General Information
The College of Engineering does not recommend a particular brand of Windows computer. However, a medium-to-high end computer backed by a manufacturer’s warranty will last you several years and run most everything you need. TechZone can be of assistance in purchasing and maintaining students’ computers. TechZone is the computer sales and repair center for the Illinois State University community. No matter where the computer was purchased or what brand the computer is, we will be able to evaluate your computer.
All Illinois State students are expected to own a computer that meets the University's minimum hardware and software standards, which are updated annually and published here. Read the Policy on Student Computer Ownership
In order to complete their coursework, students will often find it necessary to use computers in their residence, around campus, in classes, or when meeting with project groups. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that students purchase a laptop as they will be disadvantaged without one.
In addition, due to the numerical modeling that is required in engineering courses, it is recommended that computers follow TechZone’s “New Advanced” recommendations. Laptop computers should have webcam and the ability to connect to a wide variety of external displays for sharing and presenting work.
An Engineering major will find that a computer that meets the following specs (regardless of brand) meets the needs of their major:
- Current version of Windows
- Current generation Intel or AMD Processor
- Minimum display resolution of 1366x768 (HD). The screen should be at least 14 inches diagonally.
- Minimum of 32GB memory
- Minimum of 512GB SSD storage
- Integrated HD camera and microphone built into the screen.
- A dedicated Graphics Card (minimum of 1GB of memory NVIDIA or AMD)
- A 4 year warranty that includes Accidental Damage coverage
Models carried by TechZone that meet these requirements can be found at Engineering Laptops
Office 365 is a service, available to all faculty, staff and students at Illinois State University. It allows you to:
- Access your email and files from anywhere, on any device
- Store your files in the University-connected OneDrive cloud, for anywhere-access to your stuff
- Download the latest version of Microsoft Office for installation on your laptop or desktop computer
- Install the Microsoft Office App on your mobile devices
- Access Microsoft Office Online (a simplified version of Microsoft Office) even on systems that do not have Microsoft Office installed.
- Access office at 365.IllinoisState.edu using your school email and password
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my computer need to be a Windows machine? Can I use a Mac or my Chromebook?
Do I need to buy a new laptop?
What software will I need?
What do I do if I have computer problems?
Do I need to run antivirus? What do I do if I get a virus?
