Selecting Computing Hardware and Software for the Desktop
- Minimum Requirements for Workstations Used by the UW Community
- Recommendations When Upgrading or Buying New
- Where to Buy What You Need
Minimum Requirements for Workstations
The specifications listed are chosen to represent the minimum requirements that allow members of the UW community (both students and staff) to effectively interact with the network and computing systems in use on campus and in the global Internet environment. If a workstation does not meet these specifications, you should either upgrade components to meet these specifications or purchase a new system.These recommended minimum configurations are maintained by UW Technology and will be reviewed quarterly and updated as necessary.
Recommendations When Upgrading or Buying New
Your UW NetID (Dante login name if you are a student; Homer login name if you are staff) offers email, World Wide Web pages, multimedia, access to bibliographic databases, and much more. For your new computer to take full advantage of these services, it should be fast, have plenty of memory, have large amounts of disk space, and a large monitor. In addition, you should choose a computer that can be upgraded as needs change. It should have space for more memory, more disk drives, and more boards. You should buy the fastest modem you can afford and determine how you plan to use your printer before you select from the wide range of options. Here are some suggestions for features to look for when purchasing a Macintosh or PC system.
Where to Buy What You Need
The University Book Store has a special discount program on computing hardware for UW students, faculty and staff. Many major software vendors also offer discounted prices through the University Book Store.University departments can acquire computer systems and software at a discount through the usual purchasing process. For more information on specific products, call UW Purchasing at 206-543-5810 or call the vendor directly.
