Computer F.A.Q.
In addition to this FAQ, please also refer to these AE specific guidelines.
AE specific computer questions are below. For questions about computer access in on-campus housing, please visit the Residential Computing Services . If you have further questions, please contact Corey Wilkinson via email at CoreyW@psu.edu.
Please also consult the computer recommendations from the College of Engineering.
Q. Do I have to buy a computer to come to Penn State AE?
No. But we strongly recommend that you do. And, once you're here and you start experiencing the convenience and flexibility of on-line learning, the exciting places you can visit, and the amazing things you can do with a computer, we'll bet that you'll wish that you had your own.
Q. Why should I own a computer?
Students and professors agree that having your own computer will probably make your life at Penn State easier.
Owning and using a computer makes sense for what lies ahead in your professional development. The skills that you've acquired at Penn State using your own computer are likely to help make you an even more attractive job applicant in the real world after college.
For more on why you'll want your own computer when you come to Penn State, please visit the Student Computing Initiative page.
Q. Can I bring my computer from home?
Of course. The computer should fit the minimum requirements that can be found at Residential Computing Services.
Q. What kind of computer does the AE Department recommend?
Here are specific guidelines for an AE computer.
The AE Department recommends PCs to all AE students. We also recommend that students consider the purchase of a wireless enabled portable Windows PC computer if they wish to gain full benefits from their computer. Please see the College of Engineering Wireless Announcement.
Penn State's Residential Computing Service and Support has put together a recommended minimum configuration checklist for a new IBM-compatible computer.
Friendly, non-commission consultants are available at the Computer Store to discuss your computing needs with you. For further details, please visit the Student Computing Initiative page, Purchasing.
Q. What kind of software will I need?
Your need for specialized software such as graphics or design applications will depend largely on the focus of your studies, so as for hardware, if you've declared a major, we suggest that you check with your advisor or professors to see what they would recommend.
Because of a contract between Penn State and Symantec, a leading anti-virus software developer, Symantec AntiVirus software is now available at no cost to Penn State students, faculty, and staff. The software is available on the PAC-ITS CD or can be downloaded at https://downloads.its.psu.edu/ on the Web.
You'll also want Web and e-mail software. Information Technology Services (ITS) provides the VPN applications that you will need to connect to Penn State's network from a location off campus.
For details on obtaining the free software, please see this page: PSU Software.