Laptop Requirements

Newly admitted Marriott School students are required to own a laptop they can bring to the classroom. These laptops must meet the following minimum requirements:

• 1 GB of RAM (more than 1 GB is recommended)
• 60 GB hard drive or larger
• Wireless network capability (802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g)
• Two batteries. Marriott School classrooms do not have power outlets at the desks. You will need at least four hours of battery power. While many computers advertise "five to seven-hour batteries," real-world use shows they normally do not last that long.
• Microsoft Office Professional Software

Operating Systems and Software

The Marriott School has standardized on the MS Windows and MS Office Professional platforms, and the special prices from Dell and IBM are for Windows-based computers. If you would like to purchase a non-Windows computer, please be advised that you will be in the minority, and it will be your responsibility to do what is necessary to make your files compatible with your groups.

You will use Microsoft Office Professional applications extensively throughout the program. Microsoft Office Professional must be purchased by students, and is available at deeply discounted academic pricing through the BYU Bookstore, along with many other useful software packages.

Purchasing Aids and Ideas

The specifications above can often be met by sub-$1200 laptops. Computers that meet the requirements are sold at many local stores, including discount warehouses such as Costco. The Marriott School has negotiated special offers with Dell, IBM, and Apple. These offers can be found by following the links below.

Here is OIT's page about getting student discounts:

http://it.byu.edu/index.cfm?child_id=43  

You may also find current offers from the BYU Bookstore's Cougar Computer department at www.byubookstore.com.