Computer Specifications for 2009/2010

For additional information on computer specifications for ResNet at Saint Mary's, please review
A Student's Guide for Bringing a Computer to Saint Mary's College.


Recommended Configuration for Macs:


• Mac OS X version 10.4 or later
• G4 or G5 processor (includes iBooks, PowerBooks, and older iMacs)
  or an Intel Core Duo/Core 2 Duo processor (includes current MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and iMacs)
• At least 1GB RAM, 2GB RAM preferred
• 80 GB hard drive or larger


Recommended Configuration for Windows:


• Windows XP Professional Edition
  or Windows Vista Business Edition
  or Windows Vista Ultimate Edition
• 2.8 GHz Pentium IV processor or better
  or an Intel Core Duo/Core 2 Duo processor for desktop computers
• 1.5 GHz Pentium M processor or better
  or an Intel Core Duo/Core 2 Duo processor for notebook computers
• At least 1GB of RAM, 2GB RAM preferred
• 80GB hard drive or larger


Recommended Software:


Saint Mary's College has a Microsoft Campus Agreement. This agreement allows students to purchase a single copy each of Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows, Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, and Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition Upgrade for $10 per software title for their personal computer. This software is available for purchase at the Campus iStore during the academic year. Students must show their Saint Mary's ID card to purchase the software, and the software will be charged to their student accounts.


Important Information Regarding Microsoft Windows:


Both Macintosh and Windows computers can be connected to our network if they meet the requirements listed in our Student's Guide to Bringing a Computer to Saint Mary's College, and both are equally supported on campus. Approximately 44% of students on ResNet had a Macintosh and 56% had a computer running Windows during the 2008/2009 academic year.

If you chose to buy a new computer running Windows, ResNet strongly recommends purchasing a computer that already has Windows Vista Business Edition or Windows Vista Ultimate Edition installed (such as our recommended Dell models). ResNet encountered many issues during the past two academic years when students' computers were upgraded from Windows Vista Home Basic Edition or Windows Vista Home Premium Edition to Windows Vista Ultimate Edition to be compatible with our network. New computers that did not have a supported Windows operating system pre-installed that were brought to the ResNet Office during the 2008/2009 academic year averaged more than six hours to complete the upgrade process, and students are required to be present in the ResNet Office while their computers are being upgraded. The length of time varies by computer manufacturer, model, and availability of hardware drivers. Not all computers that are sold with Windows Vista Home Basic Edition or Windows Vista Home Premium Edition installed can be upgraded to Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.


Our recommended specifications for all computers include:


• Ethernet cable (UTP, 10-Base-T, RJ-45 connector)
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM ("Combo") drive or CD-RW/DVD burner ("Superdrive")
• Built-in 100Base-T Ethernet (including 10/100 and 10/100/1000Base-T Ethernet)
• An 802.11b or 802.11g compatible (including 802.11n) wireless network card
• Inkjet printer


Other useful items:


• USB flash drive for transferring files between computers
• ResNet recommends and the ResNet Computer Consultants (RCCs) use Kingston DataTraveler DTI flash drives. They are available for purchase at the Bookstore.
• External hard drive for backing up data
• Saint Mary's Information Technology staff use various Western Digital external hard drives. The Western Digital Passport drives are available for purchase at the Bookstore.


Please note: Saint Mary's College does not support Windows XP Home Edition, Windows Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Basic Edition, or Windows Vista Home Premium Edition. Please do not bring these operating systems to campus. These operating systems will prevent students from accessing and installing major components of the Saint Mary's College network, including personal network drives, course-related software, and the virus-protection software provided to all students.

Students bringing computers with unsupported operating systems to campus will be required to upgrade their operating systems before connecting to ResNet.





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If you already own a computer that meets the minimum specifications listed below, it should connect to the campus network.

• A Macintosh computer with a G4 processor running Mac OS X version 10.2, at least 512MB of RAM, a 20 GB hard drive, and an installed 10/100Base-T Ethernet card meets the minimum requirements need to connect to our network.
• A computer with Windows XP Professional Edition, a 1.5MHz processor, at least 512MB of RAM, a 20 GB hard drive, and an installed 10/100Base-T Ethernet card meets the minimum requirements need to connect to our network.

Computers meeting the above minimum requirements may connect to our network, but may not be able to run all of the course-related software provided or access all of the networked College systems. Computers meeting the minimum specifications will most likely not meet a student's needs beyond two years.

If your computer does not meet these minimum specifications, you may need to upgrade its components for campus and network compatibility and maximum performance or purchase a new computer.

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Last Modified March 19, 2009