Intel Ranks Colleges with Best Wireless Access

newdamage writes "Intel recently released it's ranking of The Most Unwired College Campuses and I was happy to see my school, Purdue, up there at #2. I can personally attest that my laptop w/ wireless card can be used over almost all of the main campus, and there's always a few people in lecture using laptops to access notes and take extra notes. Granted all I've found is that internet access in class just gives me a better way to not pay attention. What are other peoples' experiences with wireless access on their campus? Is there widespread coverage, and if so, does it help you get more school related work done by having your laptop connected where ever you are on campus?"

AKA "Which Schools Recommend Centrino"

[Anonymous Coward]

Although, I do see my former college there, and it's a fairly accurate rank I suppose.

negative wording

[qedigital]

The most UNWIRED? The wording almost makes that sound like a bad thing. Intel should have gone with CowboyNeal's headline.

I always got too distra... eh?

[Apiakun]

I don't usually bring my laptop into class, as I find it too distracting, as the submitter of the story mentioned. I found that trying to write notes and any of my own key words to accompany the information were crucial to triggering memories when it came time to remember the information later on. The few times I brought in my laptop, I always ended up doing something else and felt I'd missed some important piece of information during the lecture. Unfortunately I type faster than I can write, so I guess there's a tradeoff.

Re:negative wording

[Jad LaFields]

Agreed. At first I thought I had clicked on the wrong link and was looking at the the most "unwireless" schools (as in, worst wireless coverage).

Then when I reread the word, I had images of people ripping the wires out of student's walls and laughing. "Can't download music anymore now, PUNK!"

Really, wireless sounds so much better than unwired, as we've been hearing for so long that being "wired" is great (as in "connected"), but "wires" (as in "the cables you trip over") are bad. Silly Intel.

you are unfamiliar with this new script language

[Anonymous Coward]

called "Political Trolling Memetic Propaganda" or PeTMePlease.

In this language "==" means "almost typical enough of a slashdot poster's jargon to elicit a sympathetic response to the political propaganda" which is a much more powerful operator than a simple assignment or test for equality.

Or something like that.

Re:Definitely bad for education...

[Anonymous Coward]

Not my problem if you can't make yourself interested enough in your education.

If the Prof is talking about something I need to know, I can put the lid of my laptop down and listen or use my laptop to take notes.

Just because there are a bunch of you who cannot control yourselves from playing CS or chatting doesn't mean everyone else who can use it to their benefit should lose out.

Re:AKA "Which Schools Recommend Centrino"

[YetAnotherGeekGuy]

That's not entirely true. My school, at number 31, only recommends Cisco.

This would have been a great counter example, if you hadn't gone on to say "sell 'University' laptops ... with Centrino ..."(italics added). That makes the Cisco add-in card recommendation irrelevant. The fact that Centrino sales occurred meets the necessary and sufficient conditions of the parent comment's assertion.

Re:Note Taking Considered Harmful

[YetAnotherGeekGuy]

Once you get rid of the note taking crutch, you're forced into critical thinking -- that's how people actually learn.

No. That's how you apparently think you learn. Having taught, and done course development over several years, you see lots of different learning styles. In fact Education theory requires you to provide for all four of the different learning styles in your course and lesson design. (Unfortunately, don't expect that from a University -- they are rewarded for research, not teaching.)

As it turns out, I'm just the opposite of you; I learn best by taking notes. For me it goes into the head through parallel channels (ear, eye, hand). It doesn't keep me from thinking critically, and more often than not, I am the one asking the questions. More than that I'm doing it on the wireless laptop without paper (Franklin-Covey PowerNotes, although Word would work as well). And I'm talking about courses like Fault Tolerance Computing, and Model Checking (although I had to go back to paper and pencil for Quantum Computing). Want to research a fact briefly, Google on the spot. Want to check against the class webpage, or pull up the Cadence tool to check something, just a few keystrokes/mouse clicks.

Having wireless on campus has made me not only a better student but also allows me to work School in with Work. Before the campus was wireless, I had to find the magic hallway Ethernet outlets or travel blocks across campus to plug in at the ECE department labs. Wireless has made a significant difference in my options. And even though my school isn't on the list, I don't care -- wireless has given me options I never had before.

Re:At Wake Forest University...

[FooAtWFU]

Yeah, but does the mailserver? I seem to recall trying to connect that way but failing. =(