Computer Requirement

Fall 2020 / Spring & Summer 2021

Undergraduate and transfer students at the J. B. Speed School of Engineering are required to have a mobile computer with an active digital pen that meets the minimum tablet specification listed on this site. Graduate students should have a laptop with the capability to fulfill their program requirements with a functional camera, microphone and speakers. 

Students must provide their own device – Speed School will not provide one for you.

We provide recommendations for devices we’ve tested, which meet the requirements to help you succeed during your time at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering. You may easily purchase one of the recommended device bundles from our preferred technology partner by clicking the “Purchase Now” button. For students who are interested in picking out their own device, or determining if an existing device works, we provide detailed requirements below our recommendations.  

A Tablet for your Speed School Career

Please review the following short summaries of the four Speed School recommended devices. More detailed information about them can be found on our tablet evaluation page. The prices below include a 4 year warranty with accidental protection; while not required, having a warranty provides students with an immediate backup plan if a failure does occur. Students with warrantied devices are eligible for one of our loaner laptops until the device is fixed.

Speed School Recommended Devices

The Standard – What do we think? A business class tablet that will meet all of the requirements of speed school. The same specifications as the premium, it easily runs all required engineering software, but won’t break the bank. An upgradable hard drive allows for increase storage when needed.

The Standard	$1,183 – Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga L13 i5
OS	Windows 10 Professional 64-bit version
PC Processor	Intel Core i5 10th gen
Memory (RAM)	16 GB
Storage Drive	256 GB Solid State Drive
	How to Purchase

The Overachiever – What do we think? With an upgraded processor and larger hard drive it will easily handle engineering applications for all majors, but bio and mechanical majors will appreciate the extra power during upper-level coursework. Comes with the same enhanced case and battery life as the premium.

The Overachiever	$2,018 – Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga X13 i7
OS	Windows 10 Professional 64-bit version
PC Processor	Intel Core i7 8th gen
Memory (RAM)	16 GB
Storage Drive	512 GB Solid State Drive
	How to Purchase

The Surface – What do we think? While desirable for its stylish design and ultra-slim profile, we find the lack of a notebook mode, rigid keyboard, and external ports frustrating. The Yoga is a notebook that converts to a tablet, where the surface is a tablet that tries to be a laptop notebook. Beyond these limitations, this model has the power and features you need for Speed School.

The Surface	$1,863 – Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Bundle
OS	Windows 10 Professional 64-bit version
PC Processor	Intel Core i7
Memory (RAM)	16 GB
Storage Drive	512 GB Solid State Drive
	How to Purchase

Want to build your own device?

Minimum tablet specifications

In addition, the following are recommended:

• 4-year warranty with Accident Damage Protection
• A USB hard drive or cloud backup option
• Purchase a business grade rather than consumer grade tablet  (ie. ThinkPad Yoga instead of the Yoga)

The following types of devices are not acceptable for use as your computer at Speed:

• iPad, any Apple computer or device running an Apple Operating System
• Chromebooks
• Android tablets or any devices running an Android based operating system
• Microsoft Surface devices running the Windows RT, Windows 10 Home S Mode or mobile operating system
• Devices running the Linux or Unix operating system