Online Learning/Technology
Computer Recommendations
This document covers the recommended specifications for incoming freshman or any student looking to purchase a new computer.
The following are the minimum recommended specifications for both Windows PCs and Macs for general personal use.
Windows PC recommended specifications:
- Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 Processor at 2.0 GHz or higher speed
- 4 GB or more of RAM
- 128 GB or more of Hard Drive (HDD) or Solid State Drive (SSD) storage (Note: Solid State Drives are more stable and quicker, but come at a higher price)
- 1366 x 768 or greater resolution Screen
- Windows 7 or higher Operating System
Macintosh recommended specifications:
- 1.3GHz Intel Core i5 processor or greater
- 4 GB or more of RAM
- 128 GB or more of Hard Drive (HDD) or Solid State Drive (SSD) storage (Note: Solid State Drives are more stable and quicker, but come at a higher price)
- Mac OS X 10.9 or greater
- MacBook Pro 13" with Retina is a good all around choice for a laptop, but if you want a larger screen the 15" model will also be a faster computer.
Choosing between a Mac or PC?
Both the Mac and PC have merits to their functionality and feature set. Both can have Microsoft Office installed, and both can use all of our online materials via D2L, SIS, Outlook Web Access, and GBShare. However, the Mac version of Microsoft Office does NOT include Access or Publisher. They are Windows only applications, and do not work on the Mac unless the Mac is dual booted to also have Windows on it (Note: Dual booting the Mac requires the purchase of a copy of Windows as well as a Windows based copy of Microsoft Office). Consult your advisor about what software you will need for your major or program of study. That will be the best way of deciding on a Mac or PC to best fit you.
A note on Tablets and Chromebooks:
Tablets and Chromebooks are a great way to browse the web and check e-mail. However, they can not be used as a computer replacement just yet. Campus e-mail can be fully accessed on most tablets (iPads, Google Nexus, and Windows 8 tablets), however other online campus services (online class content) do not always work with their full feature sets on tablets.