September 22, 2006

A Student Comes to Campus With a Homemade Computer

By ANDREA L. FOSTER

At Catholic University of America, as at many colleges these days, it seems that nearly every freshman arrives on campus with three key gadgets: an iPod, a cellphone, and a laptop.

But Kyle Miller is a bit out of the mainstream since he brought a superfast desktop computer to the campus, and a home-built one to boot. He and a friend constructed it over the summer with parts that Mr. Miller bought online for about $2,200.

"I didn't think I had much use for a laptop," said Mr.