Laptop recommendations

One of the most common questions we receive from students entering the College of Engineering is, “What kind of computer will I need?”

That’s a super-important question, because the answer isn’t “anything that works!”

In fact, because some common engineering software applications require Windows to operate, we require engineering students to work on Windows laptops. Our students use their laptops in class and for completing homework.

You likely won’t need to purchase the most powerful Windows computer out there, nor do we require you to buy a specific brand. (And, if you already have a computer, it may work just fine for what you will be doing as a Badger engineer.)

To help you figure out whether your old computer will do, or whether you need to buy a new one, you can check out this knowledgebase entry, which the college’s Computer-Aided Engineering—aka CAE—team maintains with up-to-date Windows laptop specifications. (Pro tip: Also check out the student resources, computer labs and software sections of CAE’s website for lots of useful info related to navigating the digital world as an engineering student.)

A few more handy pieces of advice as you’re shopping for your laptop:

• You may need multiple ports (or a USB hub).
• You may also want to purchase an external monitor, keyboard and mouse for when you’re using your computer in your dorm or apartment—and if you’ll be attending class remotely, you’ll probably need a webcam and headset with a microphone.
• Shop around, look for deals and upgrades, and buy a quality computer that also can physically withstand life on the go.
• Consider adding a three- or four-year warranty—particularly one that also offers same-day shipping or walk-in repairs.
• Even though you may have purchased an outstanding laptop, plan to back your work up in the cloud. UW-Madison offers several options, and you’ll also get 25GB of file space through CAE.
• Finally, check out the laptop FAQ for engineering students, which covers everything from accessing the campus network to securing your computer to how to get support.

And … if you’ve already purchased an Apple computer or tablet, you may be able to use it for some tasks. You’ll also be able to use one of more than 500 workstations we have available in CAE computer labs throughout the engineering campus. However, you need technical support for your Apple device, you’ll need to get that from the university’s Division of Information Technology—aka DoIT—because the CAE help desk only supports Windows devices.