Personal Computer Requirements
The College of Veterinary Medicine requires its professional students to own a notebook computer- either a tablet PC or a traditional laptop. Mobile computer technology enables greater flexibility so that you can easily bring your device and electronic notes to each class and home. Tablet technology allows you to use a stylus pen or finger to operate the computer without a keyboard or mouse, and the ability to add hand-written notes to an instructor’s materials for further study proves invaluable to our current DVM students.
Required MINIMUM system configuration for NEW purchases:
- Windows 11 / MacOS 14 Sonoma or higher (No Android devices, iPads, iPad Pro, etc.)
- Intel Core i5 processor (2.1 GHz) equivalent or higher, or Apple M-series processor.
- Memory (RAM): Minimum: 8GB Suggested: 16GB
- Minimum 256GB hard drive (Solid State hard drive recommended but not required)
- WPA2-capable wireless connectivity and a/b/g/n wireless card 5GHz preferred
- 3-year complete coverage or accidental care warranty
- Storage Minimum 500 GB external backup hard drive or sufficient cloud-based storage (no important data should be stored solely on the laptop)
Optional: Display adapter for projector/television connection. Typically, a Mini DisplayPort or USB-C to VGA/HDMI adapter is used, depending on the PC's connection. Check with your retailer or manufacturer to determine which works with your PC.
Note: It is recommended that you keep your PC operating system up to date at all times.
New computers and accessories can be purchased online or at a variety of retailers; below are a few suggestions:
- Illini Union Tech Zone: https://techzone.illinois.edu
- CDW-G: https://www.cdwg.com
- Dell: https://www.dell.com
- HP: https://www.hp.com
- Best Buy: https://www.bestbuy.com
- Amazon: https://amazon.com
IT@VetMed also recommends a minimum 3-year complete/accidental care warranty with on-site repair. The full care warranty is an extensive service contract that both extends the initial manufacturer warranty and provides protection for accidental damage, such as drops and spills. Many complete care warranties also offer the option of at-home service or replacement, so you will not need to send your computer off for repairs.
Finally, it is highly recommended that you purchase an external hard drive or comparable cloud-based storage to back up class and personal data. Should your computer experience hardware problems or data loss, regular backups on an external drive or cloud will allow you to retrieve your data quickly once your computer is repaired.
Don't hesitate to contact the IT@Vet Med Help Desk with any questions at IT@vetmed.illinois.edu.
Revised 2/5/2024