Computer Requirements

The HSIM department recommends students have access to Windows machines as, some software used for instruction may only be available on Windows and some programs (e.g., Microsoft Excel), though nearly the same in functionality on Mac as Windows, have different features and menu structures, which may lead to confusion.

That said, given the popularity of Mac (which most students use), the department has done its best to provide Windows analogs. For instance, we have worked with ITCS to ensure all Windows-only software is available through ECU’s Virtual Computing Lab (VCL), which allows students to connect to a cloud-based Windows virtual machine through their browser to complete assignments. Additionally, many faculty have moved to software tools available natively on both Windows and Mac.

Note: Chromebooks are NOT suitable.

Man sitting at a desk using and laptop and taking notes in a spiral notebook with a pencil.

Minimum Specifications

Processor

  • Windows
    • Intel i5 or higher
    • AMD Ryzen 5 or higher
  • MacBook Air/Pro and Mac Mini
    • M4 or newer for MacBook Air (*not recommended for graduate students)
    • M4 Pro/Max or newer for MacBook Pro
  • Mac Studio
    • M4 Max/Ultra or newer

Memory

  • Windows
    • Minimum: 8 GB
    • Recommend: 16 GB or higher
  • MacBook Air/Pro, Mac Mini, Mac Studio
    • Minimum: 16 GB unified memory
    • Recommend: 24 GB unified memory or higher

Hard drive

  • Minimum: 256 GB
  • Recommend: 512 GB or higher (*512 GB is the minimum for graduate students)

Screen

  • Recommend: 15” or larger due to how much information will be on the screen (e.g., spreadsheets)

Suggestions

Preface
This list is compiled from years of personal and professional experiences we have had with Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Mac, and Samsung devices. We considered price-to-performance, durability (e.g., part quality), longevity (e.g., useful lifespan before needing to upgrade), stability (e.g., hardware, software, and BIOS issues), and student experiences. That said, as long as your machine meets the minimum specifications, you should be fine.

Lenovo ThinkPad

  • While on the heavier side, they are designed for business use and have decades of proven reliability, durability, and performance

Dell

  • Inspiron (rebranding as “Dell”)
    • Basic computer that will get the job done
    • Lifespan: 2-4 years
    • Overall: Good choice for students whose workloads are non-data-centric
  • Latitude (rebranding to “Dell Pro”)
    • Midrange performance
    • Faster components
    • Strong track record
    • Lifespan: 3-5 years
    • Overall: Quality machine for mixed workloads that are not overly data-intensive
  • Precision (rebranding to “Dell Pro Max”)
    • Mobile workstation
    • Great performance for complex workloads
    • Higher quality parts
    • Lifespan: 5-7 years
    • Overall: Best for data-intensive workloads

Apple

  • MacBook Air 15-inch (*not recommended for graduate students)
  • MacBook Pro 16-inch
  • Mac Mini
  • Mac Studio