Although I'm not entirely sure anyone reads this column, I hope to offer the few that stumble across it in their haste towards the Personals some sort of tech-anxiety relief. This issue of "Amherst Bytes," being the first of the semester, is mainly meant to advise the incoming first-year class. Of course, others should be able to take something away from it as well.
First off, every incoming student should pick up a copy each of the "Getting Started with Computing @ Amherst" booklet and CD published by the IT department. The book sports a bright blue cover, and should have been made available to you in various ways when you got to campus. If you have yet to grab a copy, you can find it available along with the accompanying CD at the Computer Center on the first floor of Seeley Mudd. This booklet will guide you through getting your PC or Mac set up on the Amherst network, and will serve as a quick reference whenever you need IT help. It also has instructions on getting your consumer devices (i.e., XBox 360, Tivo, Sony PSP) registered on our network.
On the topic of connecting your computer, let me say this as strongly as possible without appearing arrogant: Always use Ethernet as your primary Internet connection in your dorm room. You may be tempted to rely on wireless, because everything is just all the more chic without wires, but don't let fashion sense lead you astray.
Using Ethernet has several advantages over wireless: The connection is more stable since you don't have to worry about reception, and it's about 10 times faster than the average wireless signal. Also, you're pretty much required to use Ethernet to gain access to our shiny new video on demand software, which is necessary for viewing videos for class. If you don't have an Ethernet cable, you can buy a 25 ft. cable from the Computer Center (9-5 p.m. weekdays) for $10. Trust me, that's more than enough cable to allow you to work from anywhere inside your dorm room.
The "Getting Started with Computing @ Amherst" CD contains a useful script to get you connected to your networked drives, along with software to configure your Windows PC to the computer lab printers and our antivirus software. The network drives are especially important, as they offer you access to IT provided software and private storage space for your files (in your U: drive). The U: drive is a perfect spot for your files because it's constantly backed up, available from any computer on campus and even accessible from off-campus. Most students I come across don't realize how valuable the U: drive is until they lose an important document, but you can be in the loop earlier if you follow my advice.
As far as general advice for getting used to computing and technology in a new environment, I can't really do much better than what's mentioned on the first page of the "Getting Started" guide: Don't be stupid. You can use peer-to-peer software, but don't hog all the bandwidth and make the network unusable for everyone else. Keep your computer secure (both physically and electronically) and up to date with the latest patches for your operating.
Most importantly, don't forget you're part of an electronic community now-something that consists of more than just AIM and MySpace. I highly recommend that every freshman check out Planworld, which is linked from the New Athenian (note.amherst.edu). The Athenian is an Amherst-brewed community homepage created by NOTE, our school's major computing club. Planworld is a sort of LiveJournal for the Amherst community, although it precedes LJ and its ilk by more than a decade.
We have few traditions at this school, as you may have figured out by now, but I believe Planworld serves a similar purpose. It's the first place to go when the procrastination bug bites, and the easiest way to stay in touch with your new friends on campus. You've been welcomed to Amherst a dozen times already, but when you find yourself obsessively clearing off your Snitch list at 5 a.m. when your paper is due at 9, you'll know exactly what it means to be an Amherst student. Welcome.