Purchasing Computers

Current computer configurations provided by these vendors will meet or exceed our recommended system requirements for NEW computers.

General Recommendations For Students

Virus Protection

All computers on the Hamilton College network are required to have up-to-date anti-virus software installed.  New computers typically come with a pre-installed trial version of anti-virus software. 

We recommend you either purchase the full version of that software, other anti-virus software of your choice, or install free anti-virus products from reputable sources.  Please contact the Help Desk if you have any questions or need assistance (315-859-4181).

Backup Drive

Hamilton College provides students with a modest amount of server storage.  While the space is sufficient for storing documents, it is not meant for storing backup copies of music, video, photos, or exceptionally large project files.  Students may request additional space for academic purposes. 

For backing up all your critical files, we recommend an external hard drive. When selecting a drive, confirm it is compatible with your computer's operating system.  Many new computers come with USB 3 and/or Thunderbolt ports. You may want to purchase a drive that can take advantage of the faster transfer rates these ports can deliver.

Printers

Printers are available for student use in public computing labs located on both sides of campus.  Most are located in academic buildings that are open to students until late at night or, in some cases, all night.  There are no public printers available in any of the residence halls.  

Networking

Hamilton College has secure wireless network access available in all campus buildings and most outdoor areas. Connectivity to the wireless network is supported by 802.11b or 802.11g /n wireless cards, which are available on modern Windows and Macintosh laptops. Please note that the use of a personal wireless access point (Apple Airport Station, wireless router, etc.), is strictly prohibited on campus.

Network jacks are included in all the residence hall rooms for those who want to use a network (Ethernet) cable. The College does not provide cables.

Microsoft Office for Employees & Students

Employees and students can sign up for Office 365  for use on personally-owned computers. Office 365 will remain freely available to you for as long as you remain an employee or student at Hamilton College. 

System Requirements

LITS recommends that new computers be configured to match or exceed the recommendations listed below. The minimum system requirements in the last column represent the bare minimum to connect to our network and support our standard software.

We do not recommend using Chromebooks or tablets as a primary computing device due to the limitations of said devices.