Should I bring my laptop with me?

Tom Walton, webmaster at IH Barcelona, weighs up the pros and cons... Do you need to bring a laptop?

(1) Yes, if you are a very big computer user, and literally can't live (or write anything) without it.

(2) Yes, if you want to be able to use it at the weekends (we're only open Saturday mornings).

(3) Yes, if you really want to always be able to use a PC immediately, at any given moment of the day, and find it frustrating not to be able to. (Note that, if you reserve a PC, your maximum wait will be 30 minutes.)

(4) No, as the 15 PCs in the Internet Room are nearly always sufficient for the numbers of users we get. (On one of our intensive courses, you're in class pretty much until 5.00pm, by which time most other users have long since headed off to the beach!)

(5) No, if you don't want to have to cart it around all day.

(6) No, if you don't want to risk losing it/having it stolen.

(7) No, because you are not asked to produce a huge amount on a computer (lesson plans, materials...), unless you are doing a DELTA course (see sidebar, right).

It's a personal choice, really. I'm a very heavy computer user myself but for reasons (5) and (6) would not bring my laptop with me for a CELTA course. For the reason suggested on the right, I personally would bring one for a DELTA course.

Wireless access

Note that Wireless access is restricted at IH. In order to obtain it, we need to provide you with a wi-fi card (even though your laptop is already equipped with one).

Currently (June 2007), wi-fi is not available for Macs or for Windows Vista.

You will find wireless hot-spots all over Barcelona, many of them unprotected, and accessible.

Facilities

See separate page for further information on the computer facilities for trainees at IH Barcelona.