Incoming MESM Student Computer Recommendations

MESM students are strongly encouraged to have a personal laptop. Our curriculum is designed to work across different operating systems and computers, and it will be useful if you have a computer that meets some minimum computing standards.

Specifically, we suggest your computer:

• be no more than 4 years old, and in any case be fully supported by the manufacturer. For example, Apple won’t repair anything that’s more than 7 years old
• be running Windows, macOS, or Linux (Please note that we offer limited support for Linux)
• have at least 50 GB storage space available for applications and coursework
• have at least 8 GB of RAM (the more the better!)
• have a 64-bit CPU

If you are purchasing a new computer:

We recommend:

• at least 16 GB of RAM
• at least 512 GB of SSD (not “disk”!) storage
• the manufacturer’s extended warranty or service plan (e.g., AppleCare+).

You can purchase a Macbook Air using the higher education discount starting at $899, before tax and AppleCare. A PC can cost anywhere from $500 to more than $3,000; you generally get what you pay for.

Loaner equipment

If your computer breaks or dies, we can typically loan you a Windows laptop for up to a month (which should be long enough to have your computer repaired or to purchase a new one).

Home setup

You may also consider having a dedicated computer setup that includes an external monitor, keyboard, and/or mouse at home. A stable at-home WiFi connection is necessary for completing work remotely (i.e. off-campus).