Plenty of computers are available in the general computer
access lab, the library, the student center, and academic
buildings so you should always have access to a computer for
school work, email, and the Internet. Whether or not you
bring your own computer generally depends on your individual
preference and convenience. Each of the residence hall rooms
and apartments is wired for both wireless (Fall 2011) and wired (Ethernet) connections for high-speed Internet access.
With your high-speed Internet connection, you are able to
access your campus email and log on to the Student Information
System, which is used to register for classes, view your class
schedules, monitor your degree progress, and more. Some courses
will also require that you use our web-based course management
software Desire2Learn and online library databases. If you
need other software on your computer, you will need to purchase
and install it. You will not have access to any of the specialty
instructional software that is found on student lab workstations.
Black & white and color printers are available
in the General Computer Access Labs on campus, but most students
enjoy the convenience of a printer in their room.
While the majority of UW-Green Bay students bring a computer to campus, you should keep in mind that you have free access to more than 300 computers (PCs and Macs) in general access computer labs across campus. Many students can also use computers in designated specialty labs. In addition, there is on-the-go access to several computer kiosk stations in the University Union.
You don't need a new computer, but you do need a computer with ample processing speed and memory and the capability to support fast network connections. We recommend PCs with at least Pentium 4 equivalent processors and 1GB memory or Macs with an Intel processor and 1GB memory.
Students are encouraged to compare prices with local vendors or other national brands such as Dell, HP, Gateway, IBM & Apple.
This depends on how you plan to use your computer. In general, a desktop will meet most student computing needs and will provide a comfortable working environment with a larger screen, keyboard and mouse. Some students may want a laptop for increased mobility, class use, collaboration, and more flexible access to the Web and email. The drawbacks of laptops include their smaller keyboards and screens, and the additional cost to buy, repair and upgrade them.
Both platforms are used and supported on the UW-Green Bay campus, and both provide the necessary student computing tools. A good rule of thumb is, "go with what you know." Students face many new challenges when starting college, so it is best to avoid any unnecessary changes like learning a new operating system. You may also want to consult your major area of study for any specific recommendations.
We recommend recent versions of the following software: