Prospective Students
The School of Law is committed to an environment with state-of-the-art computing and networking technologies. The school provides access to word processing, legal research databases, electronic mail, the World Wide Web and the Internet more generally, as well as to electronic courseware and instructional exercises. It maintains PC computers for student use in the library and provides ubiquitous wifi coverage in the building, along with numerous ethernet ("wired") ports throughout the building for use by students with portable computers.
Because of the importance of access to networked communication in all aspects of student life and because of the extent to which the school relies on electronic communications, the law school strongly recommends that all entering JD and LLM students own a portable (notebook or laptop) computer. This portable computer should meet the specifications recommended by our Academic Technologies department.
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 $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.
We strongly recommend that students purchasing new computers take advantage of the special package deals and finance plans through the Duke University Computer Store (919-684-8956). Look for the special Duke Technology Advantage (TAP) program for Law students. Laptops available under this program include extended manufacturer warranties and a damage warranty that covers accidental damage. We recommend Dell or Apple laptops. When you contact the store please tell them that you are an admitted law student.
Recommended Specifications for New Computers 2009-2010
Updated March 29, 2009
Duke Law School Strongly Recommends Students Own a Notebook Computer
Computers should meet the specifications in the table found at the bottom of this document. See also the "frequently asked questions" immediately below.
Why Windows XP Professional Edition or Windows Vista Business or Ultimate?
What about Macintosh computers?
How do you set the specifications?
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 Portable Computers
Why Windows XP Professional Edition or Windows Vista Business?
Windows XP is the operating system currently used on law school computers provided for student use and on faculty and staff computers. It is used by many law firms. Home editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista currently do not provide full compatibility with the school's NetWare and Microsoft networks, which give you access to network storage and network printers. Using a Home edition places you at a disadvantage in our environment.
What are the different versions of Windows Vista?
Please go to the Microsoft Windows web site to learn the distinctions among the various editions of Windows Vista.
What about Macintosh computers?
Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro computers running Mac OS X Leopard with BootCamp and Windows are fine for use in the law school. Note that the Contracts Experience course DVD sometimes required for certain sections of contracts only runs under a Windows environment (at this time, we do not believe it will be required for fall 2009). The Electronic Bluebook software used in many courses for final exams is available for both Windows and Macintosh. We recommend that Macintosh users consider adding Windows to their laptops for maximum compatibility. Note that Duke University is now pursuing a site license for Microsoft software; we recommend holding off any Windows purchases for Mac users.
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. Much 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.
How do you set the specifications?
We recommend specifications that describe a computer that should serve you well throughout your three years at the law school. Our recommendation is essentially the same as that Duke University makes to its incoming undergraduate students, and takes into account serviceability of your computer.
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 nearly any other problem, including removing viruses and spyware, reinstalling the operating system, and backing up data before you send a defective hard drive for replacement. Because computers not meeting the specifications often have nonstandard or inferior parts and because Windows Home edition does not support Novell and Microsoft advanced networking features, we are unable to provide such a comprehensive level of support for computers that do not meet the specifications.
Desktop computers for law students are available in the law library, but we do not currently provide loaner notebook computers to students.
Can I get financial assistance?
Duke's student financial aid budget includes $2,500 towards the cost of purchasing a new computer, which should 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, which can be contacted at cpustore@duke.edu or (919) 684-8956. Promotions for delivery in the fall will be available from the Duke Technology Advantage Program in late spring. Computers available under this program include extended warranties that cover screen replacement and damage to plastic parts and provide a loaner computer if repairs cannot be completed within 72 hours. Order your computer at the Duke Computer Store Technology Advantage web site beginning in late spring; look for special law student bundles. Any of the Dell, Lenovo or MacBook notebook computers listed on that site meets our recommended specifications. When you contact the store, be certain to tell them you are an admitted law student.
We recommend that you avoid buying your computer from a big-box store such as Circuit City or Best Buy. The models carried in these showrooms are not optimized for use in a networked professional school environment. In our experience, the Dell and Lenovo computers available from the Duke Computer Store are more reliable and are more easily configured for networked environments than are the Compaq, HP, Sony and Toshiba models typically available in big-box stores, or the notebook computers available from Gateway. Obtaining repairs on these brands is sometimes problematic and the warranty is often for only one year. We also recommend that you review the annual reliability surveys 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 Portable Computers | ||
| Features | Recommended Specification | Comments |
| Processor | Intel Core Duo Processor 2.0 Ghz | Dell, Lenovo and MacBook Pro computers feature this processor. |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB | |
| Video RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB should be considered a minimum for Vista |
| Hard Drive | 120.0 Gigabyte | Buy a larger hard drive if you will be saving media (music or video) files. |
| 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). |
| Modem (Optional) |
56 kbps meeting v.90 standard | You'll use dial-up only when a high-speed connection is not available. |
| Network Interface | Wired Ethernet 1000/100 BaseT and WiFi 802.11g or 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 XP Professional Edition with SP2, Windows Vista Business or Ultimate Edition, or Mac OS X or Leopard with BootCamp and Windows. | Please see details above. |
| Optical Drive | DVD or DVD/CD-RW | Please see details above. |
| Diskette Drive | Not required | Instead, purchase a USB Flash Memory drive to allow exchanging files. |
| 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. 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 absolutely prevent theft. |
| Internet Access Provider |
You will need to arrange for an Internet Service Provider account for home access. | Information about accounts, including high-speed accounts available in Durham, is available on our remote access page . |
| 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 . |
