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student:firstyearstartup:start [2020/09/15 21:34] – normanapstudent:firstyearstartup:start [2022/06/28 11:46] – [Computer Guidelines] bowersjc
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 ====== First Year Start-up Guide ====== ====== First Year Start-up Guide ======
 +
 +===== Computer Guidelines =====
 +
 +Most of our students have laptops: they're useful for your college career and being able to transport your CS work around with you. However, laptops are not required. The CS labs provide the necessary resources for students to complete work for any of their CS classes. 
 +
 +If you're wondering which laptop is right for you, it's more a question of personal preference than recommended specs. One of the most important considerations is how large/heavy it will be to carry around all day. 13-inch is popular among students and faculty. 15-inch has a nicer display but costs more and is heavier. 
 +
 +Our recommended minimum specs for a laptop: i5/r5 processor, 16gb of ram, 256gb SSD.
 +
 +Many professors use PC laptops (mostly running Linux Mint) and many professors use MacBook Pros. If you are considering a Mac, know that Apple tends to keep the same prices and upgrade the hardware periodically. Keep an eye on [[http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Retina_MacBook_Pro|MacRumors]] to know when to buy. And order via the [[http://store.apple.com/us-hed/|Apple Store for Education]] to get the student discount. Or just get yourself a reasonable PC and install [[http://www.linuxmint.com/|Linux Mint]] as a 2nd OS -- that's what we use in the CS labs.
 +
 +Also note that Apple has recently switched from Intel chips to Apple-made silicon. Certain software, like VMWare, may not work properly yet with the new hardware. This generally should not be a problem, especially not in any core class, but we have not thoroughly vetted the new hardware with all of our classes yet. 
  
 ===== How do Office Hours Work? ===== ===== How do Office Hours Work? =====
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 You can find CS professor office hours on the [[department:officehours:start| Faculty Office Hours ]] page. Additionally, the syllabus for each of your courses should list the office hours for that professor. Always check the syllabus before sending an email asking when office hours are.  You can find CS professor office hours on the [[department:officehours:start| Faculty Office Hours ]] page. Additionally, the syllabus for each of your courses should list the office hours for that professor. Always check the syllabus before sending an email asking when office hours are. 
 +
 ===== Departmental Clubs ===== ===== Departmental Clubs =====