What kind of computer should I bring?

It is mostly up to personal preference and what computer you would be most comfortable with. However, we can provide some information that might help you make your decision.

If you prefer Macs, the UM Bookstore is a very helpful resource and can put you in contact with the campus Apple representative to help answer any questions you might have.  If you decide to get a Mac be sure that you also get Microsoft® Office for Mac which will be beneficial and is considered the campus standard. MS Office contains programs like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Entourage, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Also there is a program called Virtual PC that will allow you to run PC applications on your Mac if necessary. You can order directly from the Apple Store, or order through the Apple Education Store and receive a student discount.

If you prefer PCs, you have many options and many different brands to choose from, such as, Dell, Gateway, HP, and Sony to name a few.  For price and quality we prefer Dell.  It is also a good idea to purchase Microsoft® Office.  For purchasing information you can buy online at any of these companies websites, or you could visit an electronics store, such as Best Buy. 

If you live out-of-state, you might like the option of avoiding the sales tax by either shipping your mail order computer direct to Missoula (After opening day of Residence Halls) or by purchasing a computer at an electronics or computer store here in Missoula.

When purchasing any computer it is always a good idea to do some research about the type of computer you are interested in buying (or even just the brand of the computer).  Simply doing a google search using the model of computer (or brand) you are interested in can yield lots of information.  It is often helpful to see what other people, who may own this computer, have to say about it.

The process of picking out and buying a new computer is a very personal one, dependant on the users needs.