A concept that scared me during my first year were the computers. There are heaps of computers all over uni which are connected to high speed internet and printing facilities that you can use as if tA concept that scared me during my first year were the computers. There are heaps of computers all over uni which are connected to high speed internet and printing facilities that you can use as if they were your own.

In first semester I didn’t even know where any access labs were, how to print and I was too scared to ask anyone. In second semester I ventured out, fell head over heels in love with studying away from home, and tried out many of the access labs on campus. Read here for my verdict:
        The first thing to know is the distinction between the two types of student accessible computers - there are access labs, and.. some other kind that I’m not sure the name of (SOKTINSTNO from hereon, sorry). You can differentiate by the way you log in - if a computer asks you for your UniKey log in and password (eg jdoe1234) you are at an access lab. Usage time is unlimited but you have a certain amount of daily/weekly downloads which reset every day/week (I really don’t know about the specifics, but I’ve never gone over the limit).

If you get asked for your library borrower’s code (ie 09307##########) then you are in one of the SOKTINSTNO computer areas. Time on these computers are generally limited - for example in Fisher to 2 hours, and in Badham to 6 hours. SOKTINSTNO computers can be found on level 2 of Fisher, and in the science library, Badham, and the engineering library. There are generally more access labs than SOKTINSTNO, in fact I can’t think of any other SOKTINSTNO locations though I’m sure there are some. To print off these computers, once you’ve sent the job to a printer you have to swipe your photocopy card to pay for the printing.

There are 6 access labs around campus. To print at an access lab you have to put money on your UniKey account (this concept freaked me out for almost an entire semester so I always printed at the swipe computers!) - this isn’t that hard. If you go to the service desk at the Fisher access lab you can buy a minimum of $10 of credit for your account, and you have to pay by card. As soon as you send a job to the printer it will print and automatically deduct credit from your account.

Access Lab Reviews

Fisher:

Location: um.. fisher (level 3)

Atmosphere:  there are a lot of hard core studiers here, pounding away at the keys to finish their essays, so it’s quiet, but still not too quiet. Also it’s quite homely - comfy chairs, carpet, warm, well lit - all in all a very good essay-producing environs

Lines: Often, and often long

Turn-over rate: Fast, since there are a LOT of computers

5-Minute Printing Computers: Yes

Special Features: A computer especially for scanning, and you can purchase print credit here

My rating: Given you get a computer, this is my personal favourite access lab. 10/10

McGrath

Location: This is tricky, my friends tried to explain it to me but I was walking around the wrong way for ages. It’s on the right as soon as you walk into the Carslaw area, it is cleverly disguised because the door looks like a classroom door

Atmosphere: Quiet but not too quiet, but not homely like fisher. Also, in my time there the printers have been jammed twice, and I had to employ my impressive printer-fixing skills (ie the printer TOLD me what to do and I extracted a scrunched up and ink stained piece of paper) to get them to work

Lines: Usually not that long

Turn-over rate: Quite fast, possibly due to the not so great long-term stay atmosphere

5-Minute Printing Computers: Yes, there is one at the door that there is sometimes a short line for, but there’s also another one near the printers that people don’t notice which never has a line

Special Features: ...

My rating: 7.5/10

Education

Location: Downstairs in the Education building

Atmosphere: Quite loud, not the best place to concentrate

Lines: Hardly any. I often go there and there’s a computer free already

Turn-over rate: Quite fast

5-Minute Printing Computers: No.

Special Features: You can top up your printing credit here. Also note there is a second room behind the first room of computers. Always check there for a free computer!

My rating: I like this lab to print lecture notes and past exams, check emails, and also to search online journals for articles if I have an essay and sometimes writing essays if I’ve got my iPod (music without lyrics of course!), or if it’s at the end of the day because the lab totally empties out. 9/10

Language

Location:  Brennan McCallum, a building across the road from Manning. The lab is actually two small rooms across the hall from each other. If you ever need to go there you will note that the buildings Christopher Brennan / Mungo Maccallum /  Griffith Taylor all overlap and enjoy being super confusing for first years. Also I have a feeling one of them even connects to the Quad but that’s just too difficult for me to comprehend.

Atmosphere: Quiet, a bit cramped and not very homely but I did an entire essay there once in a total marathon effort (noon - 7.30pm!!!) so I kind of have a special attachment to it.

Lines:  Depends.. they are never huge but sometimes there is a short line

Turn-over rate:  BAD - Often you can get a computer there straight away but if not, for some reason the lines take aaaaaaaages to move, so if I see a line I just leave

5-Minute Printing Computers:  No.

Special Features:  None really.. Only one of the rooms has a printer, if you’re in the room without the printer you have to collect your printed stuff from that room

My rating: Mmm.. 6/10

Link

Location:  Somewhere down in engineering...

Atmosphere: Sort of like Education, loud and casual

Lines:  About this. I went in with a friend from engineering and I asked “where’s the line?вЂ? and he said “there is noneвЂ?. I walked up to a guy leaving a computer and he said “actually I’m coming back in an hourвЂ?... unfair!!

Turn-over rate:  I never went back after that one time so I can’t really judge this

5-Minute Printing Computers:  Not that I saw but who really knows

Special Features:  Maybe you can top up your credit there

My rating: 4/10. Maybe that’s harsh, maybe i just need to go there again...

->Sorry this one wasn’t a very good review but nonetheless it exists

Pharmacy

Location:  Top floor of the pharmacy building on science road

Atmosphere: You could hear a pin drop

Lines:  n/a - I went there for the first time the other day and there were about 3 people using computers - people don't really know it exists, or, can't be bothered walking up 2 flights of stairs, and I've heard it's always that quiet!

Turn-over rate:  n/a

5-Minute Printing Computers:  No

Special Features:  Stapler (most access labs have them though)

My rating: 8/10

Good luck, and don’t be afraid to ask questions!