[flomo]

In 1990, it would have been somewhat rare for a college student to own a computer, but there were computer labs everywhere on campus and you had an email address, so it was clear they a part of modern life. They were priced in the 'used car' range so it wasn't impossible to own one.

(edit this was for a 'real' PC compatible or Mac, you could probably find C64s and etc at the flea market.)

[luma]

In my freshman year in 1993, I was the only person on my floor to haul a PC into the dorms. Across 4 buildings each with a dozen floors, there was maybe ten people who had computers in their room. The only reason I had one was because dad was an IBMer and he managed to obtain an XT 286 for me.

[NateLawson]

Same year, and every engineering and CS student I knew had one in their dorm room. The lowest spec I saw was 386SX-16 with 2 MB and the highest was 486DX-50 with 16 MB RAM. Most used DOS/Windows but the CS students dual booted to Linux (Slackware mostly, some SLS).

[UncleSlacky]

I remember being jealous of those doing Cybernetics at Reading (UK) as one of the big manufacturers donated a PC to every student on the course.

[flomo]

Similar, I had a Mac SE and was maybe the only person in my dorm section to have a new personal computer. But I also knew someone who had bought a Yugo, which was more expensive.

[Cockbrand]

TIL there was an XT 286. I always thought that the 286 was exclusive to the AT.