College of Engineering
            Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences
                          Instructional Support Group

/share/b/pub/buyers-guide.help

								Aug 17 2011


Question:  

	What kind of computer should I buy?

Answer: 

	No specific computer or laptop is required for EE and CS courses,
	so the decision is really your personal preference.  Windows, Mac 
	and Linux are all workable.  If you are undecided, we recommend 
	that you wait to see what software they would use for the courses 
	you are in, and talk with other students before deciding.
	
	Any PC is a safe bet; you can always run Windows.  Intel-based 
	Macs can now run Windows, too.
	
	The EE courses use mostly Windows computers.  The CS courses
	favor UNIX, so you might also want to run Linux.  The computer 
	graphics instructors like the Macs (which have a UNIX operating 
	system underneath the Mac window manager), so if you like Macs 
	they are a good choice too.

	The dorms have very good computer support (including computer labs).  
	Also, the campus has wireless networks, so laptop users can usually 
	get connected in classrooms, etc.  (http://airbears.berkeley.edu)

	Some references:

	http://cab.berkeley.edu/                        # free software
	http://inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~instcd/          # free software
	http://www.tsw.berkeley.edu/                    # discounted computers 
	http://www.rescomp.berkeley.edu/                # computers in dorms
	http://airbears.berkeley.edu/		        # UCB wireless network
	http://inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/connecting.html	# access EECS computers


  Good luck!


 						EECS Instructional Support
						378/384/386 Cory, 333 Soda
						inst@eecs.berkeley.edu