University students, faculty, and staff have access to discounts on hardware and software for their personally owned computers and devices. Each of these services has a catalog of products, but some limitations may apply. These services are not currently available to graduated students or retired faculty and staff. Students must be enrolled to take advantage of these services.
Contents
- Minimum Computer Requirements
- College Specific Laptop Requirements
- Hardware Discounts
- Software Discounts
Minimum Computer Requirements
Windows Laptop
| Processor | Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 7 |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 or Windows 11 |
| Software | Microsoft Office (See below for info on Office 365) |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM or higher |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB Solid State Drive or better |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) or newer |
| Webcam | Integrated or external webcam required |
| HDMI | To use projection systems on campus laptops should have a HDMI port or adapter (current model machines typically use a USB-C to HDMI) |
Mac Laptop
| Processor | Apple Silicon (M1) or Intel i5 - Apple Silicon is highly encouraged |
|---|---|
| Please note that Apple Silicon processors do not currently support running Windows alongside the macOS | |
| Operating System |
Current Version macOS (macOS 12 - Monterey) |
| Software | Microsoft Office (See below for info on Office 365) |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM or higher |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB Solid State Drive or better |
| Webcam | All current Mac laptops and iMacs include a webcam, an external webcam is required for other models |
| HDMI | To use projection systems on campus, a USB-C to HDMI adapter is needed |
Google Chromebook
The use of Google Chromebooks is highly discouraged due to being incompatible with some commonly used University systems. Chromebooks do not meet the laptop requirements for either the College of Business or the College of Nursing.
College Specific Laptop Requirement
The College of Business and College of Nursing have laptop requirements for any students who are majoring in one of their programs. For information on the specific requirements for these two colleges, please refer to the following pages.
College of Business Laptop Requirement: https://www.uwec.edu/academics/college-business/laptop-requirement/
College of Nursing BSN Admission Requirements: https://www.uwec.edu/academics/college-nursing-health-sciences/departments-programs/nursing/academic-offerings/majors-minors/bachelor-nursing/admission-requirements/
Hardware Discounts
Discounts on computer hardware are available from Apple. Use the following link to be connected to their UW-Eau Claire education stores.
Apple: https://store.apple.com/us_edu_189120
Dell: https://www.dell.com/en-us/member/shop?cs=2236&scat=root&link_number=29215843&isredir=true
Software Discounts
Office 365
Office 365 is a subscription-based service offered by Microsoft that provides file storage and Office capabilities across multiple computers and devices. This includes common Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as, many other applications. You can access Office 365 on most devices through a web browser, you can use the Microsoft Office apps on your mobile device, or you can download a copy of the most recent version of Microsoft Office using one of five free licenses for desktop/laptop computers.
Available to: Current students, faculty, and staff
https://www.uwec.edu/kb/article/office-365-downloading-office-365-software/
Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog (WISC)
This site lets students, faculty, and staff of the University of Wisconsin System purchase popular software packages at substantial discounts. WISC strives to get the maximum value from software publishers for each dollar our customers spend on software.
Available to: Current, students, faculty, and staff
https://wiscsoftware.wisc.edu/wisc/
On the Hub
Through the UWEC On the Hub Software Download Center, it is possible for individuals with UW-Eau Claire accounts to install Microsoft products on their personal computers for free (or at a low cost).
Available to: Current students, faculty, and staff
https://www.uwec.edu/kb/article/on-the-hub-software-store/
DreamSpark
DreamSpark is a Microsoft service that supports technical education by providing Microsoft software for learning, teaching, and research purposes.
Available to: Students currently enrolled in Information Services (IS) or Computer Sciences (CS) courses.
https://e5.onthehub.com/WebStore/ProductsByMajorVersionList.aspx?ws=c6613630-d19b-e011-969d-0030487d8897&vsro=8
Virtual Lab (VMWare Horizon)
The Virtual Lab (VMWare Horizon) system allows students to access software titles from the general access computer labs on their personal computer from almost anywhere. Access to the Virtual Lab environment is available through the VMWare Horizon software or through the Virtual Lab web interface.
Available to: Current students, faculty, and staff
http://virtual.uwec.edu