All students entering the Chicago site of the UIC College of Medicine are required to have a laptop computer at the time of matriculation. If you already have one then you may use it, if not you should acquire one. The College of Medicine has no requirements for platform or configuration, however we have recommendations that you should consider when deciding whether to purchase a new laptop or to use one you already own.
Our campus computer store
Microstation has custom versions of the Dell Studio 15, the Dell XPS 13, and Apple MacBook Pro laptops that we recommend. Microstation has negotiated discount pricing on these. You must make your purchases directly through them to receive the discount, either in person or via phone (312) 413-5513. The College will be able to offer enhanced support for these specific models, and limited support for other computers.
Whether you purchase a new laptop or use one you already own, we recommend a minimum memory (RAM) configuration of 2 GB, preferably 4 GB, and a minimum of a Core2Duo processor. You will make extensive use of video, audio and other resources, and will need a large, fast hard drive: at least 250 GB and 5400 RPM. Please do not select a “Netbook” or other minimal configuration offered. These low-end, price-driven machines may not be able to perform adequately for required course activities.
Most teaching and learning locations in the College of Medicine, as well as in the dorms, cafeteria and the Health Sciences Library have wireless network access. For more information on UIC wireless, including requirements, please see
http://www.uic.edu/depts/accc/network/wireless
Finally, we strongly discourage you from purchasing a service contract or warranty from anyone other than the original equipment manufacturer (Sony, Dell, Apple, HP, etc). We have experienced significant difficulties in dealing with 3rd party support vendors. Feel free to contact our Director of Support Services, Lee Katman at
katman@uic.edu if you have questions about your purchase decision.
As a UIC student you receive a free subscription to Symantec/Norton Antivirus software and a substantial discount on purchases of Microsoft Office, as well as Windows and Macintosh OS upgrades should you choose to take advantage of them. These are available to you to purchase on-line at our campus e-sales site:
http://e-sales.accc.uic.edu/ once you have your laptop and are registered for classes.