Recommendations from ENG-CS for students wanting to purchase a Computer.
Trying to purchase a computer, laptop or tablet is an area that is constantly changing. Many times a specific retail configuration is out of date a month after you purchase it. The systems that we recommend are models from manufacturers that have proven track records and most have components that are typically not Beta or test items, rather they have components that are continually included in system configurations because they are established.
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- In a PC Laptop configuration, consider the mobility of the unit and the care you will exhibit for that unit. We tend to recommend either Lenovo (used to be IBM) or DELL, with similar configurations to the full systems, however because of their size the laptop may not be able to contain everything expected like a DVD drive. Since the ultra slim models are so thin and lightweight, these components are left off the laptop and it is up to you to purchase something of a docking station that may include them. However, a Core i-7 processor over a Core i-5 and as much RAM memory as you can afford. RAM is the horsepower to your processor and the video output shares in this RAM.
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- believe that the bookstore can acquire some terrific laptop deals with the most up to date components, so we will refer you to the bookstore's recommendation website so you can review the DELL models available. In considering your options, weight, size of screen, number of USB ports, touchpad or toggle buttons, are all part of the convenience factor. You may also want to investigate a touch screen that can be used for easier manipulation of applications.
- For MAC Laptops at the lower performance end of the spectrum there is the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Air, 1.6GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz, Intel HD Graphics 6000, 8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM, 256GB PCIe-based Flash Storage, Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide.
- On the upper end, we would suggest a MacBook Pro , 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, 2.7GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz, 8GB 1866MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM, 256GB PCIe-based Flash Storage, Intel Iris Graphics 6100, Force Touch trackpad, Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide.
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- If you decide to acquire a MAC you may need to purchase and install VMWare or Parallels and a Windows OS to run some of the ENG-CS software they may need.
Whatever PC Laptop you buy, please spend just a bit more and purchase the 3 year or more warranty, and if you decide to acquire a PC laptop, purchase the accidental warranty which protects the unit even if the damage is your fault. For Macs, a 4 year (including accidents ) warranty is available at the bookstore. This is one year longer than AppleCare, and AppleCare does not cover accidents. Believe us when we say that it will pay for itself!
WORKSTATIONS:
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- Workstation PC system
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- Core i5-6400 with at least a 2.7 GHz processor, 8GB of RAM memory, 500GB at 7500RPM minimum of disk storage, CD/DVD drive and some USB ports so a flash drive or stick can be used for backup and file transfer.
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- A more powerful workstation PC option and the one most often used in our college is:
- Recommendation:
- Core i7-6700 3.4 GHz processor, 8-16GB of RAM memory, 500GB at 7500RPM minimum of disk storage, (optional SSD- Solid State Drive, increases productivity by volumes). CD/DVD drive and some USB ports so a flash drive or stick can be used for backup and file transfer.
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- For a MAC workstation we suggest the iMAC.
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- 2.7GHz Quad-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz, 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2X4GB, 1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm, Intel Iris Pro Graphics, Apple Magic Mouse, Apple Wireless Keyboard (English) & User's Guide, Accessory Kit
- One of the nice things about the iMac is that they are an all-in-one computer. In practice, the iMac only takes up only a little more space than a monitor. This can be helpful since in most dorm rooms, where space is at a premium.
- If you decide to acquire a MAC you may need to purchase and install VMWare or Parallels and a Windows OS to run some of the ENG-CS software they may need.
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