Computer Recommendations
Duke Law School Strongly Recommends JD Students Own a Laptop or Notebook Computer. A portable computer provides a versatile platform the student can use throughout the law school, elsewhere on campus, at home and while traveling. Duke's student financial aid budget includes for entering students $2,500 towards the cost of purchasing a new computer, which will cover the cost of purchasing a portable computer. Please contact the Law School Financial Aid Office for details.
Academic Technologies recommends purchasing new computers through the special package deals (usually available mid-April) and finance plans at the Duke University Computer Store (919-684-8956). Their Duke Advantage Program includes 4 years of warranty, accidental-damage service and access to a special group of loaner laptops here at the law school.
Recommended Specifications for New Computers 2012-2013
Updated February 21, 2012
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?
What about Macintosh computers?
Why would I need a DVD drive?
What if I have a computer that does not meet the specifications or no computer at all?
Can I get financial assistance?
Where Should I Buy? What Brand Should I Buy?
What About Insurance?
Recommended Specifications for New Notebooks
What version of Windows should I get?
We advise against any "home" version of Windows. The home versions of XP, Vista and 7 (even home premium) are not fully compatible with an enterprise network. There will be network software that may not work on a computer with a home version of Windows. We are currently advising that students get Windows 7 Professional. All software that we distribute is fully compatible with the 64-bit version of Windows 7, so both 32-bit or 64-bit versions are fine. Power users may find the 64-bit operating system a better fit. Note that it is possible, once you are here, to buy 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate at the Duke Computer Store for a low site-licensed price. However, we do not generally recommend buying a computer with a home version with the expectation of upgrading when you arrive here. Upgrades are possible - and we can help with the process - but they require patience and time.
What about Macintosh computers?
Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro computers running Mac OS X Lion (10.7)are fine for use in the law school. However, we strongly recommend that you also run Windows, either in a dual boot configuration (using Apple Bootcamp) or using a Windows virtual machine such as VMWare Fusion (available for free from Duke's Office of Information Technology website). Note that some software in use at the law school - for example, the Contracts Experience DVD that is required for certain sections of the Contracts course - only runs under a Windows environment.
The Electronic Bluebook software used in many courses for final exams is available for both Windows and Macintosh.
1. Some sections of the first year contracts course use The Contracts Experience DVD in lieu of a casebook. You must use a DVD to load the software.
2. Some commercially available software is now distributed on DVD.
3. Sometimes we distribute videos on DVD-ROMs, and the law library's collection of law-related movies is on DVD.
What if I have a computer that does not meet the specifications, or no computer at all?
Academic Technologies staff provides a comprehensive level of service for computers meeting the specifications. While we do not perform hardware repair or replacement, we do help with many other problems, including removing viruses and spyware, reinstalling the operating system, and helping to back up data before you send a defective hard drive for replacement. Because computers not meeting the specifications often have out-of-date, nonstandard or inferior parts, and because Windows home edition does not support advanced networking features, we are unable to provide such a comprehensive level of support for computers that do not meet the specifications. We urge you to consider that by not purchasing an adequate computer you may be handicapping yourself for a very small amount of money relative to the cost of your education.
Currently thirty-two desktop computers are available for law students in the law library carrels. We have a small pool of laptops for loaning, but our loaners are not intended to cover longterm needs for any one individual.
Can I get financial assistance?
Duke's student financial aid budget includes $2,500 towards the cost of purchasing a new computer, which should more than cover the cost of purchasing a portable computer meeting our recommended specifications. 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 Computer Store. Duke Advantage Program promotions for delivery in the fall will be available from late spring. Computers available under this program include extended warranties that cover screen replacement and damage to plastic parts - and provide a loaner computer. Any of the Dell, Lenovo or MacBook notebook computers listed on the Duke Advantage Program site meet our specifications. 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 a networked professional school environment. The Dell computers available from the Duke Computer Store are enterprise models and are more easily configured for networked environments than are the models typically available in big-box stores and some online websites. 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 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. Most homeowners and renters insurance policies cover computers as insured contents, subject to the policy deductible. Review your policy and if you believe your coverage is insufficient, you may wish to purchase a computer insurance policy from Safeware.
| Recommended Specifications for New Notebook Computers | ||
| Features | Recommended Specification | Comments |
| Processor | Intel Core Duo or i core Processor, ~ 2.5 Ghz | Dell, Lenovo and MacBook Pro computers feature this processor. |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB | |
| Video RAM | 256 MB | Most video graphics solutions available today suffice. |
| Hard Drive | 250 GB | Buy a larger hard drive if you will be saving media (music or video) files. If buying a computer with a solid state hard drive, a 128 GB drive can suffice, given the cost of a larger drive; consider an external hard drive as well. |
| Display | N/A | Display size is a matter of personal preference. Some will want a smaller and lighter laptop, while others will want a bigger screen with more desktop space (higher native resolution). We advise looking a number of laptops and screen resolutions before making up your mind. Since even small laptops are very powerful, you may want to consider a smaller laptop and then an external monitor and/or keyboard at home. |
| Network Interface | Wired Ethernet 100 BaseT and WiFi 802.11n | Wireless networking is available throughout the law school and across the Duke campus. We recommend that your laptop support 802.11n. |
| Operating System | Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, or Mac OS X with BootCamp or virtual machine software and Windows 7. | Please see details above. |
| Optical Drive | DVD+/-RW drive | Please see details above. We recommend a DVD+/-RW drive for writing to DVD discs as well, but a DVD / CD+/-RW drive (for writing to CD discs) would suffice. |
| Carrying Case | Designed for portable computers | 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. Duke Advantage Program computers purchased from the Duke Computer Store carry at least a 3-year warranty and include accidental damage. We recommend coverage for accidental damage, but you may also wish to check the terms of your insurance coverage. Duke Computer Repair services Dell, Lenovo and Macintosh computers. |
| Security kit | Providing cable and lock. Never leave your computer unattended in a public area, even when it is secured. | Kensington and others manufacture cables that will hook the security port on your computer. You should have and use a cable; however, remember that a while a lock may deter casual thieves it will not prevent theft altogether. |
| Internet Access Provider |
You will need to arrange for an Internet Service Provider account for home access. | We make no specific recommendations here. Typical options are: through your apartment building; through your cable TV provider; or through your landline phone provider. |
| Insurance | Check the provisions of your homeowner's or renter's policy. | If you have no policy (not recommended!) or the provisions are not adequate, consider a special policy from 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 disc drive. Duke offers space on network servers (webfiles) for backing up your important content (notes, papers, etc.). You should also consider purchasing an external hard drive with back-up software to minimize your problems should your computer fail. Flash drives can be used to keep instant back-ups of crucial data. Online backup services such as Mozy are another possibility. |
| Anti-virus and Microsoft Office | You can download for free McAfee anti-virus and Microsoft Office software for either Mac or Windows once you have a Duke NetID. Duke's Office of Information Technology and the Duke Computer Store offer other site-licensed and educationally priced software as well. |
Please see OIT's website for more information: http://oit.duke.edu/comp-print/software/index.php For the computer store see: |
| Have all 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. | ||
