Component

Bare Minimum Configuration – something you already own that will work

Minimum Configuration
NEW purchase - Desktop

Minimum Configuration
NEW purchase - Laptop

CPU

Desktop: Pentium 4 1.8GHz/G4
Laptop: Pentium 3 700MHz/G4

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Mac Intel Core Duo/1.83 GHz iMac
Mac Intel Core Solo/1.66 GHz Mac Mini

Pentium Core Duo or AMD Turion 64
Mac Intel Core Duo/1.83 GHz MacBook

RAM

512 MB

1 GB (2 GB, for Windows Vista)

1 GB (2 GB, for Windows Vista)

Monitor/Video

17" color CRT for Desktop

15" LCD (takes less space & energy)
Mac Mini – buy 3rd party monitor to save money; iMac monitor is built-in

14.1" or 15.4” screens for Windows
13” screens for Macs

Hard Drive

40 GB

80 GB, 7200 rpm, SATA

60 GB, 7200 rpm, SATA

Portable Storage

USB Flash Drive (at least 512MB)

USB Flash Drive (at least 512MB)

USB Flash Drive (at least 512MB)

Optical Drive

32x CD

48x CD-RW or CD/DVD combo

48x CD-RW or CD/DVD combo

Networking

10bT NIC

10/100 NIC

10/100 NIC & Wireless card-802.11 a/b/g

Mouse

2 button w/scroll wheel

2 button optical w/scroll wheel

Built-in (though a USB travel mouse is nice)

Warranty

At least 1 year; unless you can fix a PC, an extended service plan is advised
Consider Accidental Damage Protection for laptops

Operating System

Windows XP, Service Pack 2 – and know how to add critical updates
OS X

Windows XP Pro, SP2 – if Vista is your only choice, get at least Home Premium
OS X 10.4

Windows XP Pro, SP2 – if Vista is your only choice, get at least Home Premium
OS X 10.4

Cost - at least…

$200 for additional RAM might help

iMac-$967; MacMini-$897;
Windows-$750 - $950

Mac-$1,117; Windows-$925

AntiVirus and
AntiSpyware

No need to purchase this since you can download for free from the University

No need to purchase this since you can download for free from the University

No need to purchase this since you can download for free from the University

General Software

MS Office 2003 (Win) or 2004 (Mac) from http://www.wisc.edu/wisc   OR
OpenOffice – http://www.openoffice.org/

MS Office 2003 (Win) or 2004 (Mac) from http://www.wisc.edu/wisc   OR
OpenOffice – http://www.openoffice.org/

MS Office 2003 (Win) or 2004 (Mac) from http://www.wisc.edu/wisc   OR
OpenOffice – http://www.openoffice.org/

Browser

Internet Explorer 6.x  (for TitanWeb)
Firefox (for all other browsing)

Internet Explorer 6.x  (for TitanWeb)
Firefox (for all other browsing)

Internet Explorer 6.x  (for TitanWeb)
Firefox (for all other browsing)

If not living in Residence Halls you will need following:

Internet Connection

RELIABLE Local Provider, preferably DSL or Cable Modem

RELIABLE Local Provider, preferably DSL or Cable Modem

RELIABLE Local Provider, preferably DSL or Cable Modem