Recommendations for personal purchases for Students, Faculty/Staff

We recommend these minimum specifications for any Windows-based computer purchased for personal use:

• The Brown Bookstore Technology Center carries Lenovo and Microsoft Surface hardware 
• Laptop models strongly preferred
• Intel i7, Intel u7 or AMD Ryzen 7 CPU preferred
• 16GB RAM
• 256GB storage
• Manufacturer or Safeware (available for Brown Bookstore Technology Center purchases) extended warranty is recommended for personal purchases

Recommendations for Brown Faculty/Staff purchases with Brown-administered funds

We recommend these minimum specifications for Dell Windows-based computers purchased with Brown-administered funds (including grant funds). This equipment will ensure effective performance for the expected life of the hardware, and will allow Brown IT support staff to provide service and support. Please refer to the Computer Purchase Policy for additional details on purchasing process and expectations.

• Computer models strongly preferred
• Recommended models: Dell Latitude 7450 or Latitude 5450
• Recommended configuration for new purchases:
  • Intel i7 or Intel Ultra 7 CPU 
  • 16GB RAM
  • 512GB SSD
  • 3 years of ProSupport Plus Dell extended warranty is recommended for all computer purchases and is already included with our most common Preselect models, including the Latitude 7450 and 5450 models
• Additional models in the Dell Latitude (laptop), OptiPlex (desktop), and Precision (laptop/desktop) Dell lineup are available for special use requirements
• Your IT Support consultant (ITSC) can help provide purchasing quotes with higher-ed pricing using our Dell Premier service. This can include consideration of specialized requirements and configurations for specific task-based purposes.