No. Texas A&M recommends all students have a personal computer if it is financially feasible, but we do not require it. CIS offers a full range of computing equipment in our Open Access Labs so that nothing you might need for your classes should be unavailable to you.
Computers will be an integral part of your education at Texas A&M. You will have to write papers, search the Internet, access email, view online class material, and do many other things that require a computer. The acquisition of information technology skills should also be seen as a major part of your higher education. While several hundred systems are available in the labs for student use, most students find having their own computers far more convenient than relying on those in the computing lab.
No. Texas A&M does not require you to own a specific model of computer, so bringing an old one from home is fine. We would, however, encourage you to check beforehand that you have the networking equipment necessary to connect to the Internet and that the computer can run the software that you need.
Texas A&M and CIS make no recommendations as to which platform of computer you should bring. All other things being equal, bring the one with which you are the most comfortable. However, while there is no campus-wide preference on platform, you are encouraged to talk to the academic advisor for your department because some colleges and departments do have platform preferences.
Desktops and laptops, are both widely used on campus. They both present their own advantages and disadvantages. Desktops tend to be cheaper and offer higher computing performance. Laptops, on the other hand, are portable and offer the advantage of wireless connectivity from most areas on campus.
While Texas A&M does not have a campus-wide recommendation, we do advise that you talk to your academic advisor, because some departments that do have preferences.
Professional quality black-and-white and color printing is available in the Open Access Labs around campus. Depending on your printing needs, even if you go beyond your free printing quota the cost to print on campus through the labs is often less than purchasing a printer, ink, paper, etc. The one major advantage of having your own printer is its availability for printing out rough drafts and having print outs readily available without having to walk to one of the labs.
If you are living on campus and want to connect to the residential network (ResNet), make sure you have the following items for your computer.
An Ethernet card
You'll need an Ethernet card or
NIC installed on your computer to be able
to connect to the Internet. The card should be auto-sensing 10/100
Base-T and have an RJ-45 connection (this may be the same thing you
already have
hooked up to your cable modem or DSL at home.) Almost all new computers
already have one installed. If you don't have an Ethernet
card, most
major electronics retailers carry them.
An Ethernet cable
You'll also need a Category(or CAT)-5, 5E, or -6 twisted-pair Ethernet cable with
RJ-45 connections that's 15 to 20 feet long* (but not longer than 20 feet).
These cables should be available at any electronics or computer store.
*The reason for this length is that there are two Ethernet jacks in each room (one for each occupant), and both of the jacks are in the same spot in the room. Typically, one desk is a lot closer to the connections than the other, so one resident usually ends up having to "snake" some cable around furniture or corners to connect it to the computer.
Wireless Internet access (called tamulink) requires that your laptop be equipped with a wireless networking card. This wireless device must be IEEE 802.11b/g Wi-Fi compliant. Such cards can be found at most computing retail stores or added by your vendor when buying a new computer.
Unapproved attachment of wireless access points is strictly prohibited in Texas A&M residence halls. These devices cause major disruptions and security risks in ResNet and cause outages for fellow students. Any access point found active on ResNet can cause the port to be disabled and the user will need to contact Help Desk Central to re-enable connection.
Maybe, it depends on what is wrong with it. The first step is to figure out what the problem is. For this kind of diagnosis we recommend calling Help Desk Central at (979) 845-8300. They are open 24/7 and can talk you through most problems. They also have technicians who focus on hardware and connectivity issures that require a more hands-on approach to the situation.
For a modest charge Help Desk Repair Services can do limited troubleshooting and installation of software and some hardware. For serious problems, if you own a Dell that is still under warranty, the PC Repair shop is a certified Dell warranty center, so you can bring your computer to be fixed on campus rather than having to send it out of town to Dell.
A computer vendor often tries to sell you software packages when you buy a computer. Check with us first to see if we have better deals, in most cases we do.
Until you get into specialized classes, most students will only need the basics when it comes to software. Web browsers and email clients can easily be downloaded from the Internet. Office suite, Windows upgrades, anti-virus software, and more can be obtained at steep discounts (or even free!) from the university at http://software.tamu.edu. Some site licensed software is also available to students through the SELL.
New computer accessories are coming on to the market all the time. Some of these are just toys, but some can be of real benefit.