Is laptop necessary for software engineering students?

The Opus College of Engineering curriculum reflects engineering education in the 21st century. This includes using the latest computer technologies in both teaching and learning to prepare students for a future increasingly defined by digital technology and team-based work-spaces. As a result, all engineering students are required to have a laptop computer.

Most engineering students will use advanced engineering software that requires additional computing resources. Marquette Engineering IT staff have worked withDell and Paragon Development Systems (PDS) to offer pre-configured laptops witheducational discounts.

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Laptop Purchase Program

Most Opus College of Engineering students will use advanced engineering software that requires additional computing resources. Students may order college recommended laptops directly from Dell or HP & Lenovo laptops through Paragon Development Systems (PDS). Special links to Marquette pricing are below. Both companies offer educational discounts and 4-year next-business day on-site warranty service standard. Dells ProSupport Plus warranty includes accidental damage protection for no additional cost.

June 10, 2021: Please inquire about lead times for receiving laptops when ordering online. We are finding many manufacturers lead times are now exceeding three months and will likely not arrive before classes begin.

Engineering Recommended Laptops 2021

All of these laptops will meet the engineering software hardware requirements. You may select among this list of laptops given your preferences on screen size, budget, manufacturer and warranty. All of these laptop models are recommendedfor purchase at educational discounted prices:

• Dell Latitude, XPS 13 and 15 Models
• HP EliteBook, ZBook and Lenovo ThinkPad Models (6/10/2021: Many HP & Lenovo laptops may not ship until late September or early October. Please call 800-966-6090 and mention youre a Marquette University student so they can find you a system in-stock that meets your needs)

If you would like to compare laptop models and specifications, please review the following:

• Dell Laptops
• PDS Laptops (HP and Lenovo) (6/10/2021: Many HP & Lenovo laptops may not ship until late September or early October. Please call 800-966-6090 and mention youre a Marquette University student so they can find you a system in-stock that meets your needs)
• Processor Selection Guide

Please order your laptop before June 1, 2021. Delivery may take 6-8 weeks or longer because of global supply-chain challenges with computer chips.

Laptop System Minimum Requirements

• Processor: Minimum of quad-core with hyper-threading (HT) or simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) or six-core without HT/SMT
  • AMD Ryzen 7 3000/4000-series, or Intel Core i5/i7 9000/10000-series recommended
  • See the Processor Selection Guide for more details
• Operating System: Laptops must have Windows 10 installed
  • Mostengineering software will not run on MacOS
• Memory: 16 GB RAM or greater
• Hard Drive: 512 GB or greater solid state hard drive or greater
• Network: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
• Warranty: 4 year on-site warranty with accidental damage highly recommended
• Other: Web camera, portable mouse, laptop security cable, CAT-6 Ethernet cable (with Ethernet adapter) and 32 GB USB thumb drive are also recommended

Computer Support Policy

The College of Engineering offers students basic computer support to assist with the installation of required engineering software applications. Support is limited to Windows 10 operating systems. On Apple computers, students with more advanced technology experience may install Windows within a Bootcamp environment. However, due to the nature and complexity of operating systems, the computer support staff does not assist with Windows installations on Apple computers. Students are encouraged to contact their course instructors for assistance with using engineering software.

To request assistance with engineering software installations, please contact the COE Help Desk at 414-288-5140 or by e-mail at . In-person support is offered to students at the COE Technology Services office, Engineering Hall room 254.