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.
Every semester, there are several students who lose papers, lab reports, etc., due to inadequate backup. Zip drives are the most common backup peripherals used on campus. Please visit our guide on backing up data for further information. There is no financial aid available for purchasing a computer. Since computers are not required at Williams, federal regulations prohibit including such costs in our financial aid student budgets.