Student Laptop Recommendations

Several School of Business classes teach concepts using Microsoft Access, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio and Analytics Solvers for Microsoft Excel for Windows. This software is not available for macOS or other operating systems. Other Windows only software is also used, and instructional materials and class demonstrations have been developed only for Microsoft Windows devices. Therefore, the School of Business requires use of Windows 10/11 and Microsoft Office 64-bit for Windows, licensing for both are provided by the university. A thorough knowledge of Windows and Office for Windows are prerequisites for careers in Business. To adequately prepare students class instruction and software is provided for Windows devices only. Use of laptops not running Windows is strongly discouraged!

The following Windows laptop specifications are recommended for the 2022-2023 academic year:

Recommendation for Graduate students & students taking Analytics classes
Technology Minimum Recommended
CPU – Processor ≥ Intel Quad-Core i5 2.0 Ghz

or ≥ AMD Ryzen 5

≥ Intel Quad-Core i7 2.5Ghz

or ≥ AMD Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7

Avoid systems with Intel Atom, Celeron, Pentium and ARM, processors.
RAM – Internal Memory ≥ 8GB ≥ 16GB
Hard Drive – Internal Storage SSD or NVMe Drive with 128GB  available, free space SSD or NVMe drive with 256GB of available, free 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

 

Recommendations for Undergraduate students / and non-Analytics classes
Technology Minimum Recommended
CPU – Processor ≥ Intel Core i5 2.0Ghz, or  ≥ AMD Ryzen 3

 Intel Core i5 >2.5Ghz, or 

≥ AMD Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5

RAM – Internal Memory 6GB-Win, 16GB-Mac ≥ 16GB
Hard Drive – Internal Storage SSD or NVMe drive with 64GB of available, free space SSD or NVMe drive with 128GB of available, free 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 (suggested – at your discretion)
    • USB external hard drive or other means of backing up data files
    • Use of a free cloud storage service such as Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox,
    • Use of an Apple laptop is strongly discouraged! Some School of Business classes require software that is only available for Windows.
  • UConn AnyWare provides a virtual lab accessible anywhere, anytime and on any device (Please note: AnyWare is a managed environment, students cannot install software on AnyWare. Some software is not available for macs and is not installed on AnyWare because of license restrictions).
  • School of Business ITS, provides tech support to students at the following locations: Storrs Campus, BUSN bldg., rm. 225; Hartford – GBLC, 100 Constitution Plaza, rm. 203; Stamford Campus rm. 259A and via email at help@business.uconn.edu.
  • Please visit s.uconn.edu/microsoft or s.uconn.edu/imagine for information about installing and licensing Windows, Office, Project and Visio on your Windows laptop.

IMPORTANT: It is each student’s responsibility to download and install all required software, clients, add-ins and other software listed on the professor’s syllabus. School of Business provides assistance and instructions for Windows devices only.