As far as technical specifications for the university, we generally recommend laptops for students with wireless networking. Again nearly any new computer purchased will meet your basic needs, so here are some general recommendations:
| Wireless |
IEEE 802.11b
To use the campus wireless network, you must have a device in your computer that meets this standard. |
| Processor |
Processing power is not as important in a computer, unless you play 3D games, edit videos, or crunch big data sets. Generally speaking, the faster the processor, the faster the computer. |
Memory minimum of 2 GB
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Memory is what allows multiple programs to run at the same time. Most programs today do not use memory efficiently. More memory will generally improve day-to-day performance of any computer. It is extremely helpful for working with images and video as well. |
| Hard Drives |
Most computers now will have hard drives that far exceed most needs. Consider a bigger hard drive of at least 80GB if you store lots of music, images, or at least 120GB for videos. |
| Optical Drive (CD, DVD, etc) |
Most computers come with CD-R burning drives for backing up your data. You can also look towards a DVD or DVD-Rom drive for DVD videos or large-scale data backup. |
| Video |
Most video cards will perform very well. Don't worry about a higher end video card unless you are a gamer or do a lot of graphic design and digital photography. |
| Screen size |
A bigger screen means you can see more of what you work on, but it also means a bigger laptop. |
| Screen Resolution |
Resolution indicates how detailed the picture gets. In many cases, this is a personal preference. It may be best to look at a floor model to determine the native (intended) resolution best suited for you. The higher the resolution, the more you will be able to see.
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