If you plan to buy a new computer for the Fall semester, we recommend making the purchase no earlier than May . We do suggest ordering the computer before August to ensure that it arrives in time for September. If you do not want to buy a new computer at this time, please be aware that older computers may not be adequate for the Williams network. Computers that don't meet minimum specs will still receive Help Desk support, but they invariably take longer to configure or repair. Williams College is committed to supporting both PCs and Macs .
Academic departments tend to choose one platform or the other, depending on the software they use.
Contact the departments of your interest to learn which ones they use. Network Cable Please remember to bring a network cable. It can be purchased locally, but probably at a premium. When shopping for a new computer, remember to include a backup storage device. Floppy disks are a poor medium for storing files.