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MajorSuccess
Get the Right Computer for Your Major
No sales tax + Education Prices = Huge Savings for You!
Tech Cyte also sells Microsoft® computers and recommends adding on a 4-year Microsoft Complete protection plan to make sure you don't go more than a few days without your computer if it's damaged or has issues. Microsoft computers have not been included in the list of computer recommendations unless specifically asked to include by the college.
If you don't see the model of computer listed that you are looking for, we can special order a computer for you from Apple, Dell, Microsoft, and many other manufacturers. Most special order computers arrive in 2-4 weeks, similar to when ordering direct on your own, but you don't pay sales tax! Contact us at [email protected] to place a special order.
What if I can’t afford to buy my own laptop computer? Iowa State University has developed a Laptop Loaner Program to support students who may not have access to required laptop technology.
Choose the college for your major:
- A PC/Windows computer is recommended for the following programs/majors: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Statistics, Animal Science, and Technology Systems Management (TSM)/Fluid Power Systems. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering majors, see College of Engineering PC recommendations instead. Click here view the College of Ag & Life Sciences laptop recommendations, along with a list of program, course, and lab specific requirements.
- Typical use scenarios - see CALS website for detailed specs:
- Minimum/Economic: Web browsing, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer.
- Recommended: Programming applications and IDE's. Light video editing. Ability to install software that may have higher level requirements, such as some Adobe products.
- High Performance/Advanced: Running engineering applications for 3D modeling and Virtual Reality. Contact us at [email protected] to place a special order.
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Order from Tech Cyte today with tax-free savings, educational discounts, and back to school specials:
The computers listed in the links above are based typical use recommendations and specifications listed on the CALS website for current computer models available to purchase at Tech Cyte.
- After completing the Core (usually 2nd year), undergraduate students admitted into a Design major and Design graduate programs are presented with the opportunity to purchase a laptop through the College of Design Laptop Program. Click here to learn more about this program.
- Architecture, Community & Regional Planning, BPMI, GIS, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture departments recommend Windows OS platform because select applications used in these majors may only be available for PCs/Windows OS. Windows can be run on a Mac using BootCamp or an application like Parallels or VMWare Fusion, but IT support for this will be limited and computer performance may be affected.
Graphic Design and some Integrated Studio Arts users tend to prefer Apple’s Mac OS X platform, but there is not an official preference specified, and the configuration is the user’s choice.
Click here to view the College of Design computer requirements website for more information. - Typical use scenarios - see College of Design website for detailed specs:
- Minimum/Economic: BPMI majors or those needing a computer until admitted into major program and wanting to participate in College of Design Laptop Program.
- Recommended: Matches the College of Design Laptop program specifications since these are the recommended minimums for most majors within the college.
- High Performance/Advanced: For majors that work with 3D modeling, animation, etc. to include additional memory, hard drive space, graphics card upgrades. Contact us at [email protected] to place a special order.
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Order from Tech Cyte today with tax-free savings, educational discounts, and back to school specials:
The computers listed in the links above are based typical use recommendations and specifications listed on the College of Design website for current computer models available to purchase at Tech Cyte.
- Note that some of the Engineering software is only available on Windows (i.e. Solidworks). This should be taken into consideration when choosing a suitable computer to purchase for your major. If you find your laptop can’t handle a particular Engineering application, there are remote computing options available.
Click here to view the College of Engineering computer requirements website for more information. - Typical use scenarios - see College of Engineering website for detailed specs:
- Minimum/Economical: Web browsing, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer
- Recommended: Running engineering applications for software programming, scripting, 2D modeling, and development IDEs
- High Performance/Advanced: Running engineering applications for 3D modeling and Virtual Reality. Contact us at [email protected] to place a special order.
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Order from Tech Cyte today with tax-free savings, educational discounts, and back to school specials:
Shop Mac for Engineering Majors*
*Make sure to read through the Engineering computer requirements before purchasing a Mac
The computers listed in the links above are based typical use recommendations and specifications listed on the College of Engineering website for current computer models available to purchase at Tech Cyte. *Make sure to read through the Engineering computer requirements before purchasing a Mac.
- The choice of operating system between Microsoft Windows or Apple macOS is up to each individual. All applications required for CHS coursework are available via a virtual computer lab which can be accessed from any operating system.
Click here to view the College of Human Sciences computer requirements website for detailed computer specs. - Typical use scenarios - see College of Human Sciences website for detailed specs:
- Minimum/Economical: Web research, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer/VDI.
- Recommended: Web research, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer/VDI, video creation/editing, statistical software, Creative Cloud applications, etc.
- High Performance/Advanced: A computer with a dedicated graphics card is preferred for 3D modeling software run by some departments.
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Order from Tech Cyte today with tax-free savings, educational discounts, and back to school specials:
The computers listed in the links above are based typical use recommendations for College of Human Sciences majors for current computer models available to purchase at Tech Cyte.
- Note that some software used for Ivy College of Business courses is only available on Windows/PC computers (i.e. Microsoft Access). This should be taken into consideration when choosing a suitable computer to purchase for your major. Accounting majors are encouraged to use a Windows computer. If you find your laptop can’t handle a particular Business application, there are virtual computing options available.
- Typical use scenarios:
- Minimum/Economical: Web browsing, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer. This is the minimum recommendation for all students in the Ivy College of Business.
- Recommended: Running applications for software programming, video editing, modeling, etc. A computer with these higher end options is appropriate for someone with a major or courses which involve more computation like Management Information Systems (MIS) or Marketing. Please verify with your department for any specific requirements to run specialized software.
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Order from Tech Cyte today with tax-free savings, educational discounts, and back to school specials:
The computers listed in the links above are based typical use recommendations for Ivy College of Business majors for current computer models available to purchase at Tech Cyte.
- The choice of operating system between Microsoft Windows or Apple macOS is up to each individual. Most applications used by majors within LAS will run on either operating system, or can be accessed remotely on servers or lab computers provided by the College or Department.
Click here to view the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences computer requirements website for detailed computer specs. - Typical use scenarios - see the LAS website for detailed specs:
- Minimum/Economical: Web browsing, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer. This is the minimum recommendation for all students in LAS.
- Recommended: Running applications for software programming, video editing, modeling, etc. A computer with these higher end options is appropriate for someone with a major or courses which involve more computation like Computer Science, Statistics, BPMI, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, etc. Please verify with your department for any specific requirements to run specialized software.
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Order from Tech Cyte today with tax-free savings, educational discounts, and back to school specials:
The computers listed in the links below are based typical use recommendations and specifications listed on the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website for current computer models available to purchase at Tech Cyte.
- All students entering the College of Veterinary Medicine are required to purchase a mobile computer through a college-negotiated bulk purchasing agreement. The fee for this mobile computer is included with your tuition and fees and includes a 4-year warranty, external backup system, Microsoft® Office® Professional suite, and on-site support. Click here for more information about the College of Veterinary Medicine Student Tablet Computer program.
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If you are interested in purchasing a computer in addition to the College of Veterinary Medicine Student Tablet Computer provided device from Tech Cyte for tax free savings, educational discounts, and back to school specials, click one of the links below to start shopping:
- Take our Technology Survey to find the right computer for you or to customize a special order computer.
- Have questions? Send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at 515-294-8357!