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Wayne State University Recommended Apple Systems: June 2006

This web page aims to assist WSU departmental Mac users, as well as those looking to buy a Mac for home use. Buying a computer is a decision that requires consideration of complex issues. It is highly undesirable to spend a lot of money on a computer that has a major configuration deficiency out of the box!

Recommended configurations on this web page will be refreshed on a bi-monthly basis to reflect Apple's current model offerings. You must be current WSU faculty, academic and non-academic staff, graduate assistant or student. Personal purchases for hardware are limited to one purchase per year of a desktop computer, notebook computer and/or printer.

Currently Apple offers about a dozen different models or variations of computers on its education website. We have chosen to list recommended configurations for a subset of the product line. These are sample specs only that should fit most general purpose and power-user needs. Because there can be a niche application for each one of the computers Apple offers, you can configure your own Mac at the Apple Store for Education. The following common guidelines apply to any new Mac purchased:

Get 1 GB of RAM. Less memory is going to result in noticeably slower performance. Adding more RAM than 512 MB is not going to provide measurable performance gains for everyday use, even at the "power user" level. Get 1 GB or more for Power Mac G5s routinely used for high-end tasks like processing large graphic files, huge data sets for statistics packages or other intense computations.
Apple is in the process of a major architectural migration. It is OK to buy any of their computers EXCEPT for the desktop Power Mac G5. Apple's update to this computer is imminent.
Get adequate warranty protection. All Macs come with a standard one year warranty on hardware. All C&IT recommended Apple equipment includes the AppleCare Protection Plan, which extends the warranty to three years. If you configure your own Macintosh at the AppleStore, we strongly recommend you add this option. Be sure your monitor is covered too, if you buy one from Apple.
Microsoft Office is one of the most important applications for the Macintosh. It is free/low-cost depending on whether your school/college/division is part of the Microsoft Campus or Select Agreements. Contact the Software Clearinghouse for details.
If you need to run Banner and Cognos ReportNet and you do not have a local systems administrator, get a low cost PC running Windows. Virtual PC is no longer recommended as a solution for running Windows applications on your Mac.

Resources
Apple's Store for Education	Configure your Mac the way you want it. Just follow the instructions on screen.
Apple Promotions	Current promotions for individual or institutional purchases. Useful for bundling some hardware with your newly-purchased Macintosh. However the C&IT Software Clearinghouse is the place to check first for any of your software needs.
The C&IT Software Clearinghouse	Your only stop for the best prices on academic software. In some cases, WSU-affiliated individuals can obtain software for use in their home Macs.
Purchase Consulting	Call Chris Demos, (313) 577-7728 or email christos@wayne.edu
Hardware Support	The Computer Repair Center, located in the basement of Science Hall at (313) 577-3098, handles repairs and warranty claims on university-owned Apple equipment only.
Software Support	The C&IT Help Desk (313-577-4778) provides support for Apple Operating System software (MacOS) preinstalled on your computer, including future upgrades. The Help Desk supported software page also has links to free or site-licensed commercial software. All other software support should be obtained from the various software manufacturers directly.
Resources	- Apple's website has a lot of material, whether you're looking for product information or support. - The Concise Guide for Buying Laptop Computers is a vendor-neutral web page with information for those looking to buy a laptop computer. - Visit your local Apple Retail location if you want to take a closer look at a particular Macintosh model. Apple's Stores in Michigan are in the Twelve Oaks and Somerset malls. Apple computers are also on display at your local CompUSA or Micro Center. -For more information, email Chris Demos at christos@wayne.edu