Faculty/Staff Help Student Help About Computer Services  
                                                                     
 

 

 
 

New Student FAQ

 

Where can I find your brochure?

Computer Services has created a brochure to help you understand our campus network.  This brochure goes into detail about what to expect when bringing a computer to campus.  Click here to open the brochure.  You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document.  Please download and install Adobe Reader here if you are not able to view the document.

If you wish to pick up a brochure you can visit us in Cone Bottoms 250.

 

What specifications will my new computer need?

Computers come in many different shapes and sizes.  No one computer is right for every person.  The following is a guide to what we recommend.

  • Processor

    • Desktops:  Intel®  Pentium® 4 or Pentium® D Dual Core - 3.0 GHz or higher

    • Laptops:  Intel® Core™ Duo or Core™ Solo processor  - 1.6 GHz or higher

  • Memory

    • 1 GB of memory (RAM) or higher

  • Hard Drive

    • 80 GB of Hard Drive space or larger

  • Network Card

    • 10/100/1000 Network Card w/ 20 - 25 foot patch cable

    • 802.11b/g Wireless Card

      • (For reliability, a wired network card is a good option to fall back on)

  • Operating System

    • Windows Vista

    • Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 or

    • Windows XP Home Service Pack 2

  • Antivirus software

    • Computer Services provides a free version of Symantec Antivirus.  Most new computers will come with an Antivirus program but will only include about 3 months of free updates after which you will have to renew your subscription.  If you choose to use our Symantec Antivirus you will receive free updates for the entire period in which you are a student at OBU.  For more information click here.

  • Warranty

    • A 3 year warranty is highly recommended.  If you choose a laptop, get Dell's complete care to cover accidental damages such as dropping it on the floor.  Other manufacturers offer similar plans.

 

What storage options do you recommend?

Here is a list of options for storage.  You may want to consider getting a combination of these such as a DVD burner and a USB Memory Key. 

  • DVD Burner

    • A plus, but very few computers on campus have a DVD drive. 

    • Can also burn regular CDs

  • CD Burner

    • Virtually every computer on campus has a CD-ROM Drive

    • Very easy and reliable

  • USB Memory Key

    • Most computers on campus have a USB port and run Windows XP for easy Plug N Play

    • What professors are using to substitute Floppy Disks

    • Relatively inexpensive

  • Floppy Disk

    • Very unreliable as they often are plagued with data corruption

    • New computers are starting to not include a floppy disk drive

 

What's better, a laptop/notebook or Desktop PC?

The age old question, laptop or desktop?  Well this is a dilemma a lot of people face and there isn’t a clear answer. Here is a list of Pros and Cons for laptop and desktop that may help you reach a decision. 

Laptop Pros

  • Mobility, take it on the go.

  • Wireless Network in public areas around campus and in the dorms (study at the library)

  • Take less space in dorm room

  • LCD screens are easier on the eyes

Laptop Cons

  • Typically slower processing power & more expensive

  • Easy to lose or have stolen

  • Break easier due to dropping or thrown around and cost more to repair if not under warranty.

  • Can be bulky to carry in back pack

 

Desktop Pros

  • Typically faster processing power & cost less

  • Not easily lost or stolen

  • Expandable

  • Less expensive to repair

  • Full size keyboard and mouse make it easier to type

 

Desktop Cons

  • Take up more space in dorm room (most manufacturers offer a small form factor)

  • Flat Panel monitors can be pricey and CRT monitors are real estate hogs.

  • No mobility

  • Access to Internet only from dorm room or computer labs

 

Should I go with Wireless or Wired?

There are 5 main points to stress here.

  1. Regardless of choice, wireless or wired, you will receive all the same services that OBU's network offers.

  2. Wireless network technology is similar to other wireless technology such as cell phones. Occasionally
    you will find spots with no service. If you are experiencing a problem with signal strength, you may need to move your computer to other locations to find a better signal.

  3. There are public labs around campus in which you can check your email.  Most students find it easier to drop into one of these labs to do such things instead of carrying a laptop with them wherever they go.  Plus, wireless is not yet available in all buildings and so having a laptop with wireless does not guarantee being able to check your email anywhere.

  4. Each dorm room has 2 network jacks and has wireless available.  In most cases, laptops have both a wired port and wireless technology.  You can always hook up to the network jack in your room and when you are needing to study, say in the library, you can take your laptop with you and get connected through the wireless technology.

  5. Remember that your wireless card should be compatible with 802.11b.  Most all 802.11"g" cards are backwards compatible to do 802.11b.

 

Do you recommend buying a computer locally, online or where?

There are many options these days where you can buy your new computer.  You may want to inquire into what offers you might find locally but also online.  Most of our students these days have Dells, HP/Compaq, Sony and Toshiba.  Of course Dells can only be purchased either through their website or by phone.  HP/Compaq, Sony and Toshibas can be found at just about any large Computer Retail store.  Remember to ask questions such as:

How long is my new computer's warranty?

Where do I have to get service if my computer has a hardware problem? 

Does it cost any extra for someone to come out to my house/dorm room to fix my computer?

How long are the average hold times on the phone?

In the end, no one manufacturer is going to be without its problems.  Check out reviews on computers such as CNET's website.  Make an informed decision.  Its always best to know what to expect when investing in something such as a computer.

 

Is there anything I should do before bringing my computer to campus?

There are 5 main things that you should do before bringing your computer to campus.

  • Windows Updates

    • You should run all Windows updates and make sure your computer is scheduled to check for new updates daily.  You can check this by clicking here.

  • Windows XP Firewall

    • Your Windows XP firewall should be turned on.  This is more than enough and there is no need to invest in other firewall software such as Norton Internet Security, Zone Alarm, etc.  On occasion, 3rd party firewalls have been known to cause problems with logging into OBU's network.  Click here for more information on how to turn Windows XP Firewall on.

  • Antivirus Software

    • Computer Services provides Symantec Antivirus to all OBU students and strongly encourages every student to install it.  As long as you are a student at OBU and your computer is connected to OBU's network you will receive updates automatically.  Click here to learn more.  To install, you will need your OBU username and password.  This will be available for new students at the beginning of August.

  • Spyware Software

    • This is one of the largest growing issues in the computer world today.  More and more computers are being affected by pop-ups, hijacked browsers, computers slowing down to a crawl & changed home pages just to name a few.  We recommend running spyware software on your computer.  To get more information about this please click here.

  • Network Bridge and Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

    • You will do everyone a favor by checking to make sure you do not have a network bridge enabled nor are using Internet Connection Sharing.  Click here to check if you have either of these features turned on.

 

Can I connect my Xbox, PS2, or Gamecube to the University's network?

Devices such as PS2s, Xboxes and Gamecubes need to be set up properly before they will work on the University's Residential Network. All devices should be set to use DHCP to get their network address. If you have questions about your device's settings, refer to your manual or call the manufacturer's help desk.

The links below describe the steps you need to take to get the MAC address for your game box. You must report this MAC address accurately to successfully network your device.

Please note: The University offers no support for these devices other than these instructions and a live network connection.

***You will need your OBU username and password to access the links above.  This will be available for new students at the beginning of August.  Similar instructions on how to get your mac address from your game device can be found simply by doing a search on Google.

 

What is my e-mail address and how do I check it?

Your e-mail address will be username@obu.edu.  Your username consists of the first three letters of your last name followed by your five digit ID #.  New e-mail accounts are created after registration.  If you would like to create your e-mail account before that time, log in to your student web portal and set up the account.  Information about logging in to the web portal, including your username and password, are contained in your acceptance letter.

To create your e-mail account from the web portal:

  1. Log in to the web portal at info.obu.edu
  2. Click on the My Info tab and select Create TigerMail Account
  3. Enter and verify a password then click Set Password

To check your e-mail, visit tigermail.obu.edu.  

 
 
Ouachita Baptist University • Computer Services
Cone Bottoms Hall 250 • 870.245.5567
online support form • support@obu.edu • www.obu.edu