Computer Access

What are the computers like that we have access to down there? Will I be able to download pictures from my digital camera and burn them to a CD or DVD? What do other people with digital cameras do when their cameras fill up?

 

i dont have a laptop but is it worth mr buying one here in the UK and taking it to florida (or would it be cheaper to get one after i arrive?) also - if i do take one over how to i set up an inetrnet account - or is it just a case of turning on the laptop and away you go (like,is there wireless internet at the commons?) im a bit of a techno-phobe so sorry if i sound totaly clueless!!!

 

if its the same as vista way then there is a modem with about 4 ports to plug your laptop into using an ethernet cable. Its really fast broadband internet, included in the price of the rent. You just plug the cable in and your connected.

You could also buy a wireless router to plug into the modem... i think i saw them in walmart for like $60. means you dont have to sit a cables length away from the wall and more than 4 people can be connected at once.

Computer labs dont have that many computers... i think the one at the commons has less than vista way (well there are like 1500 less people at the commons) and they arnnt open all the time.

I would take a laptop with you if you can. You might not want to buy one out there incase something goes wrong when you get back, or the power conversion might be a problem (going from lower to higher voltage). Also some of the keys are in different places!!

 

i was looking at Laptops in walmart, they are pretty cheap, and with walmart being connected to Asda, if something went wrong wen u got back u could take it back to asda ( they do that ya know ;D )

im taking a laptop with me tho, when i was there i mainly used my roomies laptop, or used the learning centre at work to check emails and stuff, but id much rather have my own for uploading pics and updating my blog etc etc.

The commons has about 6 computers at the front desk but i always heard people complaining the internet wasnt working and stuff.

 

I didn't use the computers very much at all but from the little I used them you'll really want to have a laptop computer...

Also the internet has bandwith restrictions on so you may not be able to do certain things (game, use P2P programs, etc.)

 

hey hey,

im thinking about getting a laptop to go out with, however cost is an issue, jilly when you say cheap in Wallmart, how cheap are we talking ?, and did they look any good ?. not really up on the whole laptop thang, so any advice is hugely welcomed.

thank you

 

i bought my laptop out there about 4 years ago now. It's broken a few times under warranty and it's had to go back to the states for repair. Sometimes I've had to wait a while until it could get fixed so my battery is completely dead so I need to be plugged in constantly atm. So it can be difficult if you buy one out there and need it fixed!

I'll be taking mine with me though. I need my access and downloads!

 

oh and you don't need to worry about the voltage issues. Having the right plug is fine for the voltage and using a common or garden surge protector makes everything hunkydory

 

they had Acer laptops at walmart from about $500 dollars...i kno a few ppl who bought laptops out there. However as ppl have said, you may be as well spending a little extra and getting one at home so u have peace of mind should anything go wrong

 

well i think im getting to buy one from my sister - for about £300 - its only about a year old (her b/f got her a new imac thingy in october!! so her old laptop is not needed!) she had kinda promised it to my cousin whos at uni tho but he doesnt seem to want it so hopefully il get it!!! if not im just gonna get a cheap one before i leave (dell do a basic one for about £350.....) id rather get one before i go so i can get used to it - upload software etc (need my wee brother to help me with all this stuff - im pretty useless when it comes to computer stuff!!)

 

currys are doing 10% off at the moment so u could prob get a brand new laptop for not much more than £300 chick

 

yeah, because I'm always on my pc, I need to update my laptop and actually put itunes on it and my ipod software as well as music. no cds are going with me! well, not music ones. I'll take a few discs with tv shows and stuff to watch if I need them

 

yep, im gettin my new laptop for xmas and im just gonna start getting all my cds and software etc on there b4 going to florida

 

yea you won't be able to use anything like limewire cos they are blocked!

 

really!!! crap!

 

no way - what does everyone use to download music then????

 

i'm assuming it's better if you're using itunes to download to as well though? since you're paying for download as opposed to a p2p download?

 

im to stingy to pay for my downloads ....... thats why i like limewire so much - its free!!!! aww man - someone must know a way to get free downloads over there ......!!!!!
OOOh i just realised - in a few weeks it will be januray sales time - me thinks there will be cheap laptops on the go then aswell! ;D

 

my flatmates used some cheap download website. allmp3s.com or something similar!

or just get ur flatmates to transfer some of their music over msn... orrr.... buy cds, transfer them to itunes then take them back :-X

 

ok, ive been looking into the laptop situation, and can confirm i am officially bamboozled. what have ppl got and what should i be looking for ??
can push to £400, will want to store loadsa songs and the like on so any techno info would be super.

thanks again.