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Computer Hardware Requirements

General Information

The recommended computer specifications below are provided to help you decide on a configuration that will work best for you and help you stay within your budget. If price is an issue and you need to make tradeoffs, some minimum recommendations are provided.

First, a few guidelines:

Laptop or desktop?

We recommend buying a laptop for the sake of convenience. You can take it to class, to the library, or the location where you are working on a group project. Be sure your battery will last longer than your longest class!

Look for recognized brands

We do not recommend particular vendors or models, but rather recommend specifications, features, and functionality. We do, however, recommend that you choose from nationally recognized brands when selecting computer systems and components simply because they are known to produce good, reliable products. Unbranded components advertised as "compatible" may have conflicts with other components once installed.

For those considering Macs

The School of Nursing is a PC-only school, and we recommend you buy a PC. You may buy a Macintosh, but computer incompatibility does not excuse you from class activities. This is especially important in courses taught at a distance; some of the web conferencing software used is not compatible with Macintosh computers.

Shop around

To get the best deal on a computer, check out prices both online and in stores. Be sure to include the UM Computer Showcase, as it offers very good hardware and software prices for registered students.

Using an older computer

If your computer is two years old or less and you can get on the Internet, you probably have all the hardware and software you need to download course materials, do your homework, and even participate in online courses. If your computer is more than two years old, you may still be OK - but you'll want to check some of the specifics below to be sure you're system is compatible with University systems.

It is YOUR responsibility to arrange access to a compatible computer. If you do not have one at home, consider using the campus computer labs, a friend's computer, or a computer at a public library (though public library computers are often slow and you may be limited to the amount of time you can use them per day or week).

Recommended configuration for new computers

Where to buy a computer

You can buy a computer with these specifications at the U-M Computer Showcase, or at commercial outlets like Best Buy, Circuit City, Dell (online), etc.