You should be especially careful of any e-mail attachments you receive from anyone you do not know. Do not open those attachments or run any unknown programs without making sure they are safe. This applies to both desktop and portable computers. A hard plastic floppy disk carrying case is an inexpensive, but valuable accessory. This cover can be easily damaged inside a bookbag or pocket.
Damaged disks can loose data or jam a disk drive.
It is a common problem on any campus. Do not forget to have a supply of letter size plain white paper for printing. These provide several electrical sockets in a convenient location and offer reasonable protection from power surges. American Power Conversion produces good , mulit-outlet protectors. Extra printer cartridges for inkjet printers or extra toner cartridges for laser printers are good to have when your printer needs one the night before that term paper is due.