Computer Recommendations 2008-09 | Student Mac Desktop


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CU-Boulder Computer Recommendations 2008-2009—Student 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.

Student: Macintosh - Desktop

Type of Technology	Minimum Recommendation	High Performance
CPU	iMac 2.4 GHz 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
Backup Medium	4.0 GB flash drive (minimum) External hard drive (minimum size equivalent to your internal hard drive)	4.0 GB flash drive (minimum) External hard drive (minimum size equivalent 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
Word Processing	Office 2008, Word 2008	Office 2008, Word 2008
Spreadsheet	Office 2008, Excel 2008	Office 2008, Excel 2008
Web Browser	Firefox 2.X Safari 3.X	Firefox 2.X Safari 3.X
Electronic Mail	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.
Used Computers
- Make sure that no matter what you buy that it meets the IT Service Center supported hardware and software list. The recommendations above exceed those standards, but if you are buying something less than the minimum you should refer to www.colorado.edu/its/docs/standards.html.
Apple Care
- When purchasing an Apple product, it is highly recommended that you purchase Apple Care. Apple Care not only provides extended warranty protection, but also provides help with software questions or problems.

Get Help

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

Last reviewed: April 08, 2008