The University of Toledo

Recommended Computer Specifications for Students

The COBI Prefered Laptop: Dell E-6420

The University of Toledo is pleased to announce the College of Business and Innovation's Laptop Purchasing Program models for the 2011/2012 academic year.

What else do I need?
The University of Toledo has negotiated with Microsoft to enable a substantial discount toward various Microsoft products and accessories. However, due to vendor price discrepancies, Microsoft Office suite will not come pre-installed on COBI laptops. Therefore, in order to receive this discount, enrolled students will need to purchase Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus edition (Recommended) through the e-academy website.

Please consider backup options for your new laptop. External hard drives and jump drives are available as accessories when purchasing the laptop.

Also, Anti-virus/spyware protection will not be included in this offer. We strongly recommend purchasing an inexpensive version of McAfee from Rocket Copy, which is located inside the Student Union. Another alternative would be to purchase AVG's full version of anti-virus software which is located at www.grisoft.com, or download the basic free version from download.com.

When should I purchase?
For Fall 2012, incoming students are strongly recommended to purchase a COBI laptop prior to the beginning of the semester. Dell has recently just released their new latitude e-series laptops. Click on the Dell page link for price information.

Recommended Specifications

Feature	Minimum Recommended	Preferred (if applicable)	Rationale for Recommendation
Display	14" HD (1366x768) LED	14" HD (1366x768) LED	Standard screen size, going bigger or smaller with the display is at the discretion of the user
Processor	Intel Core i5 (2.3 GHz) (Windows/Mac)	Intel i7 (2.7 GHz) (Windows/Mac)	The latest Windows operating systems and applications written for it will require advanced processors to be used effectively.
Memory	4GB	8GB	Memory demands for Windows 7 will require at least 4 gigabytes (GB) of memory.
Hard disk	250 GB	500 GB	This allows for storing of files from classes on the computer.  A backup solution is also recommended for storage.
Optical drive	DVD+/-RW(burns/reads CDs and DVDs)	DVD+/-RW(burns/reads CDs and DVDs)	Recordable DVDs are more capable for backing up and transporting today’s larger computer files.
Wireless Networking (Effective 4/18/12)	Intel 6205 wireless cards, or equivalent with 802.11a/n 5 GHz capability, are required for all newly purchased computing systems requiring wireless connectivity.	Intel 6205 wireless cards, or equivalent with 802.11a/n 5 GHz capability, are required for all newly purchased computing systems requiring wireless connectivity.	This will allow machines to operate on the 5GHz wireless frequencies that provide increased throughput and roaming performance over some previously installed wireless adapters.
Bluetooth	Dell Wireless 375 Bluetooth Module	Dell Wireless 375 Bluetooth Module	Standard component for the Dell E-6420, no upgrade available
Video RAM	256 MB	512 MB	Windows 7 will require a more powerful graphics card.
Operating system	Windows 7 or Mac OS 10.6 or Higher	Windows 7 or Mac OS 10.6 or Higher	Windows 7 is the preferred operating system on campus for students
Battery	6 Cell Battery	9 Cell Battery	9 cell batteries provide optimum life for the laptop when students are in classes for long periods of time
Software	Microsoft Office, Anti-Virus Software	Microsoft Office, Anti-Virus Software	Every laptop should have anti-virus software for protection in addition to all the latest security patches
Warranty	4 Year Limited Warranty	4 Year Warranty with Complete Care Click here for more information	The warranty will cover the hardware in the laptop for 4 years in the case of any problems.  Complete care covers accidental damage as well as defective parts.
Detailed Technical Specifications & Pricing:	Dell Personal Purchase Page (Special Offers)	Dell Personal Purchase Page (Special Offers)
Supplemental Information:	Dell Latitude v.s Dell Inspiron	Dell Latitude v.s Dell Inspiron