Recommended Computer Systems for CS Students
Note that this is a recommendation, not a requirement.
CS undergraduates particularly will largely program in the Unix operating system after their first class. The most common versions of Unix are Mac OS X and Linux. Students will find a reasonably portable computer to be more useful than a large one: "desktop replacement" laptops are not a good choice for hauling around campus. It has been our experience that new laptops have a high failure rate and should come with an extended manufacturer's warranty (not a store warranty).
Recommended Specifications (Fall 2008)
- A laptop weighing no more than six pounds
- Capable of running Mac OS X or Linux
- At least 802.11b wireless networking
- At least 1152x720 resolution at 32 bits of color
- At least 2 GB of RAM
- At least 2 GHZ
- At least 100 GB of hard drive space
- At least a DVD/CD-RW combo drive
- At least a 2-year manufacturer's warranty
Example Recommended Configuration:
An Apple MacBook 13" White with 2GB RAM, 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 120 GB HD, and 3 year AppleCare warranty. (presently $1289 with student discount).