Updated:
March 11, 2008
Recommended PC Specifications
New Computers
- Pentium IV Processor,
3.0 GHz or faster
- 80 GB Hard Drive,
7200 rpm
- 2 GB SDRAM
- Windows XP Professional
(Windows 2000 is not recommended. Windows XP Home does not work well
in a networked environment and cannot be supported by OWLS staff.) Vista is not yet recommended.
- 10/100 Ethernet
network card
- 17 inch flat panel LCD monitor
- 4 year onsite service
agreement
- 48x CD-ROM drive
- Consider purchasing
a DVD-ROM drive (for testing DVDs) or a CDRW drive (for backing up files)
for staff computer purchases
- External PC speakers
(may not be necessary for public computers)
- Optical Mouse with
scroll button
Donated Computers
When considering a computer
donation, consider its intended use. A donated computer with the minimum
specifications would be adequate for a catalog computer, but wouldn’t
work well for staff use. Because of the time and effort required to install
and configure a donated computer, it needs to be adequate for its intended
use for at least one year. Please call or email to check if a specific
donated computer will work for its intended use.
- Pentium III Processor,
20. GHz or faster
- 512 MB RAM
- Windows XP Professional only (Windows 98 and 2000 are no longer supported.)
- 10/100 Ethernet
network card
- Fully functional
CD-ROM drive. Test that the CD-ROM drive can read files.
- Monitor should be
bright and clear. Turn it on and test it. You may not want to accept
the monitor for donation if it isn't adequate. Monitors can always be
replaced, but do cost money to recycle.
Software
(may
not be necessary for all machines)
- Microsoft Office
2003 Academic Version (includes Publisher)
- Internet Explorer
7.0
- Mozilla Thunderbird (staff comptuers)
- Deep Freeze Professional
for all public access computers
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
7.0