Student Laptop Recommendations

The School of Business requires Windows, the use of an Apple laptop is very problematic and strongly discouraged for students taking School of Business Analytics classes. Several classes include instruction for Microsoft Access, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio and Analytics Solvers for Microsoft Excel for Windows. The aforementioned software is not available for macOS. Other software developed only for use on Windows Operating Systems may also be used and instructional materials and class demonstration have been developed for Microsoft Windows. Some lessons will be confusing for those using disparate systems. For these reasons all student computers must be capable of running Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office for Windows, which if not already installed, will require significant effort by the students. It is the students’ responsibility to provide compute resources capable of running required class software***.

See the buyers guide: Laptop Buyer’s Guide 2021-22

The following laptop specifications are recommended for the 2021-2022 academic year:

Recommendation for Graduate students & students taking Analytics classes
Technology Minimum Recommended
CPU – Processor Intel Core i5 Intel Core i7
Intel Atom or Celeron processors are not recommended.
RAM – Internal Memory 8GB-Win, 16GB-Mac 16GB-Win, 16GB-Mac
Hard Drive – Internal Storage SSD or NVMe Drive with 30GB of available space SSD or NVMe drive with 128GB of available space
Ethernet (NIC) – Wired Networking 100/1000 Mbps 1000Mbps
Wifi – Wireless Networking 802.11 b,g,n 802.11 b,g,n
USB – Peripheral Port 3.0 3.2 – 4.0
Additional Requirements for all laptops and programs

Intel Atom, Celeron and Mac Silicon (M1) ARM processors are not recommended. Software currently runs on x86 systems only.

Recommendations for Undergraduate students / and non-Analytics classes
Technology Minimum Recommended
CPU – Processor Intel Core i3 2.5G hz Intel Core i5 >2.5Ghz
RAM – Internal Memory 6GB-Win, 16GB-Mac 16GB
Hard Drive – Internal Storage SSD or NVMe drive with 80GB of available space SSD or NVMe drive with 128GB of available space
Ethernet (NIC) – Wired Networking 10/100/1000 Mbps 1000Mbps
Wifi – Wireless Networking 802.11 b,g,n 802.11 b,g,n
USB – Peripheral Port 3.0 3.2 – 4.0
Additional Requirements for all laptops and programs

Suggested Options:

  • Insurance coverage for both damage and theft (strongly suggested, at your discretion)

The use of an Apple laptops is very problematic for students taking School of Business Analytics classes.** If a student chooses to use a Mac it is solely that student’s responsibility to make that device ready for classes, which will likely include installing the Windows 10 Learning Environment. The Windows 10 Learning Environment is not compatible with devices using Apple M1 processors. Students with devices equipped with  M1 processors will have to make other arrangements:

  • UConn AnyWare provides a virtual lab accessible anywhere, anytime and on any device (software installation is not possible on virtual lab PCs).
  • Students taking School of Business Analytics classes have access to a specialized Virtual Desktop Environment now known UConn AnyWare School of Business Desktop, formerly known as OPIM Virtual Desktop (OVD). It is recommended that  students taking Analytics classes use AnyWare School of Business Desktop.
  • School of Business ITS, is in BUSN Rm 225 and via email at help@business.uconn.edu, and provides support to School of Business students.

** It will be the student’s responsibility to download and install all required software, clients, plug-ins and other software listed on the professor’s syllabus. Some assistance and instructions may be provided for Windows only.