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The following information is provided by KU Information Technology (IT) staff as a guide for new students, faculty and staff. We hope the information provided will be helpful as you make plans to come to KU. Some departments or schools may require that your computer have additional features to support work in their programs. Check with your school or department for current information about such requirements.

Be sure to also check out Software @ KU to find out what software is provided and what is recommended. NOTE: Anti-virus software is provided free so you do not need to purchase this.

If you already have a computer

It should run at least Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2, or Mac OS X, so it can meet basic security, networking, and upgrade requirements.
It should be supported by the manufacturer throughout the rest of your college career.
Be aware that Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, and Mac OS 9 are not recommended and are not supported.

If you plan to purchase a new computer

KU IT staff recommend that any system you purchase be capable of running the latest version of Microsoft Office (Office 2007 for Windows, Office 2004 for Macintosh) and a web browser of your choice (Mozilla Firefox is the recommended browser, whenever Microsoft Internet Explorer is not required). Following are suggested minimum requirements for a new computer. Most new computers easily exceed these minimum requirements.

KU IT staff do not currently recommend purchasing a computer with the new Windows Vista operating system due to compatibility issues with other software. Students in the residence halls who have Windows Vista installed on their computers will be able to use the ResNet registration process to access the network. Other support for Windows Vista may be limited. More information.

Windows and Mac Minimum Requirements

Processor	800MHz
Operating System	Windows XP SP2* Mac OS X (10.3 or newer)
Memory	512 MB
Disk	40 MB

Should I buy/bring a laptop or a desktop?

There is no one right answer to this question, but here are some things to consider:

Study habits: If you like to study in cafés, the library, friends' houses, a wireless-enabled laptop can be very useful. If you are planning to do a lot of studying/researching/writing in your room, a desktop (with its larger screen and full-sized keyboard) may be better for you.
Durability, theft, cost: Desktops are typically more durable, less prone to theft, and slightly less expensive than laptops.
Repairs and upgrades: Desktops can be less expensive to repair and upgrade (adding memory or storage space, etc.) than laptops, though this also depends on the specific model you buy.
Available alternatives: Students have access to computers in many places throughout campus. Laptops are available for checkout and use within Watson and Anschutz libraries, and there are computer labs located throughout campus, some with special hardware and software for specific majors (engineering, journalism, art and design, etc.). So students without a laptop (or without a computer at all) can use those computers, as well as scanners and printers in the labs.

Where and how to buy computers at KU

Students can buy new computer systems at educational discount prices and get information about various loan programs to purchase personal computer equipment at the Union Technology Center (864-4640, Level 2). Students may apply for financial assistance to purchase computers through the Office of Student Financial Aid (864-4700, 50 Strong Hall).