Student Laptops

Beginning fall 2022, all students are required to purchase a laptop to use for classwork. The Computing & Information Technology Department has worked with academic departments across campus to provide three approved laptop configurations to meet the needs of various programs. 

 

Minimum Specifications

Entry-Level Windows	High-Performance Windows	Apple MacBook Pro
Windows 10 (Windows 11 recommended) Intel i5, AMD Ryzen 5, or better 13.3" FHD Display (1920x1080) or better 16GB RAM or Larger 256GB SSD or larger Wi-Fi 6 WebCam & Microphone	Windows 10 (Windows 11 recommended) Intel i7, AMD Ryzen 7, or better 13.3" FHD Display (1920x1080) or better 32GB RAM or Larger 512GB SSD Wi-Fi 6 WebCam & Microphone	MacOS 14 (MacOS 15 recommended) Apple M1 (M4 recommended) 13" Display or better 16GB RAM* (24 GB recommended) 512GB SSD Wi-Fi 6 WebCam & Microphone
Purchase from Dell	Purchase from Dell	Purchase from Apple

 

*MacBook Pro memory is not user accesible/upgradable. If you think you'll need additional memory, it is important to upgrade at time of purchase. 

We strongly discourage the use of Chromebooks as they do not meet our technical standards and are incompatible with many of our university software programs. We also recommend that students do not rely on iPads or other tablets as their primary computer for coursework.

Students may purchase laptops with the above minimum specifications from any manufacturer. The links provided are for your convenience. We also strongly recommend purchasing a 4-year accidental protection plan to ensure the longevity of your device throughout your degree program. 

These minimum requirements do not include all additional recommended specifications. If you will be using Adobe software (e.g. Premier Pro, Photoshop, etc.) or additional program-specific software, it is strongly recommended that you purchase a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM. 

 

Software

You do NOT need to purchase the Microsoft Office Suite as it is available for free to all current students on their personal computers. Click here to download Microsoft Office for free.

Adobe Creative Suite licenses will be provided free of charge to students enrolled in courses that require Adobe software. Contact your instructor for more information about the software you need.

Mathematica is also available to all students at no charge. Learn more about Mathematica here. 

Which laptop is best for me?

A student's technology needs are dependent on their program of study. Use the matrix below to see which configurations are required for your program of study. Please also consider the software and storage needs for your program when making your purchase. If you are unsure of what you may need for your program, contact your department chair or instructor.

Click the image below to open as a PDF.

Laptop Loaner Program

Students who are unable to purchase a laptop may participate in the Dacus Library Laptop Loaner Program. Supply is limited and students may only check out laptops for a semester at a time. For more information, please refer to the Dacus Library Technology page. 

 

Support Options

Our TSO and User Support Technicians are here to help you have a successful semester. However, student laptops are considered personal property and we have a limited staff, so we are only able to address certain requests. Support may only be given in-person in the TSO directly to the owner of the device. Devices may NOT be left unattended in the office and virtual or phone support is limited. For issues we cannot support, please refer to your device's coverage warranty or a third-party support service. 

We CAN support...	We CANNOT support...
Wifi connectivity on campus Microsoft Office products & G Suite General operating system updates Virus removal Winthrop-licensed software (limited)	Non-academic software programs Anti-virus software updates General hardware issues or upgrades Data recovery Connections to third-party hardware