After having taken my daughter to Rome and having returned I wanted to update you of my thoughts about bringing your own laptop to Italy for students studying abroad.
The last minute as we were leaving NY my daughter decided not to take her laptop with her. Unfortunately, now she regrets it.
In Rome internet cafes are not as common as say Florence. In Florence around the Ponte Vecchio area within a 5 minute walk in either direction there were at least 5-6 internet cafes. However, in Rome they are not easy to come by. There is one main 'easyInternetCafe' around Piazza Barberini (sp?) and some smaller ones scattered around. So, unless you don't mind checking your email once every week or two, bring your own laptop. There are cafes where they allow you to use their wireless internet connection as long as you buy a expresso or coffe. There are libraries where for a fee you can hook up your computer and use it. But it is difficult to find internet cafes with many computers. Even the library where my daughter is registered, you need to reserve one of the two computers days in advance to be able to use. So, it is not very convenient for those that are used to checking their emails on a daily basis.
My son who was in Barcelona 2 years ago for 3 months had no problem finding internet cafes there, but in Rome it is a real challenge.
Even the hotel we were staying at had wireless connection for free but you had to have your own computer.
I hope this helps those of you that may be considering whether to take your laptops along or not.

Is the EasyInternet cafe in Piazza Barberini too full to use then? I thought this was one of the best Internet cafes I had seen in Europe. I found an adequate Internet cafe near the Vatican, but EasyInternet was better.

Perhaps one of these Internet cafes will be convenient for your daughter:
http://www.world66.com/world/europe/italy/lazio/rome/cybercafs

Disclaimer: it's quite possible this list is out of date.

There's also this EasyInternet cafe too:
http://www.easyeverything.com/map/rom2.html
Piazza in Piscinula
n.15 Rome

Not that it was full, just that it was out of the way if you are traveling in the opposite direction. My daughter studies around Campo Di Fiero (sp?) area and lives on the way towards the airport, so a bit out of way. Anyway, I just thought I would put my 2 cents in on this issue.

Thanks for the links, will check them out.
The second EasyInternet cafe was closed (out of business?).

There's a relatively new internet cafe in Piazza in Piscinula, just across the bridge from Isola Tiberina in Trastevere, and another on Viale di Trastevere, just past the movie theater on the corner of Via della Lungaretta. However, there must be some closer to her location.