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Computer Recommendations

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Duke Law School strongly recommends that each student own a new or recent laptop or notebook computer running Windows or macOS. Duke Law's JD student financial aid budget for entering students includes an amount towards the cost of purchasing a new laptop or notebook. Please contact the Law School Financial Aid Office for details.

Academic Technologies recommends purchasing new computers through the special student package deals and finance plans at the Duke Technology Center (919-684-8956). Their student packages usually offer 3 or 4 years of warranty and accidental-damage coverage, both of which can provide considerable peace of mind during your career at Duke Law.

Specifications for New Computers 2020 - 2021

Draft - August 1, 2020

Computers purchased now should meet the specifications in the table found at the bottom of this document. See also the "frequently asked questions" immediately below.

What version of Windows should I get?

We recommend Windows 10. We advise against a "home" or standard version of Windows. The home or standard versions of Windows 10 are not fully compatible with an enterprise network, and may lack important encryption software. Tablets running Windows may also not be fully compatible with our network and software. We recommend that students get Windows 10 Pro (or Enterprise or Education editions). All software that we distribute is compatible with the 64-bit version of Windows, so both 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows will work, but most users will find a 64-bit operating system a better fit. Note that it is possible, once you are here, to get Windows from Duke's Office of Information Technology. However, we do not generally recommend buying a computer with a home version with the expectation of upgrading when you arrive here. Upgrades are certainly possible - and we can help with the process - but they require more patience and time than you will have at the start of the school year. Do not come to the law school with a computer with Windows 7! That operating system is no longer supported at all by Microsoft and is a security risk.

What is TPM and do I need it?

TPM stands for "Trusted Platform Module." If you are buying a Windows computer, it is essential that you get a model with TPM 1.2 or 2 functionality. If you do not, you will not be able to encrypt your drive according to Duke Law standards and you will not be able to use your laptop to its fullest in situations such as a clinic course. When purchasing your laptop, be sure to check the technical specifications for TPM. You may find that this means you should shop for a more business-oriented laptop than a consumer model. (Note: Macintosh computers do not employ TPM but solve the security issue with encryption in a different way.)

What about Macintosh computers?

Apple MacBook computers running Mojave (10.14) and Catalina (10.15) are fine for use in the law school. (High Sierra, 10.13, will likely go out of support later this year.) Relying on an older computer with an older operating system can lead to problems and we do not recommend it. Because Apple does not issue security updates for old OS versions, we currently do not support any OS version older than 10.13. Note that most students end up in positions that require familiarity with Windows, so you may wish to install Apple's BootCamp to install Windows on your laptop, or use a virtual environment such as VMWare Fusion or Oracle's VirtualBox to gain exposure to Windows.

The Electronic Bluebook (EBB) software used in in-classroom final exams is available for both Windows and Macintosh. It does not support Linux (even if you run Windows in a virtual machine).

What if I have a computer that does not meet the specifications, or no computer at all?

Academic Technologies staff provides a higher level of service for computers meeting the specifications. While we do not perform hardware repair or replacement, we can assist with many other problems, including removing viruses and spyware, reinstalling the operating system, and, if necessary, providing assistance with and recommendations for backing up your data before work is done on your computer. Please consider that a computer not meeting minimum specifications may have a negative impact on your education far outweighing the cost of a new computer.

Important: bring all your software discs, manuals and software license keys with you when you come to law school. We cannot help you install your software again without the discs and/or license keys.

Can I get financial assistance?

Duke's student financial aid budget should provide funds to cover the cost of purchasing a new computer. Please contact the Law School Financial Aid Office for details.

Where should I buy? What brand should I buy?

Students purchasing new computers are eligible for special package deals and finance plans through the Duke Technology Center. Computers available under this program may include extended warranties that cover screen replacement and parts damage, and may include a loaner computer while yours is being repaired. For the most part, Dell, Lenovo or Apple laptops made available in student packages meet our specifications. (If the Windows version is a "non-pro" version, then you should allow time to update the operating system before the semester begins.) We recommend Dell laptops for Windows users.

We strongly recommend that you do not buy a Windows computer from a big-box store such as Best Buy. The models carried in these showrooms are not optimized for use in an enterprise environment such as ours, and may not have TPM functionality. Warranties through consumer stores and websites may not cover your laptop throughout your career here, and in some cases getting repairs done can be time-consuming. You may also wish to review the annual reliability surveys of consumers published by PC Magazine.

What about insurance?

Even if you use your security cable religiously and never leave your computer unattended, you should carry financial protection in the event of loss. The law school, like other public facilities, does experience theft. Many homeowners and renters insurance policies cover computers as insured contents, subject to the policy deductible. Review your policy and you may wish to purchase a computer insurance policy from Safeware or other vendors.

Recommended Specifications for New Notebook or Laptop Computers
Features	Minimum Recommended Specifications	Comments
Processor	Intel i5 core Processor or equivalent	We recommend i5 or i7 processor. Intel's M processors use less power, at the sacrifice of some speed, but are also generally acceptable.
TPM 1.2 or 2.0	Required for Windows computers	Ask a sales associate or check the technical specifications for that exact model. It is also possible to check the computer's BIOS for this feature (which is sometimes turned off in the BIOS and otherwise invisible to the system). The Windows specification calls for TPM to be built into all new computers.
Memory (RAM)	8 GB	Consider 16 GB, especially if the model does not allow you to upgrade RAM after purchase.
Video RAM	--	Most video graphics solutions available today suffice for general computing and viewing media.
Hard Drive	250 GB	We strongly recommend getting a Solid State Drive (SSD), which is much faster than a traditional hard drive. 512GB drives are becoming affordable and, if you store a lot of large media, may be desirable. Hybrid drives have some of the speed benefit of an SSD and the size of traditional hard drives, and may be a reasonable compromise if you need a lot of storage.
Display	At least 1080p (full high definition, or FHD). Screen size is a personal choice.	Display size is a matter of personal preference. Some will want a smaller and lighter laptop, while others will want a bigger screen with a higher native resolution. We advise looking at a number of laptops and screen resolutions before making up your mind. Since even small laptops are powerful, you may want to consider a smaller laptop and then get an external monitor and/or keyboard for use at home. Some displays, such as Apple's Retina Display or the Ultra High Definition (UHD) standard, have an extremely high resolution and pixel density, and you may find that combination advantageous, even for reading text.
Webcam/Microphone	--	The built-in webcam and microphone of a standard laptop should be sufficient for running web-conferencing software like Zoom. Ideally it will have a resolution of 720p HD at minimum. Many choose to upgrade the microphone with a wearable headset, though this is not strictly necessary. A standalone webcam may also be necessary with a desktop computer where it is not already built-in.
Network Interface	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, or Wi-Fi 802.11ax	Wireless networking is available throughout the law school and across the Duke campus. Your laptop should support at least 802.11n. We also have some Ethernet wired ports in specific locations, which can provide a more consistent connection. Most laptops today can add Ethernet ports via a relatively inexpensive adapter.
Operating System	Windows 10 Pro or Education, or Mac OS X 10.15.	Please see Windows details above. We recommend Mac users become familiar with Windows using BootCamp or virtual machine software and Windows 10.
Optical Drive	Optional: Blu-Ray/DVD+/-RW drive	We consider these optional, given broadband Internet access, flash drives and cloud storage.
Carrying Case or Backpack	Designed to carry a laptop	It should have sufficient padding, keep the computer snug and offer room for the accessories you use every day.
Warranty	3-year warranty	A 3-year warranty will provide coverage throughout your law school career. Computers available from the Duke Technology Center can be purchased with at least a 3-year warranty and may include accidental damage. We recommend coverage for accidental damage, but you may also wish to check the terms of your own insurance coverage. Duke Computer Repair services Dell, Lenovo and Macintosh computers.
Internet Access Provider	You will need to arrange for an Internet Service Provider account for home access	Typical options are: through your apartment building; through your cable TV provider; through a mobile network; or through your landline phone provider. Recent experience shows that you should not rely exclusively on using Duke's internal network.
Insurance	Check the provisions of your homeowner's or renter's policy	If you have no policy or the provisions are not adequate, consider a special policy from a vendor such as Safeware .
Back-up for your Data	You should back up your user data at least weekly	Hardware malfunctions and some viruses can cause a loss of data and in some cases corrupt your entire disk drive. Duke offers cloud storage solutions through Box and Microsoft's OneDrive. You may also want to consider an external hard drive with back-up software (or use the built-in backup software of your operating system) to minimize your problems should your computer fail, but don't rely solely on a local back-up system that can be damaged or stolen along with your computer. Online backup services such as Mozy are another possibility, though typically unnecessary. Flash drives can be used to keep instant back-ups of crucial data. Remember: Never have irreplaceable content in just one location!
Microsoft Office	You can download for Microsoft Office software for either Mac or Windows, once you have a Duke NetID. Duke's Office of Information Technology and the Duke Technology Center offer other site-licensed and educationally priced software as well.	Please see OIT's website for more information: https://software.duke.edu
Important: bring all your software discs, manuals and software license keys with you when you come to law school. We cannot help you reinstall your software again without the discs and/or license keys.