Olds College Student Laptop Recommendations
Created: Monday, March 16, 2009
Author: Olds College Information Technology
General Tips
In general, buy the "best" system that you can afford, with preference given to:
- processor (Intel Core i7, i5 or i3, Pentium Dual-Core is better than Dual-Core or Intel Atom, multiple processor cores better than singles)
- speed (measured in MHz, with 1GHz being faster than 500MHz)
- memory (known as RAM. Note memory may be a more important performance factor than the speed of the processor. Also watch for memory speeds, 800Mhz is better than 533Mhz)
- Weight - Go lightweight! You will be carrying it around much of the day. (5-6lbs at most; many students opt for ultra-lightweights under 2-4lbs)
- Battery (more cells in the battery equal longer battery runtime & life)
- Budget to purchase an external hard drive or large USB memory sticks to backup or transfer files.
- Look for laptops that have excellent build quality, you get what you pay for.
The higher these numbers, the longer the life you can expect from your system. You will also need a wireless and/or Ethernet card
Warranty
Regardless of brand, we strongly recommend purchasing the 3-year warranty for your new laptop so it is protected while attending college.
For Dell systems the recommended warranty is Three Year CompleteCare which covers accidental damage that affects system operation. For Apple systems we recommend Three Year AppleCare coverage. Apple does not provide accidental damage protection at this time.
Also give preference to vendors who offer on-site or next day support with the longest warranty. You don’t want to be without a computer for weeks as it is off getting fixed.
Stay with recognized brand names when selecting computer systems and components.
Brand
Olds College does not recommend any specific manufacturer; rather we encourage students to purchase a computer from a reputable and established manufacturer. Currently the brands that Olds College uses: Dell, HP, ASUS, & Apple.
Microsoft Windows versus Apple OS X
Olds College is primarily a Microsoft Windows environment. Some software used as part of the curriculum, and some current and new services offered by the college, will only run on a Windows-based computer. With the release of Apple’s new Duo Core Intel processors, you can now run Windows on a Macintosh laptop by using commercial software (Parallels or VMWare Fusion) or using Apple’s free BootCamp software.
This decision is yours to make, but you might be at a disadvantage if you use a Macintosh.
Software Required:
- Microsoft Office 2007 Professional (includes: Access, Excel, Groove, InfoPath, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word) (http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-ca/default.aspx)
- Anti-Virus (Microsoft Security Essentials)
- Malwarebytes
- Free: Adobe Acrobat Reader (http://get.adobe.com/reader/)
- Free: Java Runtime (http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp)
- Free: Adobe Flash Player (http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/)
- Free: Adobe Shockwave Player (http://get.adobe.com/shockwave/)
- Free: Apple QuickTime Player (www.apple.com/quicktime/)
Components Recommendations
(Recommendations based in March 2009)
Processor |
Intel Core i7, i5 or i3, Pentium Dual-Core is better than Dual-Core or Intel Atom, multiple processor cores better than singles, Intel recommended over AMD, multiple processor cores better than singles, speed measured in MHz, with 1GHz being faster than 500MHz, cannot be upgraded later, so get the best you can afford. Also look at Front Side Bus (FSB) measured in Mhz, higher is better |
Memory (RAM) |
Minimum 2GB, preferably 1 DIMM slot available for future expansion. Also consider memory speeds, 800Mhz is better than 533Mhz) |
Hard Drive Storage |
Minimum 120GB, favour faster drives (7200RPM over 5400RPM) |
Display & Graphics |
dedicated memory video card better than integrated video card |
Optical Driver |
Minimum: DVD Burner Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive (Supports both CDs and DVDs). BlueRay combo drives optional upgrade |
Battery |
Look for longest run time. Batteries with more cells equal longer run time. Recommended 6 or 9-cell |
Operating System |
Microsoft Windows 7 (when available), Mac OS 10.5.x |
Wireless Card |
Internal 802.11 wireless. Required 802.11g, 802.11n is backward compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b. |
Bluetooth |
Optional: Internal Bluetooth wireless. Use with bluetooth wireless mouse or keyboard. |
Modem |
Optional: only required if you will use dial-up Internal |
Network Card |
Required: Integrated 10/100, Optional Integrated 10/100/1000 |
Warranty |
Recommend: 3 years next business day full accident coverage |
Information Services
Open Monday to Friday 8:15am to 4:30pm
Email itsupport@oldscollege.ca
Phone: (403) 507-7777
