Academic Technologies

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 or 8! These operating systems are no longer supported by Microsoft and a security risk.

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.)

Apple MacBook computers running Mojave (10.14), Catalina (10.15), Big Sur (11), and Monterey (12) are fine for use in the law school. (Catalina, 10.15, 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 10.14. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.