Although Eastern provides a 24-hour computer lab, you may want to have your own personal computer in your room. If you plan on purchasing a computer, or if you decide to replace an existing one, we have defined some specific standards to provide a computer system with a useful life of two to four years. Appropriate upgrades of your computer may be required to meet your specific needs for speed and functionality. The most common types of upgrade involve adding memory (RAM) or installing a faster processor. Information Technology Services is committed to providing technical support to students that use either the Macintosh and Windows platforms with the following specifications.

What software packages do you recommend for a personal computer?

Whatever system you decide to use on campus, your computer will need the capability of working with files for word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, web browser, file transfer, e-mail, and calendar programs. The following software packages provide these essential capabilities. A new computer gives some assurance of not becoming obsolete in a year or two and should serve until you graduate. If you already have a computer, the following information will allow you to judge whether your present system can meet your current needs.