On Purchasing Ethernet Cables

The best price in town on 3' Ethernet cables is going to be the price to be that offered by BSU's Computer Showcase Center: $2.24. They also offer great deals on much longer Ethernet cables.

However, supplies will be limited at the Showcase, in part because this is the first year they've stocked 3' cables, so they're unsure about demand. (If students buy a lot of cables, they'll order more ASAP.)

There are a few other good buying options around town, though none quite so affordable.

* Best Buy and Staples both offer nifty retractable ethernet cables like the one show here (at the Staples website). These run $10-$15, but they're well worth the investment for people who planning to use their laptops in a lot of different environments, because they fit tidily into a laptop carrying case.

* Best Buy is offering a discount on a 3' Ethernet cable to Ball State students (with ID). The discounted price is about $10--still quite a bit higher than BSU's Showcase price. Staples also offers a couple of shorter Ethernet cables at affordable prices--a 7' cable for $9 and a 3' cable for $12. (The shorter one costs more, because of lower demand.)

* Students may also be able to find great deals on cables at E-Bay, where the very motivated can find all the materials they need to make their own cables, if they really want to do that.

* On a similar note, it often pays to ask the resident computer geek on the floor. Other students may know about deals that we don't know about. (Certain students may also already have the cable and connectors to make their own Ethernet cables.)