Minimum Requirements

Windows-Based Computers      Buy a Dell

  • Hardware
    • 2.8+ GHz processor (or 1.8+ Duo Core processor)
    • 1 GB RAM (2+ GB RAM recommended)
    • 120 Gb hard drive
    • 10BaseT Network Card (NIC)
    • 802.11 b/g wireless card
  • External Storage Device
    • 1 GB (or larger) USB flash drive
  • Software
    • Window XP Professional operating system is standard, Windows Vista is accepted
    • Microsoft Office 2003 is standard(Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher)*
    • Internet Explorer
    • Acrobat Reader
    • Antivirus Software
    • Antispyware Software
    • Appropriate Firewall
    *NOTE: Microsoft Office is utilized campus-wide. However, users of Office 2007 will need to save documents in Office 2003 format. Microsoft Works is not recommended because it is not compatible with Microsoft Office.

Apple Computers      Buy an Apple

  • Hardware
    • Macintosh laptop* (with at least 14” monitor) or desktop (with at least 17” monitor)
    • Intel duo core processor
    • 1 GB RAM (Upgrade to at least 2 GB RAM recommended)
    • 80 Gb hard drive
    • Superdrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
    • Airport (802.11g wireless) and Bluetooth (both standard on new Macs)
  • External Storage Device
    • 1 GB (or larger) USB flash drive
  • Software
    • Mac OS 10.4 operating system
    • ILife (iMovie, iPhoto, iDVD, iWeb, and Garage Band)
    • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher)
    • Antivirus software (Intego VirusBarrier or Norton Antivirus)
    • Appropriate Firewall
    • Apple Care 3yr extended coverage recommended