School & College Requirements and Recommendations 

Information Technology Services suggests that you first check with your particular school or college to see if a specific configuration is recommended. For example, the following schools have posted information on their websites:

• College of Engineering - Laptop Requirement
• College of Education and Human Development - Computer Recommendations
• Fox School of Business -  Laptop Policy with Recommended Device Specifications
• Tyler School of Art
  - General Guideline - Laptop and Computer Policy 
  - Graphic & Interactive Design program - Laptop Requirement
  - Architecture - Laptop Policy
  - Landscape Architecture - Laptop Requirement
• College of Public Health - Laptop Requirement
• Lewis Katz School of Medicine - See System Requirements

If no particular configuration is needed, you can use the recommendations below as a guide. You can also purchase an extended warranty with your system. When considering whether to buy an extended warranty, it’s a good idea to check with your credit card company to see if additional coverage is automatically provided.

Recommendations

Below are suggested minimum recommendations for Macs and PCs. The purchasing decision is yours, but we suggest that you check with your particular school or college to see if a specific platform is recommended before you make your purchase. To submit a question, go to the TUhelp website and click Request Help. Make sure to indicate your school or college so we can direct your inquiry to the appropriate support team.

We recommend purchasing a computer from a name-brand manufacturer, such as Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo or Microsoft. These manufacturers generally use name-brand components and offer reliable customer support.

Need a repair? The OWLtech Store on Main Campus can repair Apple, Dell and Lenovo computers. For more information, see the OWLtech Service page.

Note: Technical assistance is not available for custom-built computers.

* Minimum requirements may not be sufficient depending on your coursework. You can also use computer labs throughout Temple’s campuses and take advantage of limited loaner equipment.
** Intel i3 4th generation or lower processor will not support the Zoom virtual background.
*** You will not be able to run Windows software on the Apple M1 or higher Macs, as Boot Camp does not run on this processor.
**** Ranges are meant as a guideline for what you can expect to pay.

Chromebooks and Tablets 

While Chromebooks, iPads and Android tablets are innovative and have many uses, including convenient web browsing, they are still not a replacement for a PC or Mac. Before purchasing, you should consult with your specific college IT department to determine if the device is compatible with the course requirements.

Chromebooks are a viable option, however, for the College of Education and Human Development and they do work with Proctorio. For more details, see the College of Education and Human Development Computer Purchase Recommendations page.

Recommended Minimum Specifications for Chromebooks

* It is recommended that the Chromebook supports Auto Update for at least two years.