What computer?
Students coming to study Computer Science at St Andrews often ask for advice on which computer they should buy. Here is the Systems Committee's advice.
Do I need a computer at all?
Assuming you do not need a laptop for medical reasons (eg you can type but have difficulty writing), then the first point to note is that it is not necessary to have your own computer at all. The school provides you with all the equipment - hardware and software - that you will need for our courses, with 24/7 access to labs.
Lectures are often accompanied by printed handouts so there is no need to bring a laptop to lectures. However, having your own desktop or laptop system can be very convenient. You are welcome to bring one, provided it does not disturb the class. In practice almost no students carry laptops about, and those who do tend to be in the later years of the course. A computer at home, which need not be a laptop, is definitely useful, as you can prepare notes, write essays and so on at your convenience.
Whilst having your own desktop or laptop may be useful, you should be wary of isolating yourself when you are working. It is extremely valuable to spend time in the lab for practical work and exercises; to meet and get to know other students (especially for first year students); to be able to talk to lab assistants (and other students!) for advice and help; and be able to complete your assignments (some assignment may require you to make your code interwork or communicate with that of other students or servers accessible only from the labs). For these reasons, you are expected to carry out your lab work in the labs, even if it is technically possible to do it elsewhere.
In general, it may be most sensible to wait until you get here and see what might be useful to you.
Software
The school only provides licenses for its own systems, so if you need to buy a license, you have to pay for it. However, some of the software is freely available, and some licensed software (eg Together) is licensed for use not only on school computers but also on students' own computers. The school is enrolled in the Microsoft Software Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA) which means you can obtain a huge range of software free.
Hardware
The school works with a mixture of Unix (including Macintosh) and Windows systems. This means that almost any modern system, desktop or laptop, will be compatible with our systems. Wireless connectivity is a good idea, as the school provides a wireless network that you can join to obtain internet access. If you don't have wireless connectivity, you can connect to our portable network by cable at many places throughout the school.
Support
You can get limited technical support for your computer in the school. The limits are that your personal computer is less important than school equipment, but if we have time and expertise in your setup, we are willing to help. You should ensure that you have a warranty that will cover your system for at least the duration of your stay here in St Andrews.
The university also has an IT department which is separate from the School of Computer Science. The IT department provides computing facilities and support to all members of the university.
Backup
If you do your work on your own computer, it is your responsibility to back up your own files, for example by copying them to your school home directory. If you lose files, no dispensation is given for deadlines etc. The school can give you advice on backup options.
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