University of Pittsburgh - Computers

No Wireless in the Dorms

Despite claims that the wireless on the rest of campus can often be accessed from the dorms, signal is intermittent at best and the quality of the wireless is poor. I've gotten speeds of as low as 2 mbps and have never observed much higher than 60-70mbps on the wireless. Pitt claims to have high speed internet access, but even on a wired connection, the service is only average at best. There is no file sharing at Pitt, either, as the school is adamant that there be no illegal activity taking place on their self-policed network. Additionally, students are not allowed to have a router in their rooms, making the lack of wireless even more problematic. If you have a desktop or only use your computer at a desk, being chained to the wall isn't much of a problem, but otherwise it's best to invest in a long, durable cable. On the other hand all the dorms with lounges have low signal (to prevent access outside the lounge) wireless internet available for use.

Easy Access Computer Labs

The computer labs are very accessible. There are many located all throughout campus and some are open 24 hours. There is almost always an open computer. The wireless internet is very reliable all over the campus.

Each residence hall has Internet...

Each residence hall has Internet connections in all of their rooms, which is great if you have your own computer. The connection is lightning fast, and you definitely get spoiled. When you go home and use your regular Internet connection, you get so mad at it because it goes so much slower than the one you use at Pitt.

Having your own computer is a must...

Having your own computer is a must for almost any college, and this is just as true at Pitt. The dorms are equipped with high-speed Internet that has remarkably few problems or network outages. Bandwidth is definitely not an issue, and network/technology resources are relatively easy to access. There are quite a few computer labs on campus, so generally, crowding isn’t an issue; however, lab computers are notoriously slow and annoying.

Don’t even think about...

Don’t even think about procrastinating on papers around midterm and finals time, at least if you use the labs. They get crazy! Everyone fights for computers when it comes down to crunch time. That’s one of the nice things about bringing your own computer—you don’t ever have to wait at the lab.