Information Technology Office |
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Information on Computers for Incoming 1st Year Students arriving August 2012 |
These recommendations are for residential students. If you are enrolled in the Engineering School's PRODUCED in VA Program or another distance learning initiative, please contact the respective program office directly. |
| 30 APR 2012 [Rev. 1] |
The School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) requires that students have their own laptop or a convertible tabletPC. [Since 2009, owning a mobile computer has been a requirement.] Students are dependent on their computers. The laptop is needed to complete homework assignments and other course work, capstone design, the thesis, and special projects. We
therefore advise that you acquire a unit with a first-class hardware
repair plan with rapid turnaround. Also, regularly backing up
your data is critical. Keeping your system secure is an on-going
and essential task. Students are carrying their computers around more & more. Some SEAS instructors have starting asking students to bring them to class, students run course software, and regularly students form work groups in and outside of class that use their computers. Access to UVA-licensed engineering, math and science software is also via a student's laptop. These are examples where dependence on a personally-owned laptop or tabletPC has continued to increase. A
model that is a combination of readable screen size, light weight &
good battery life with decent CPU power and quality graphics is
advised. With units transported on a regular basis, coverage for accidental damage and loss is recommended, or at a minimum develop a plan of what you will do if you quickly have to replace your computer should it be damaged beyond repair or stolen. Most of the software used throughout the Engineering School curriculum is available in editions that run on Microsoft Windows. This general compatibility is not the case for the Mac OS or Linux. The
operating system recommended as most compatible with our student
computing environment is Microsoft Windows7. 64-bit editions are
fine. 32-bit editions are fine. For $15 at the U.Va. Bookstore's Cavalier Computers Branch, you can get a copy of the installation disc for Microsoft Office 2010 Suite (that contains Word/Excel/Powerpoint/...) or an upgrade copy of Microsoft Windows7. The licensing costs are already covered under a special U.Va. student program. We
use the Windows edition of Excel in the first year engineering
curriculum, so acquiring it this way can save you money compared with
retail prices. Our curriculum includes an increasing use of modeling and simulation software, interactive applications, and animations. We
therefore suggest that your computer have good graphics capabilities. Specifically, for models introduced in Spring 2011 or later that are outfitted with 2nd generation mobile Intel Core processors, also known as "Sandy Bridge CPUs," the built-in, on-board graphics card is adequate. For earlier models containing less powerful chipsets, we recommend a dedicated video card with a 256MB minimum of video RAM. Screens should have a 1280 by 800 video or greater resolution for the newer widescreen models (but as a minimum, no less than 768 vertical resolution). If you already own a relatively new laptop that is powerful enough to meet the recommended hardware specs, operating system and recommended support plan, then it is not necessary to buy a new one for your first year of studies. You
should look toward replacing it in the next year or two, depending on
what shape it is in and its warranty coverage expiration date. |
If you've read this page and still have questions-- For Specific Questions related to the School of Engineering and Applied Science requirement, please contact: For General Questions including Dormitory Computing Issues, please contact the: ITC Help Desk Telephone: (866) 469-4866, or (434) 924-4357 E-Mail: 4help@virginia.edu Web: http://www.itc.virginia.edu/helpdesk/ Live Help Desk Chat & Online Reporting Form also available at this link. For Back-to-School PC specials, please contact: U.Va. Bookstore Cavalier Computers Telephone: (800) 759-4667 option 2, or (434) 924-3475 Web: http://www.cavcompbts.virginia.edu E-Mail: BTS-Questions@virginia.edu |