Determining what type of laptop best suits each student, however, depends on his or her major and personal preferences. Please keep in mind that a computer is a tool and students should purchase the computer that they will be most comfortable using on a daily basis. In general a suitable computer purchase should include a speedy CPU, plenty of memory, a high capacity hard drive, Wi-Fi capability (802.11g/n), a web camera, comfortable screen size and have Microsoft Office installed.
You will also want your computer to provide you service throughout your years at Northwood University, so carefully consider important options such as extended warranties such as accidental damage protection and an extended battery warranty.
Below you will find the MINIMUM and RECOMMENDED computer specifications for computing at Northwood University. These specifications should be used as guidance when making decisions on bringing a compuiter to NU.
MINIMUM specifications are for those who are choosing not to buy a new computer and want to bring an existing one to NU.
RECOMMENDED specifications are for those who are choosing to purchase a new computer and need guidance on which specifications to go with. As a rule of thumb, if you are buying a new computer, most, if not all, specifications will be fine. However, these guidelines will provide you with a good starting point.
CHROMEBOOKS are becoming more popular with their low prices, however we do not recommend purchasing these for your Northwood courses.
Computer Specifications for Computing at Northwood University
|
WINDOWS PC
|
APPLE MAC
|
Operating System
|
Windows 10/11 Home or Pro |
macOS 11 or higher |
Productivity Tools
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Microsoft Office 365 can be downloaded for FREE,
please visit office365.northwood.edu |
Processor Type
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MINIMUM: Intel i5 10th Gen Processor
RECOMMENDED: Intel i7 10th Gen Processor or better
(Quad core or greater is preferred for higher video streaming quality) |
Memory
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MINIMUM: 8 GB RAM or higher |
Hard Drive
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MINIMUM: 250 GB
*Do not purchase a 128 GB HD*
RECOMMENDED: 500 GB or higher |
Graphics Card
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MINIMUM: 512 MB Video Memory or higher |
Warranty
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4 year parts and labor
(on-site strongly recommended) |
3 year parts and labor
AppleCare Support |
Insurance
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Comprehensive breakage, theft, liquid, spill, hazard
(strongly recommended) |
Virus Protection Software
|
Recommended (see below) |
Web Camera
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One of the below options required
Native Internal Webcam built in to comptuer
OR
External Cameras recommendations:
Logitech C920, C930e, etc.
Microsoft LifeCam Series |
Headset and Microphone
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Click Here to view our recommended list |
Recommended Accessories
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USB Memory Storage Devices: Strongly recommended for their ease of use and ability to encrypt contents in case of lost or stolen property.
Ethernet cable: These are required for wired connections in dorm rooms on campus. |