RALEIGH — Incoming freshmen at Meredith College are now equipped with laptop computers.

The new laptops, backpacks and printers are part of Meredith's Technology Initiative. About 400 first-year students picked up their gear after going through a training session.

Many of the young women have desktop machines, but they say the portable, wireless laptops will be a big help.

"I can take it to class with me instead of writing down the notes," says freshman Kimberly Henry. "I can type them, so I think that will be a lot easier instead of carrying a bunch of notebooks. I'll be able to have it on a disc, so that will be helpful."

Fees are being increased to pay for the computers, and to upgrade the campus system. When freshmen become juniors, they get a new laptop, which they can keep when they graduate.