Hello All,

While talking to a friend of mine, who just started his post-doc, I learned that he had to buy his laptop to work. This is a work computer (i.e. he is not allowed to install programs not 'certified' by local IT guys) so I wondered why he should buy? Shouldn't his PI pay for it? The lab money scene is not bad so I don't know if that PI is stingy or this is a regular habit?

Wonder what you guys think about it? If you are a post-doc, who paid for your computer?

I'm no postdoc yet, but the ones I know have bought their own computers. As far as I know PIs usually don't pay for laptops.

sounds injustice when it comes to not being allowed to install his own softwares but there should be some reasons, and most probably security . . .so should not be a problem if the post-doc does not mess around with downloading insecure softwares or pirated softwares.

And, above all. . boss is always right.

The PI purchased computers for me and the previous postdoc in the lab. Both desktops, nothing fancy, but powerful enough to do whatever I need to do. Of course, the computers stay with the lab once the position expires.

Crazy!! (unlucky!?)

My PI has always paid for my computers.
Clare

noelmathur on Nov 30 2009, 12:00 PM said:

Two words my friend - PRIVATE PROPERTY. If he brought it by himself (ie. not through his work purchase department), paid for this laptop with his own money, has a receipt and this laptop is not enlisted as equipment at his workplace (it shouldn't if it was not brough with employers money), then regardless if it's used at work, he can do with it whatever he wants and nobody can say a word. Only thing that IT guys can do is to deny internet connection for his private ("non-certified") laptop.

Desktop computers we get from the institute, special demands like laptops one has to buy on his/her own...there are only some for general purpose (meetings, practical courses etc)

We buy laptops for our PhD students. They are as an important a part of thier working tools as the pipettes.