Choosing the right computer system is a very personal decision. Visit the Showcase to:
Our sales staff can offer helpful, "no-pressure" advice and expert knowledge of the U-M computing environment.
These are general recommendations:
Check to see if your school or college has specific requirements or recommendations.
These are minimum specifications:
If you are purchasing a new system, we encourage you to plan for the future
(in particular, by investing in a faster processor, more RAM and a larger drive).
Most laptops come with an internal wireless card. The card should be IEEE 802.11 a/b/g and certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Some manufacturers are beginning to include 802.11n capabilities. The final ratification of the 802.11n standard is expected by 2009. When purchasing a new laptop, it is wise to ask if the manufacturer plans to provide an upgrade when the standard is ratified.
802.11n is available in some MWireless and UM Wireless Network locations on campus. To take full advantage of 802.11 speeds in these locations your laptop will need to have a dual-band 802.11n wireless card. Not all laptops that are advertised as having 802.11n capabilities have dual-band cards. Some have single-band cards. If your laptop has a single-band 802.11n card, it will connect at 802.11a/g speeds.
U-M is rolling out a more secure wireless environment beginning Summer 2008. Most wireless devices should be able to utilize the WPA2 Enterprise security. If you are uncertain about your device, you can check the Wi-Fi Alliance website to see if the device in your computer is WPA2 Enterprise certified.