Computer Requirements

When coming to campus, we want you to be able to have reliable access to all University services. Provided are recommended computer configurations for accessing resources at the University when purchasing a new system, as well as recommended configurations for bringing a machine you already have to campus.

Purchasing a New Computer

When purchasing a new computer, there are a number of options to consider:

Suggestions for new computers
Minimum Configuration Suggestions

Laptop or Desktop?

When deciding between purchasing a desktop or a laptop, a few things to consider are:

LaptopDesktop
PriceMore ExpensiveLess Expensive
Portable?YesNo
ExpansionDifficult but PossibleEasy
Gaming/GraphicsSuperior Video and Audio

Apple or Windows?

Most Departments are platform independent. Contact your department advisor for your specific area of study.

Generally,

  • Apple - Art, Music and Journalism
  • Windows - Business, Law and Medicine

Suggestions for New Computers

Windows Computer Apple Computer
Operating System Windows Vista Mac OS 10.5 Leopard
Memory 2-4 GB RAM
Processor Speed Intel Core 2 Duo
Hard Drive 120 GB or Bigger
CD/DVD Drives DVD +/- RW Dual Layer Super Drive
Wireless (Laptop) Any Card that supports
802.11 g/n rotocols and WPA2
Apple Airport
Ethernet 10/100/1000
Monitor (Desktop) 17" Monitor of bigger
Screen Size (Laptop) 14" Larger screens increase in cost and weight
Warrenty 3 year service contract

Bringing a Computer to Campus

There are some hardware options that are recommended for every computer being brought to campus. These include:

  • Ethernet cable (on campus) - A standard 10/100/1000 PCI ethernet card is encouraged for the dorms to allow access to the high speed Internet access, ResNet.
  • Hard drive space - This is where you will save your documents and other information on your computer. Hard drive space can be at a premium on some older computers, so you will want to be sure you have an adequate amount of free space for storing documents and files and for installing new programs. hard drive storage space can also be external such as a USB key or external hard drive

Recommended Minimum Configuration for Computers

    Windows

  • Operating System: Windows XP
  • Pentium 4 Processor
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 10 GB free disk space
  • CD-ROM drive
  • Ethernet adapter
  • Monitor
  • Sound card and speakers optional

    Apple

  • Operating System: 10.4
  • G4 Processor
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 10 GB free disk space
  • CD-ROM drive
  • Monitor

In addition, Information Technology Services requires all those using the University's network to have the most recent critical updates for your computer's operating system. The best way to ensure the latest updates are installed on a computer you bring to campus is to turn on automatic software updates. See the ITS Help Desk Security Center's Updating Your Operating System page for more information.

 

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