Old Dominion University - Computers

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

ODU students will let you know that despite the convenience of having several computer labs spread throughout the University campus, they are always filled with other students who would rather hog the terminals for late-night AIM chats and random, useless e-mail checks. Aside from scheduling for classes online and maybe checking a grade or two after classes have ended, Old Dominion does not even stress that students carry their own computer—that is simply a requirement of the Y generation: to be permanently connected to some type of Internet. However, the computers that Old Dominion does have are—while not necessarily top-of-the-line—up-to-date, efficient, and working properly. ODU has an Ethernet setup as well as hotspots throughout the campus so that students can set their laptops down and connect, as long as they have a password set up by MIDAS, an identification system. However, because students have to log into the wireless system before surfing the net, ODU can monitor which sites they visit, even from their rooms. So be careful if you’re into downloading music or something; students have been penalized for using the Internet to access illegal things. Things like porn, however, might be tracked and judged, but you won’t get in trouble for watching it, as long as you’re doing it legally.

Although the labs allow students to print up to 250 pages per semester for free, afterwards there is a charge, which could obviously add up to some serious bucks for all those students who like to hit the print button a few too many times when printing documents. Besides, the labs are really cramped when they are filled to their capacity with students—it makes working on papers totally claustrophobic. The computer labs are really for students who just don’t have access to a computer—not for the average ODU student. At the same time, however, the labs can be a stimulus for productivity because you’re in a quiet environment designed for working, rather than at home with the TV running, your bed staring at you from across the room, and your roommates talking in the other room. The level of crowdedness in the lab depends on the time of the semester. If it’s mid-terms or finals week, good luck finding a computer, but any other time, you can usually get the seat you need

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Students Speak Out

ODUAB says: Old Dominion University 2013 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities

Computer labs can be busy during... Computer labs can be busy during peak hours but are readily available (24 hours) at your disposal, and Wi-Fi is offered in all major buildings on campus, which is a great thing! 12345 Computers: April 21, 2009 Report

ODUlw says: Old Dominion University 2014 English Language and Literature

If you're going to the computer... If you're going to the computer lab during a busy time (eg. lunch), the lab will be packed. Bring your own computer if you can, but if you can't, ODU does offer a lot of computers. Give yourself plenty of time if you're going to the lab to print something off because something will inevitably go wrong. It will be full, the printer will be jammed, you'll have to change your network password, which takes 30 minutes, etc. 12345 Computers: April 07, 2009 Report

ODUDC says: Old Dominion University 2013 Business

It might be best to bring your own... It might be best to bring your own computer, but the computer life here is relatively good. They have a 24-hour lab and free Internet and Wi-Fi in all the dorms and school buildings. The labs do get crowded, though, on Tuesdays and Thursdays---and I mean packed. 12345 Computers: March 20, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

ODU has a fair amount of... ODU has a fair amount of computers, but they’re mostly all hogged up by students. Especially in the library. You’ve gotta camp out there like you’re trying to see the pope or something if you want to get a terminal. 12345 Computers Report

Anonymous says:

I always bring my own computer, my... I always bring my own computer, my laptop. I’ve never actually been in the computer labs since I have my own, but I can say that practically every building has wi-fi access. And that’s awesome. 12345 Computers Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Tired of spam mail or incessant commercial e-mail? Well, fret no longer. ODU has recently installed an anti-spam system to take care of those 100 solicitor messages an hour, protecting all student and “@odu.edu” accounts.

Need to print a document, but you don’t have access to a University computer and your computer at home doesn’t have a printer? No worries. ODU’s iPrint service allows you to print from your laptop to University printers from on campus.

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