All students admitted to the BYU Marriott School of Business are required to own a business-class laptop. Netbooks or tablets will not meet the minimum computing requirements outlined below.
The following are the minimum laptop requirements for new BYU Marriott students:
| Hardware/Software | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro 64-bit |
| Required Software | Microsoft 365 (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Access) – Free for BYU students Adobe Reader Antivirus software with a current license Additional software may be required depending on the courses taken |
| Processor | i5/i7 (2.7 GHz or better) |
| Memory | 8 GB (DDR3) or better |
| Hard Disk | 500 GB (SATA 7200 RPM) or 256 GB SSD |
| Graphics | 2GB memory (4GB recommended) DDR3 or GDDR5 memory |
| Audio | Built-in speakers Headphone jack |
| Networking | Dual Band Wireless 802.11 b/g/n compliant (5 GHz) |
| Ports | 2 USB ports 1 HDMI/DisplayPort with a HDMI adapter (HDMI is required for classrooms) |
| Display | 13″ minimum display (15.6″ recommended) 1920 X 1080 or better recommended |
| Battery | 5 hour battery life or better |
Operating Systems and Software
BYU Marriott has standardized on the MS Windows and MS 365 platforms. If you would like to purchase a non-Windows computer, please be advised that you will be in the minority. It will also be your responsibility to run the Windows OS either by setting up your computer as a dual boot machine or by running Windows under a virtual machine. No BYU Marriott support will be available to set this up; therefore, it is strongly recommended that students come with a business-class laptop that runs Windows natively.
You will use Microsoft 365 applications extensively throughout the program. Microsoft 365 is free for all BYU students.
BYU Wireless Access
Students who want to use BYU wireless access on campus are required to:
- Have a wireless card that connects to the 5.0 GHz range
- Have an up-to-date antivirus program installed on their laptop
- Keep their Windows operating system up to date with the latest security patches from Microsoft
- Obtain administrative rights on their laptop so that software and patches can be installed as needed
Purchasing Aids and Ideas
The specifications above can easily be met by a laptop that costs less than $1,000. Computers that meet the minimum requirements are sold at local stores, including warehouses such as Costco or Sam’s Club. There are also many online retailers, such as Dell, HP, Sony, ASUS, Gateway, and Lenovo, where a laptop can be purchased.
You may also find current offers from the BYU Bookstore’s Cougar Technology Department.
Free Cloud Storage (Box)
BYU gives you unlimited cloud storage in Box for as long as you are a student. With this program you can edit Microsoft 365 or Google Drive files on any device. Simply click the link below and sign in with your BYU Net ID (format: netid@byu.edu) and password to get started.
Note: This policy is updated annually. Students entering the BYU Marriott School of Business with a laptop meeting the minimum requirements should not need to upgrade during their program.
Date Updated: 11 February 2019