New Computers – Minimum Recommendations

Note: The general computer labs are equipped with all Windows computers. No Macs are available in the general computer labs. 

	Desktop	Laptop
CPU	Intel Core Duo 2.0 Ghz or greater (or AMD equivalent)  This recommendation is based on the reasoning that this will be a four year investment and that a student will use the computer for activities beyond basic word processing, spread sheets, and presentations.  They will be using the computer for listening to music, viewing videos, and other entertainment purposes.  Any Intel Core Duo or AMD equivalent processor  of 1.5 Ghz or greater will be sufficient for most academic work other than the media related areas (DMA and Film Studies students click here)
Operating System	Windows: Vista Home Premium  or Windows XP Professional or Home with Service Pack 2.  Vista Home Basic is sufficient for normal academic needs.  Click here for a comparison of the features Vista versions.  Mac: Mac OS 10.3
Memory	1 GB	1 GB
Hard drive	80 GB or larger – If you do not store a significant amount of pictures, music, or videos a smaller drive will be sufficient.
Video Adapter	Graphics Card w/64 MB or greater
Wireless Network Access	Windows: IEEE 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g wireless network card or wireless network USB adapter (802.11b must be supported to use current network)* Mac: AirPort Card	Windows: IEEE 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g integrated adapter, wireless network card, or wireless network USB adapter (802.11b must be supported to use current network)* Mac: AirPort Card
Audio	Sound card and speakers	Sound card and built-in speakers
Optical Storage	CDRW/DVD combo – DVD burners have become more popular with students.
Other	Expansion slots - This will allow you to add features over the next four years. Several USB ports are advisable (e.g. some printers connect only by USB). Firewire may become more important during the next four years for connection to video devices. Diskette drive – With the availability of CD-RW drives and USB flash drives, some computer vendors now make diskette drives optional. If you need to create a diskette for transferring files, it can be done on a lab computer. We encourage the use of a USB flash drive rather than diskettes.	PCMCIA slot - Most laptops include as standard the ability to use two PCMCIA cards. Firewire may become more important during the next four years to connect to video devices. Diskette drive – With the availability of CD-RW drives and USB flash drives, some computer vendors now make diskette drives optional. If you need to create a diskette for transferring files, it can be done on a lab computer. We encourage the use of a USB flash drive rather than diskettes.
Software	Microsoft Office (version 2003 or newer) – Click here for the HU Student Software Program. Internet Explorer (version 6.x or newer)
Virus Protection	Antivirus software is a required and should be updated diligently with the latest virus definitions. Recommendations: Mac: Virex or Norton AntiVirus* Win: McAfee VirusScan or Norton AntiVirus*   *College will provide a license for Norton Anti-virus for each student at no charge. Anti-spyware software is required. Free and purchasable versions of Microsoft Defender (recommended),  Adaware by Lavasoft and Spybot Search & Destroy by PepiMK Software are good solutions.  Installing multiple anti-spyware and anti-virus packages can negatively impact performance.

*  Additional technical information on wireless is found on the HU wireless page.

Digital Media Arts students: Computers recommended for the DMA program are found here.

What software should I have on my computer?

Questions???
Send an email message to callcenter@huntington.edu . Technology Services will reply as quickly as possible.