Student Owned Computing

Already Own a Laptop?

Some of our incoming students already own a laptop, or are receiving a hand-me-down from a family member. Laptops bought in the past two years or so should meet the requirements of an engineering student for a couple of years. It is not important that you have a brand new computer as you begin your education in the college; what is important is that you have a computer that enables you to get your work done.

Recommended Specs for Currently Owned Laptops

Laptops in this category were manufactured in the past two years, so we do not have specific minimums for processor speed and other technical specs. The specifications provided here are what an existing computer needs in order to run satisfactorily for the next 12-18 months.

Consider Simple Upgrades

Performing a few simple upgrades can make a sluggish computer pep up and almost feel like new. Consider the following upgrades to improve your computing experience.

• RAM - Maximizing the amount of RAM in the computer is an easy way to get a performance boost. Visit sites like Crucial.com to order the correct RAM for your specific computer.
• New Battery - Mobility is key on campus, so consider spending $100-150 on a new battery for your laptop.
• External Hard Drive - Purchasing an external hard drive can give you additional storage space for music, photos and documents, freeing up room on your laptop's internal hard drive to install applications. In addition, an external hard drive is important for backing up important files.