PC Purchasing Considerations

Desktop or Laptop | PC or MAC | How Much Speed do I Need | Modems
Hard Drives | Monitors | Laser or InkJet | Software | What else do I Need to Know

Information Technology PC Purchasing Recommendations

Keep in mind that Thomas Cooley Law School has computers and printers available in all three libraries for use by currently enrolled students. To take advantage of this however, you will need to do your computing at a library.

Desktop or Laptop?

Some students like the portability of a laptop and, with that, the ability to take it to classes or to the library. Keep in mind that the screens tend to be smaller as are the keyboards, so you will want to "test drive" any model that you are considering to ensure that it works for you. Other students like the full-size monitors and keyboards that come with desktop models and prefer use the PCs in the library while at school.

PC or Mac?

All of the computers at Cooley Law School are IBM compatible machines. Information Technology recommends for reasons of compatibility and support that you purchase an IBM compatible PC. We do not support Macs.

How Much Speed Do I Need?

The following components factor into the overall speed of your PC:

Processor: You may hear about "Pentiums" and "Pentium III" or "Pentium IV". This is the processor speed. Pentium IVs are currently the fastest processors available.

MHz/GHz: This is the number that follows the processor speed, for example, a Pentium III 750. Recently, processor speeds have reached into the GHz range.
A four GHz processor is faster than a 750 MHz.

RAM (Random Access Memory): The more RAM, the faster your computer will perform. You should consider no less than 256 MB, especially if your computer will be running Windows 2000 or Windows XP.

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Hard Drives, Monitors & CD-ROMs

Modems: To connect your computer to the Internet via a phone line, you will need a modem. Cooley provides modem access to the Internet. The current standard for connection speed is 56K. The higher the "baud rate", the faster the modem will transfer data. You can the Cooley Library Catalog (COOLCat), WESTLAW, and LEXIS, as well as other law school related information on the Internet.

Network Connections: Most computers come with a built-in network interface card (NIC). You will need one for connecting your computer to the Internet through Cable or DSL. Wireless connections are available at Cooley. If your laptop or PDA does not have built-in wireless networking, you will need to purchase and install, or have installed, a Wireless Networking Card. Many brands of wireless networking cards are compatible with the wireless network. Make sure you buy a card that is 802.11b or 802.11g compatible. The Linksys cards are an excellent choice and are our recommended card. If you choose another brand, be certain that the card is WiFi Certified. For a list of 802.11b and 802.11g certified cards, please visit the WiFi Alliance website at: http://www.wirelessethernet.com/OpenSection/certified_products.asp?TID=2

Hard Drives: The hard drive is where system, program, and data files are stored. It is measured in gigabytes (GB; 1 GB=1,000 megabytes). Keep this in mind...the more, the better, although you may sacrifice access speed with a larger size.

Monitors: Most new PCs come with color monitors but there are still a few things to keep in mind. Most PC’s come with a 17" monitor. If you plan to do any amount of desktop publishing or if you have poor vision, a 19" or larger may be a wise investment.

CD-ROM – CD-RW – DVD: Most computers and laptops come with a CD-RW (rewritable) drive as a standard. There are also drives that can play DVDs and others that can copy DVDs as well. Most popular software is distributed on CD. At minimum you should consider a CD-RW drive.

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Printers - Laser or InkJet?

InkJet printers present fine, letter-quality print and all models offer a color option. They are generally less costly than laser printers, both in initial cost and in per-page cost. High-speed, high-quality laser printers with duplexing capability are available in the computer lab and electronic classrooms at the library computer labs. Laser printers provide a higher quality print, but are also more costly in purchase, maintenance and repair costs.

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Software

Many new PCs come with an integrated software bundle, called Microsoft Works. If Works is the only word processor you have on your PC, you will want to invest in a full-featured word processor. We recommend the Microsoft Office Suite that includes PowerPoint. The “Office Student and Teacher Edition” is the most economical and can be purchased at the Cooley Law School Bookstore. Before purchasing additional software for your PC, check the package for hardware requirements to be sure it will run on your PC. The Cooley Bookstore sells software at the student educational rate.

You will also need antivirus software that you need to keep updated, and you will need to run scans in at least weekly intervals. A firewall is a necessity. Enabling the Windows XP firewall is highly recommended. Reliable Ad-ware removal software (we recommend Ad-Aware) is also useful.

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What Else Do I Need To Know?

You would be wise to spend some time doing a little research before you buy a computer. PC Computing and PC Magazine both publish many articles and reviews on what they consider "best buys". The Library subscribes to both of these magazines, which are available at Circulation. The Information Technology staff will be happy to answer your questions regarding minimum requirements. We will even review a system configuration with you if you are considering a purchase. We cannot, however, recommend any particular brand nor can we advise you as to where you should purchase a PC. To speak with an Information Technology staff member, call (517) 371-5140, ext. 3300 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or visit the computer lab at the library in Lansing during these hours or you can e-mail your questions to us at computerlab@cooley.edu.

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