman highly recommends that you have a computer of your own for your education.  Having your own computer is NOT a requirement however. You may find that your needs are met by computers available for general use on the Whitman campus (in general use computer labs and in Penrose library, see more details below).  As has been the case during the Covid19 pandemic, there There may very likely be cases where having a computer (possibly substituted by a tablet or smartphone) may become critical.  In such cases, if you do not have access to a computer, please contact the Dean of StudentTechnology Service's office Help Desk for assistance.

If I don't bring a computer, are there ones for me to use? 

Yes!  Students have access to computers in the general computing labs in Maxey Hall, Reid Campus Center, and Penrose Library. These facilities house Windows PCs, Macs, black & white Laserjet printers, color printer (library only), scanners, and even large-format color plotter printing (available in the Maxey and Science Computer Labs by appointment).  Laptops Laptops are also available for checkout and use within the Library, offered on a first come first served basis for a four-hour checkout period (Windows, Mac, & Chromebook). The Multimedia Development lab in Hunter Conservatory houses Macs with multimedia software (Adobe apps, Apple apps), image scanning, and more. Several academic departments, including art, music, math, geology, and physics provide specialized computer facilities for their students as well.

But...

We are living through the Coronavirus pandemic.  Many of the facilities listed above may either have limited availability or be altogether closed.  For this reason, if you need If you need a computer to do your schoolwork and you don't have one, please contact the Bridget Jacobson (jacobsbk@whitmanTechnology Services Help Desk (helpdesk@whitman.edu, or 509-527-51584976) in the Dean of Students office for assistance. They have Chromebooks available to checkout.

What if I don't bring other things listed on this web page that are "recommended"?

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As long as the computer is able to run at least Windows 10 or Mac OS 11 "Big SurmacOS 12 "Monterey", it should be okay. Be sure your computer is up to date with all security patches and running the latest version of the operating system.  Though we don't officially support it, most modern Linux distributions should be fairly compatible with our systems, and will run quite well on older computers.  Further:

• If you have a Windows PC, it should have at least an Intel I3 processor (intel I5 recommended) with 8GB RAM (16GB recommended), running Windows 10 or higher
• If you have an Apple Mac, it should have at least an Intel I3 processor (Apple m1  recommended) with 8GB RAM (16GB recommended), running OS X 11 "Big SurmacOS 12 "Monterey" or higher.

Keep in mind that older computer may not continue to last more than a year or two. And even if it is able to run the necessary software now, that may cease to be the case in a year or two.

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Other technology we recommend

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Wi-

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Fi and network considerations

Whitman's wi-fi network is available throughout the campus  You can connect to the wireless Internet when you are working in the library, the campus center, Ankeny field, or any academic buildings, and more.  (Technical note: Whitman's wireless network broadcasts a  Wireless-B (802.11b) signal which any Wireless-G (802.11g), Wireless-N (802.11n)  or higher card can receive. Especially for Windows computers, supports WiFi3, WiFi4, WiFi5  or higher. Especially for Windows computers, it's worth confirming before buying that the computer's wifi capabilities support these B, G, or N or higher protocols.)

But...

It's always possible to encounter wi-fi interruptions in particular places/occasions.  If this happens, it can be inconvenient or intrusive to your learning.  Technology Services is doing everything it possibly can to ensure these interruptions to wi-fi don't happen, but just in case, we recommend you bring an ethernet cable (and an ethernet adapter if necessary) so you can use our wired network. (See "How much of the campus is wired?" below.)

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Your classwork may necessitate connecting to certain interactive online resources/events-- this is especially true during the Coronavirus pandemic.  Any headset with a microphone made to be used with a computer will work, though you may wish to consider headsets that are "over the ear" rather than "ear buds" due to their comfort and increased ability to block out surrounding sound.  If you own earphones for a smartphone, these may in some instances work with your computer.  Try them out!

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Your classwork may necessitate connecting to certain interactive online resources/events-- this is especially true during the Coronavirus pandemic.  Many, but not all, computers have built-in webcams.  If your computer doesn't have one, we recommend purchasing any webcam made for plugging in to a computer.  Do make sure that before purchasing a webcam you find out what kind of plug it has-- the most common one is USB.  Make sure your computer has a USB port!  If you do not, determine the name of the port that you do have (a prevalent example is USB-C) then google that port name plus the word "adapter."  If the results are confusing, or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Technology Services for assistance.

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Whitman has printers available for your use in a wide variety of locations. (Here's how to connect to those printers.)  Bringing a small personal inkjet printer for your room is entirely optional.  It needs to be connected to your computer via USB, and not wireless, as wireless printers cannot be connected to our network.

But...

We are living through the Coronavirus pandemic.  Campus printers and the facilities that house them may either have limited availability or be altogether closed.  At the time of this writing, we are continuing to explore and develop as many capacities for student printing as possible.  Keeping this in mind, you may wish to bring a small printer with you to Whitman.  Rest assured that even without your own printer, there will be printing open to you at Whitman, even during this pandemic  Bringing a small personal inkjet printer for your room is entirely optional.  It needs to be connected to your computer via USB, and not wireless, as wireless printers cannot be connected to our network.

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About other devices:  Apple TV, Chromecast, Smart TVs, wi-fi routers, Gaming Consoles

• Apple TV, Chromecast, Smart TVs, Gaming Consoles, and other network devices: Most will work and can be registered on the Whitman network if they have a MAC (hardware) address.  You'll need to register them on our "whitman_devices" wi-fi network, be sure to fill out this form.  Please be aware that Chromecast sticks will not work.
• Wireless routers and modems: These devices are not allowed on the Whitman network. There are wireless access points all over campus and ethernet ports in every room in the residence halls for student use.
  

Software/Apps

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What software will I need?

Microsoft Office and a web browser or two should be sufficient for the vast majority of your activities at Whitman.  Beyond the basics, most specialized software that would be required by students depends heavily on specific classes. Anything that cannot be obtained for free will be available in one or more computer lab around campus. In general, the only software students need is an "office/productivity suite" and a modern web browser.

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Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc), LibreOffice, Google apps:  free!

Microsoft Office is installed on most Whitman-owned computers, including both Windows and Mac computers found in our computer labs.

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