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The Kennel
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Technology Essentials

what you'll need in coes:

Laptop Requirements

A laptop computer is REQUIRED for all students in the College of Engineering and Science.

Minimum Computer Configurations:

Operating system:         Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro, 64-bit (Home versions are incompatible)

Processor:                     Intel Core i5 8th generation or equivalent (Intel Core i7 recommended)

Memory:                       8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)

Storage:                       256 GB hard drive or more (solid-state drive recommended)

Video/Display:              1920 x 1080 (full HD) minimum, 12 inch or larger display

Other:                           Wireless networking capability, USB flash drive connection

Notes:

  1. Your laptop will often go wherever you go, so think twice before purchasing a heavy laptop.
  2. If you will be purchasing a new laptop, models starting around $550 are acceptable; purchasing a $1,500 laptop with more capabilities, such as stylus input, will not necessarily help you be more successful in engineering.
  3. Mac computers are NOT recommended for engineering courses. If you come to Louisiana Tech with an Apple, please note that your machine MUST either boot into Microsoft Windows OR be able to run a copy of Windows Pro (an additional expense) with a desktop virtualization program such as Parallels Desktop. Note that for Apple computers using an Apple Silicon processor (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, etc.), not all Windows software is compatible even when using Parallels Desktop. Much of the required software is Windows-based. If you do have an Apple, please be aware that technical support will be limited from your instructor and the COES First-Year Engineering HelpDesk.
  4. If you plan to use an older laptop, we recommend that you arrive at Louisiana Tech with a fresh installation of Windows 10 Pro or 11 Pro (Home versions are incompatible with some of the software).
  5. We recommend that you use your computer primarily for academic purposes. If you choose to load a variety of games, movies, and other media files, you should expect diminished computer performance when using COES programs.
  6. The installation of antivirus/anti-malware software is strongly encouraged before students arrive.

Printer:

Multifunction printer and scanner (laser or inkjet) recommended.

Software:

Microsoft Office 365 is required, specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. We recommend that you install these programs before coming to Louisiana Tech. Free versions of Microsoft software are available to students with a school email address at this site: (https://products.office.com/en-us/student/office-in-education).

Specific Note for Engineering Students:

SOLIDWORKS will likely be your most resource-demanding program, and it will require a Pro edition of Windows. For further recommendations, see https://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/SystemRequirements.html.

Calculators

The following calculator models are the only ones acceptable for use during exams.

  • Casio: All fx-115 and fx-991 models (Any Casio calculator must have “fx-115” or “fx-991” in its model name.)
  • Hewlett Packard: The HP 33s and HP 35s models, but no others
  • Texas Instruments: All TI-30X and TI-36X models (Any Texas Instruments calculator must have “TI-30X” or “TI-36X” in its model name.)