2024-25 Laptop Minimum & Recommended Specifications for
Undergraduate Students
At The Master’s University we strive to provide our students
with the greatest possible opportunities for education. To that end, we do
require that every student bring a laptop computer to use for their classes. Below
you will find minimum and recommended laptop specifications.
| SPECIFICATIONS | WINDOWS PC | APPLE MACINTOSH |
| Operating System | MINIMUM Windows 10 Home RECOMMENDED Windows 11 Pro | MINIMUM Mac OS X 10.15 RECOMMENDED MacOS Sonoma 14 or higher |
| Productivity Tools | Microsoft Office can be downloaded for free by current students. Go to portal.office.com | Microsoft Office can be downloaded for free by current students. Go to portal.office.com |
| Windows Emulation Software (check with academic advisor) | N/A | Parallels Desktop for Mac OR VMWare Fusion |
| Processor Type | MINIMUM Intel Core i5 12th Gen Processor RECOMMENDED Intel Core i9 Processor | MINIMUM M1 Chip RECOMMENDED M1 Chip or higher |
| Memory | MINIMUM 8 GB RAM RECOMMENDED 16 GB RAM | MINIMUM 8 GB RAM RECOMMENDED 16 GB RAM |
| Hard Drive | MINIMUM 256 GB SSD RECOMMENDED 512 GB SSD or higher | MINIMUM 256 GB SSD RECOMMENDED 512 GB SSD or higher |
| WiFi Adapter | MINIMUM 802.11 ac adapter RECOMMENDED 802.11ax adapter | N/A |
| Warranty/Insurnace | 4 Years parts and labor (onsite recommended) & Accidental Damage Protection | 4 years parts and labor Apple Care+ |
***Please note that Chromebooks will not support certain required applications for class. We do not recommend this type of notebook.***
Warranty
Options
Many students purchase a high-quality notebook in their
freshman year with a four-year warranty and use that laptop for the duration of
their time at Master’s. An ideal warranty would run this length and include
accidental damage protection. The service contract is a critical part of the
computer purchase. This will ensure that the student will always have a means
of support in case of a hardware failure. Many computer manufacturers sell next
business day warranties which facilitate timely service.
Due to the breadth of laptop manufacturers today, The
Master’s University does not have the necessary resources to service student
computers. However, IT Operations will do their utmost to ensure that all
students are able to successfully connect to and utilize university technology
resources.
Accidental
Damage
Warranties do not cover all repairs to your notebook
computer; they are expressly written to cover manufacturers’ defects that cause
system failure during the normal use and life cycle of the product. If you
damage your notebook computer by dropping it, stepping on it, spilling liquids
on it, etc., you are liable for the repair costs to restore the notebook to
working condition. Some manufacturers offer accidental damage plans that you
can purchase in addition to extended warranty plans. Although an accidental
damage plan may seem expensive at first, it could be a very valuable investment
considering the cost of repairs.
Service
Availability
You may also want to consider the service options that are
available with a particular computer. If you encounter problems or defects in
your laptop, you may have to deal directly with the manufacturer by telephone,
or you may have to take the computer to the store you bought it from in order
to have any troubleshooting done. If there is a hardware problem with your
computer, you may need to leave it at the store or ship your computer to the
manufacturer for repairs. Some notebook manufacturers also offer on-site
warranty repairs where they will come to your place of residence within 24 to
48 hours with the necessary replacement parts.
Students bringing their own notebooks to campus will be
responsible for their own hardware troubleshooting and tech support, which can
be obtained from the manufacturer or vendor where the notebook was purchased.
IT Operations does not offer any hardware tech support for student-owned
notebooks other than assistance in connecting to the wireless network.
Additional
Resources
Popular laptop manufacturers include Dell and Apple. Student
discounts may be found at the following websites: http://www.delluniversity.com/ and https://www.apple.com/us-hed/sho and http://www.microsoft.com/studentsandeducators
If you have any questions, please contact us: 661.362.2876 or servicedesk@masters.edu
