Laptop Requirements for Master of Public Administration Students
Newly admitted Romney Institute students are advised, but not required to own a laptop that they can bring to the classroom. We suggest that laptops meet the following minimum requirements:
- 512 MB of Ram (more than 512 MB is recommended)
- 40 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 4 hours of battery power. While many computers advertise "5-7 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 Microsoft 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: it will be your responsibility to do what is necessary to make your
files and work 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.
Dell: http://www.dell.com/byumarriott
Apple: http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/EducationIndividualCustom?qprm=29149&type=higherEd
IBM: http://www.btinc.com/byumarriott
You may also find current offers from the BYU Bookstore at Cougar Computer.
