Most current personal computers will connect to ResNet once a 10BaseT Network Card has been installed. Your computer should have one of the following as a minimum system configuration. Current versions of the following operating systems and hardware are highly recommended. In addition, all Windows based computers must be running Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Windows Vista, updated Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware software. McAfee Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware is available for free from the university.

Students can receive up to a 12% discount on Dell purchases through the University Bookstore.

Intel (IBM PC or compatible)

Most new computers that are shipping from major computer manufacturers, such as Dell, HP, Toshiba, and Sony, meet or exceed our minimum requirements. However, for those of you looking to purchase or upgrade your computers, here are some guidelines (minimum and recommended) for use on our ResNet network. Check with the department of your major course of study for any special requirements.

For a new computer purchase we recommend at least:

Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent processor, 2 GHz or better
2 GB RAM
80 Gigabyte hard drive (120 GB or more recommended)
Windows XP with Service Pack 3 or Windows Vista
nVidea geForce or ATI Radeon Video Card with 128 MB RAM minimum (256 MB RAM recommended)
10/100 Ethernet card (required for network access)
48x CD-RW/DVD-ROM Drive
Keyboard, Speakers, Mouse, Soundcard, 17" Monitor (1028x768 resolution)
Optional but recommended: USB Inkjet Printer, Surge Supressor, USB Flash Drive)
For laptops, wireless ethernet 802.11b/g/n recommended.

**Netbooks – We do not recommend netbooks for students to use as their only computer. These computers are not upgradable and usually do not come with an optical drive or Windows.

For bringing an existing computer to campus, we recommend the following minimum requirements:

Pentium 4 or equivalent processor, 3 Ghz minimum
1GB RAM (2GB or more recommended)
80 Gigabyte hard drive with 500 MB free space
Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (required for ResNet users)
nVidea geForce or ATI Radeon Video Card with 64 MB RAM or higher recommended
10/100 Ethernet card (required for network access)
48x CD-RW Drive
Keyboard, Speakers, Mouse, Soundcard, 17" Monitor
Optional but recommended: USB Inkjet Printer, Surge Supressor, USB Flash Drive)

Apple Macintosh

All of the current iMacs, MacBooks, Mac Pros, and Mac Minis that are shipping from Apple meet or exceed our minimum requirements. For those of you looking to bring an existing Macintosh to campus, we suggest the following minimum requirements:

Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent processor, 2.0 GHz or better.
1 GB RAM (2 GB or more highly recommended)
80 Gigabyte hard drive (120 Gigabyte or larger recommended)
OS X
Removable Storage (CD-RW/DVD-R super drive or USB Flash Drive recommended)
10/100 Ethernet Card (required for network access)
For laptops, wireless Ethernet 802.11b/g/n recommended.

Keep in mind that the new Macs can run Windows XP as well, either using the dual-boot provided with the latest version of OS X, or through third party software like Parallels.

General Purchasing Tips

We recommend doing a bit of comparison shopping when looking for a computer. Even on a manufacturer’s site, there may be many deals to be had, with cheaper prices depending on where you look. Always check the main store, the education store, and tv offers if available on any site. Also, compare and contrast with box retail stores such as Best Buy, and even online retailers such as Amazon.com. With a little savvy shopping, you can usually find a good deal.

Most computer companies offer several “flavors” of a computer, going from entry-level to mid-range to high-end. Unless your student is a graphic arts student, is working with video creation, or an avid gamer, you don’t need to get the top of the line, most expensive computer (though it will last you a little longer if you do). But you don’t want to go for the entry-level computer either; even though it’s less expensive, it will quickly be outdated, and you’ll end up needing a new computer far sooner than usual. We recommend looking at the mid-range price level of computers, usually around $800-$1200 for desktops and around $1000-1200 for laptops, with Macintosh being slightly higher.

When looking at computers, look for future expandability. Buy as much memory as you can when you purchase your computer; more memory will make your computer run faster and will allow you to run it much longer. Keep in mind, however, that Windows XP and Vista (except the 64-bit versions) have a cap of 3 gigabytes worth of usable memory.

Also, the more disk space you have, the longer you have until you need to upgrade and the more stuff you can hold. Especially with laptops, where the hard drives are harder to replace and upgrade, go for the most space you can afford. However, you can always supplement a smaller laptop drive with an external hard drive at a later date.

Finally, we recommend considering a laptop purchase, rather than a desktop purchase. While generally more expensive than their cheaper desktop counterparts, laptops tend to be more useful due to their mobility and built-in wireless access. Having a laptop allows the student to take their computer with them, to be used between classes or at the library, and is easily transported, allowing them to continue to work on their studies over weekends at home. However, as stated earlier, laptops tend to be more expensive, and more difficult to upgrade. Still, the majority of the mid-range to upper-range cost laptops will likely last your student years before needing an upgrade.