Library & Technology
Minimum Specifications for Laptop Computers
Fall 2008 (updated May 2008)
Recommended Laptop Specifications
The specifications below are intended to help guide you in the purchase of a new laptop computer. You are not required to purchase a laptop that meets or exceeds these specifications, but doing so will help to ensure your laptop computer remains useful throughout your 3-year law school career.
Feature |
Recommended
Minimum |
Comments |
|---|---|---|
Processor |
Intel dual core processor at 1.8 GHz or better (or equivalent) |
"Centrino"
is Intel’s brand name for Pentium M processors
paired with Intel’s wireless chip set. |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB (2,048 MB) | More
RAM increases performance; recommended minimum for Microsoft Vista |
| Video RAM | 128 MB | |
| Hard Drive | 80.0 GB | Choose a larger
hard drive if you will be saving media files, including
photos and MP3s. |
| Display | Active/TFT | 14.1"
is the common size. Larger displays make for easier
reading, but add to the size and weight of the laptop. |
| Wireless Network Card | Wireless card meeting 802.11g standard. | Wireless
networking is available throughout the law school and across campus. |
| Operating System | Microsoft XP Professional or Vista Business/Ultimate | Your
computer needs to provide a stable environment for business
and network applications. Students purchasing new computers are strongly encouraged to have Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Vista Business / Ultimate installed.
Note that more than 90% of private
law firms use the Intel/Windows platform. |
| Optical Drive | DVD, DVD/CD-RW | The
law school utilizes DVD technology for some courses.
You’ll also be able to use the RW (Read/Write)
capability of the CD-ROM drive to backup your files. |
Removeable Storage |
External hard drive or USB flash drive | It is strongly advised that you back up your data regularly. An external storage device will make this easier. USB Flash drives are now available in capacities up to 32 GB. |
| Battery | Extra battery | The
law school uses wireless technology. However, power
is not available at all locations. |
| USB | At least one USB port | Many
peripherals attach to the notebook computer using a
USB port. |
| Virus Protection | McAfee AntiVirus | McAfee
is available at no cost to all faculty, staff, and students
for both business and home use. |
| Carrying Case | Designed for portable computers | The
case should have sufficient padding, keep the computer
snug and offer room for additional accessories. |
| Warranty | 3-year warranty | A
3-year warranty will provide coverage throughout your
law school career. Some vendor warranties will require you to ship your laptop to a service facility while others may have onsite service options. Please keep this in mind when choosing a laptop. |
| Security Kit | Cable and lock. | Never
leave your computer unattended in a public area, even
when it is secured. Kensington (and others) manufacture
cables that will hook the security port on your computer.
You should have and use a cable, but remember that locks
deter casual thieves. |
| Insurance | Check the provisions of your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. |
The Levin College of Law does not endorse any specific vendor but will post information regarding companies meeting its technical specifications at discount prices. Since the law school does not provide support for student computers, we recommend that students carefully investigate vendor support options.
Software: The law school uses the following software applications:
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer)
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite (WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, Presentations)
- Mozilla Firefox
- Adobe Reader (available free of charge to anyone | download)
- McAfee Virus Scanner (available free of charge to faculty, staff and students | download)
- Lexis-Nexis
- Westlaw
- Examsoft (Exam taking software, currently optional by professor, optional by student)
Microsoft Office Suite Variations: Microsoft offers MS Office 2007 in several packages. Most students choose the Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 Edition (it's less expensive).
Microsoft Office Home & Student Edition 2007 includes:
- Microsoft® Office Word 2007
- Microsoft® Office Excel 2007
- Microsoft® Office Onenote 2007
- Academic Pricing Available
- Licensing: 3 PCs in one household
Microsoft® Office Standard Edition 2007 includes:
- Microsoft® Office Word 2007
- Microsoft® Office Excel 2007
- Microsoft® Office Outlook® 2007
- Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2007
- Licensing: 1 PC, 1 user
- Standard Pricing
The Levin College of Law assumes students use laptop computers that meet the above specifications. Some students choose to purchase a Macintosh computer instead of a PC. For users that prefer to use Macs, we recommend you purchase a new Intel-based Macintosh with OS X 10.5 (Leopard) installed. The included "Boot Camp" feature will allow Microsoft Windows (XP or Vista) to be installed on a separate drive partition. Doing this will essentially turn your Mac into a PC. Please note that Windows will need to be purchased separately.