Home/Student Computer Recommendations

 

PC Hardware Recommendations

Hardware Component

Employee Minimum / Recommended

Student Minimum / Recommended
Processor Intel Core i5 (dual core) / i7 (quad core) Intel Core i5 (dual core) / i7 (quad core)
Style Desktop, Laptop, Windows Tablet, or MS Surface Pro Laptop (net books not sufficient), Windows Tablet, or Microsoft Surface Pro (non-Pro not sufficient)
Protective Case N/A Device compatible case or backpack
RAM 4 GB / 8 GB 4 GB /8+ GB
Hard Disk 500 GB / 1 TB 500 GB / 1 TB
Display 1024 x 768 / 1366 x 768 (HD) 1024 x 768 / 1366 x 768 (HD)
Graphics Memory 512 MB / 1GB 512 MB / 1GB
Networking Wired Ethernet Port Wireless 802.11 b/g/n
Warranty 3+ years 4 years
Operating System Windows 10 Windows 10
Data Backup External hard drive or cloud OneDrive for Business (Microsoft Cloud)
Internet Broadband cable or Google fiber Broadband cable or Google fiber
Adobe Connect users Headset with a microphone Headset with a microphone

 

Apple Hardware Recommendations

Hardware Component

Employee Recommendation

Student Recommendation
Processor Intel Core i5 / i7 Intel Core i5 / i7
Style Desktop or Laptop Laptop
Laptop Protective Case Carrying Case or Backpack Carrying Case or Backpack
RAM At least 8 GB At least 8 GB
Hard Disk At least 500 GB AT Least 500 GB
Display Non Retina / Retina (Mac Mini requires purchase of a monitor and HDMI or Mini Display Port. Mini Display port to VGA or DVI Adapters can be purchased for use with external displays.) Non Retina / Retina
Networking Laptops will need Thunderbolt to Ethernet Adapter Laptops will need Thunderbolt to Ethernet Adapter
Warranty 3 years – CPS Warranty through KU Bookstore is preferred over AppleCare 4 years – CPS Warranty through KU Bookstore is preferred over AppleCare
Operating System Mac OS 10 (OSX 10.8.5+ update to 10.10 for free) Mac OS 10 (OSX 10.8.5+ can update to 10.10 for free)
Data Backup External Hard Drive Twice the Size of Hard Disk OneDrive or External HD Twice the Size of Hard Disk
Internet Broadband cable or fiber Broadband cable or fiber
Adobe Connect users Headset with a microphone Headset with a microphone

 

Software Recommendations

 

Type

Users

Software

Availability
Microsoft Office Faculty/Staff Office 2013, 2016 (Mac) A download link is available from Office 365
Students Office 365 A download link is available from Office 365
Security All AVST (anti-virus) Free, Avast for Windows and Avast for Mac; Avast also makes versions for Android and iOS devices.
All Firewall Free, Windows built in firewall, enable if disabled
All Malwarebytes (anti-spyware) MalwareBytes (free versions scans on demand, paid version catches live)
Browsers All Mozilla Firefox Free, Firefox (especially useful on a Mac)
All Google Chrome Free, Chrome
Adobe Software All Adobe Acrobat Reader Free, Adobe Acrobat Reader