Computer Recommendations 2009-10 | Faculty/Staff Mac Desktop


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CU-Boulder Computer Recommendations 2009-2010—Faculty and Staff Macintosh Desktop
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Both minimum requirements and high performance recommendations are listed below. Print out this list and take it with you when you go to buy your computer.

Faculty and Staff: Macintosh - Desktop

Type of Technology	Minimum Recommendation	High Performance
CPU	iMac 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo	Mac Pro with two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeons
RAM	2 GB	4 GB
Hard Drive	320 GB, 7200 RPM	500 GB, 7200 RPM
Video Card	Graphics Card w/ 256 MB	Graphics Card w/ 512 MB
Network Access	10/100/1000 Network Card	10/100/1000 Network Card
Wireless Network Access	N/A	N/A
Warranty	3 years, AppleCare	3 years, AppleCare
Battery	N/A	N/A
Ports	USB 2.0 Firewire	USB 2.0 Firewire
Audio	Internal sound card External speakers	Internal sound card External speakers
External Storage Devices	4.0 GB flash drive (minimum) External hard drive (minimum size double to your internal hard drive)	4.0 GB flash drive (minimum) External hard drive (minimum size double to your internal hard drive)
Operating System	Mac OS X 10.5.2 or newer	Mac OS X 10.5.2 or newer
Printing	N/A	N/A
Productivity Tools	Office 2008 (not home or student edition)	Office 2008 (not home or student edition)
Web Browser	Firefox 3.X Safari 3.X	Firefox 3.X Safari 3.X
E-mail Programs	Options: CULink in Internet Browser Mac Mail Entourage 2008 Thunderbird	Options: CULink in Internet Browser Mac Mail Entourage 2008 Thunderbird
Virus Protection	CUantivirus	CUantivirus

Considerations

Besides the minimum recommendations above it is recommended that you consider the following:

Purchasing Computers and Software at Educational Prices
- Computers and software meeting these recommendations can be purchased at the Buffalo Chip, inside the CU Bookstore for an educational discount. Learn more at www.cubookstore.com/computers.
- Faculty purchasing computers should learn more about the Faculty Computer Purchase Program at www.colorado.edu/its/facultysupport/fcpp.
Used Computers
- Purchasing used computers
  - Although ITS recommends you purchase a new computer, if you decide to purchase a used computer, please make sure that it meets the requirements on the IT Service Center supported hardware and software list, www.colorado.edu/its/docs/standards.html. Also, you must make sure that you acquire the licenses for the operating system and software that is loaded on the system.
- Bringing a computer from home
  - Please make sure that a computer brought from home meets the requirements on the IT Service Center supported hardware and software list, www.colorado.edu/its/docs/standards.html.
AppleCare
- When purchasing an Apple product, it is highly recommended that you purchase AppleCare. AppleCare not only provides extended warranty protection, but also provides help with software questions or problems.
Extras
- If you're purchasing a laptop, you may want to purchase a monitor as well for high performance use.
- It is strongly encouraged that you backup your files to an external hard drive.

Get Help

IT Service Center
303-735-4357 (5-HELP from an on-campus phone)
help@colorado.edu

Last reviewed: May 05, 2009