One of the most common questions that the Liberty University IT HelpDesk handles comes from students asking if their computer is capable of getting them through their career at Liberty University, and what we recommend if a student is looking to purchase a new computer.
An option that is available to students, faculty, and staff is to purchase a computer through the Liberty University IT Marketplace. The IT Marketplace is an Apple Authorized Campus Store at Liberty University that has also partnered with Dell and Lenovo to offer machines and accessories for students, faculty, and staff.
Regardless of where you may choose to purchase your computer system, our recommended specifications can be found here and below:
- At least 8GB of memory
- Intel i-Series (i5, i7) or equivalent processor
- At least 128 GB of hard drive space
- Wireless Card:
- IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN NIC
- 2.4 GHz/5GHz Dual Band
- 2x2 300 Mbps (20/40MHz)
- WPA2-PSK/WPA2-Enterprise
- Integrated or Dedicated graphics card
- Operating System: Windows 10 or Mac OS X 10.14 or later
Apple Computers
If you wish to purchase an Apple brand computer, any computer that ships with OS X 10.14 or later and has an Intel processor will have the hardware required for a good experience with Liberty University.
Tablets
Blackboard is not fully compatible with the mobile operating systems of most tablet computers. Functions such as videos, presentations, and advanced navigation features might not work, and for this reason, the IT HelpDesk does not fully support mobile devices. Tablets are not recommended for use as a main device for schoolwork.
Netbooks
Netbooks are small inexpensive laptops, usually with smaller screens/resolutions (9"-11") and less powerful hardware. Many of them likely will not meet our recommended specifications listed above. While some of them come with a "dual-core processor", often they are very low-power processors, which helps with battery life but can significantly affect performance. While most software and the Liberty website should work fine on a netbook, it may not be an optimal experience for you. Some course-specific software, especially larger programs like Adobe Photoshop, may have minimum hardware requirements, sometimes requiring a minimum screen resolution or amount of RAM before they can be installed. Most common/standard laptops today will meet or exceed our recommendations, and will be significantly more powerful than a netbook, often for only a slightly higher price.
Original Microsoft Surface (non-Pro) and other Windows RT Devices with ARM CPU
Devices with Windows RT, such as the original Microsoft Surface, do not support installing any programs outside of the Windows 8 "App Store". This is a limitation of the "RT" version of Windows 8. Because of this, some software needed for courses cannot be installed. Therefore, Windows RT devices are not recommended as a primary machine for accessing coursework.
Chromebooks
Chromebooks run the Chrome OS, which is a very limited Operating System that consists mostly of the Chrome browser and a few settings. Chromebooks can not run desktop programs such as IBM SPSS, iTunes, and desktop versions of Microsoft Office as software cannot be installed on Chromebooks. For these reasons, it is NOT RECOMMENDED to use a Chromebook as your primary machine for coursework.
PC Software Recommendations
Firefox, Chrome, and Edge (Chromium) - These Internet browsers are officially recommended for use with Blackboard and Canvas.
Microsoft Office 365 - For all current students, Office 365 is available. In order to install Office 365, please consult the linked guide. Microsoft Office is required for most courses at Liberty University. OpenOffice and LibreOffice are not fully compatible with Blackboard and are not supported by the IT HelpDesk.
Adobe Reader - For opening .PDF files in your courses.
Mac Software Recommendations
Firefox, Chrome, and Edge (Chromium)- These Internet browsers are officially recommended for use with Blackboard and Canvas. For the best experience with discussion boards and quizzes/tests, these browsers should be used instead of Safari.
Microsoft Office 365 - For all current students, Office 365 is available. In order to install Office 365, please consult the linked guide. Microsoft Office is required for most courses at Liberty University. Apple Pages, OpenOffice and LibreOffice are not fully compatible with Blackboard and are not supported by the IT HelpDesk.
Adobe Reader - For opening .PDF files in your courses.
Note: Only the Chromium version of Edge is supported. To verify which version of Edge is currently installed on your computer, select the three dots in the upper right corner to view "Settings and more", and then select "About Microsoft Edge" in the left side menu. This page should mention "Chromium" below the Update settings section. If it instead reads "Microsoft EdgeHTML", you can download the Chromium version of Edge here.