The Westminster Schools
Guide to Purchasing a Home Computer 2005 – 2006
Computers are an integral part of The Westminster Schools experience. This guide outlines the
technical specifications necessary to run software applications commonly used at Westminster. It
will also help you to consider the variety of questions you will face when shopping for a
computer.
Do I need a laptop computer or a desktop computer?
Both laptop and desktop computers are widely used at Westminster. Many people like the
mobility of a laptop. To make your choice, however, consider the following pros and cons of a
laptop versus a desktop:
Laptop
Pros:
Highly portable to anywhere on or off campus.
Can connect to the network almost anywhere on campus.
Shipping and storage expenses are lower.
Cons:
 Costs more than a desktop
 Repair costs can be expensive
 Very fragile
Desktop
Pros:
Less fragile and less expensive than laptops.
Greater hardware upgrade potential.
Wider choice of monitors and screen sizes, for example: a 17” flat-panel display or 20” CRT.
 Repair costs are lower.
Cons:
 Lack of mobility
 Consumes more desktop space
Should I purchase a Windows or a Macintosh computer?
Only Windows computers are supported at Westminster. All labs, libraries, and classroom
computers on campus use the Windows platform. That is not to say that a Macintosh will not run
some of the applications we use on campus, but we can not guarantee compatibility.
Which brand of computer should I purchase?
There are many brands of computers out there and you do not have to buy any brand in particular.
However, the Technology Department at Westminster does recommend that you purchase from a
“brand name” manufacturer such as Dell, Gateway, or Hewlett-Packard. These companies offer
more reliable technical support than others. For Dell purchases you can go directly to Dell's
Faculty Personal Purchase website and buy directly from there. This site already has our faculty
and staff discount included, which varies from 5 - 12%. You can call the Help Desk (404-6096477) to get our Member ID # and link to the website.
What are the recommended system specifications?
If your computer meets the recommended specifications as follows it should be able to run
Westminster’s standard software for at least 3-4 years.
Operating System — The Technology Department at Westminster recommends Windows XP
Home Edition or Professional. For general home use and for common applications like MS
Office, Windows XP Home Edition should suffice; however, if you plan on setting up a home
network and/or have a laptop and would like to connect with Westminster’s network, XP
Professional is recommended.
Note that many computer models targeted at consumers are automatically shipped with Windows
XP Home Edition unless you specify otherwise; please be sure to select Windows XP
Professional if that is what you desire to purchase. Selecting Windows XP Professional may
incur an additional charge of approximately $60 – $100; investing in Windows XP Professional
will save you a significant amount of time and effort in connecting your computer to the network.
Processor—The processor is the "brain" of your computer. Processor speed is measured in
megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). One GHz is equal to 1,000 MHz. A higher number
indicates a faster processor. Westminster recommends Intel Pentium 4 or Celeron processors
running at 2.5 GHz or faster; the Pentium-M processor (found in Centrino laptops, running at 1.8
GHz or faster) and the AMD Athlon processor (rated 2400+ or higher) are similar alternatives.
Memory— The amount of RAM installed affects the computer’s speed; the more RAM you
have, the faster your computer will run. The amount of RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or
gigabytes (GB). We recommend a minimum of 512 MB of RAM.
Hard drive—Westminster recommends a 20 GB or larger hard drive.
Ethernet card—An Ethernet card, sometimes called a network interface card (NIC) or a network
adapter, allows your computer to connect to the internet via a DSL or Cable modem. When
ordering a computer, you should select an Ethernet card with a speed of 10/100 Mbps. Most
computers are currently manufactured with built-in Ethernet capability. For laptops with wireless
capability we recommend an NIC that uses the 802.1 b and/or 802.1 g technology.
CD/DVD drive—Your computer must have a CD drive in order to read, install, or run software
from CDs. CD-RW drives and DVD-ROM/CD-RW “combo drives” are drives that can also
record files onto CD-RW (rewritable) discs. DVD±RW drives can read DVDs and burn files
onto recordable DVDs and can store up to 4.7 gigabytes.
Westminster recommends that your computer have at least a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, or a
combo drive to periodically backup your important files and data.
Data Storage:
USB Flash Drive (Recommended)—A USB Flash drive, also called a USB memory key, is a
small storage device that can store data similar to a Zip disk. This device is small enough to fit
onto a keychain, connects to a computer via a USB port, and can store between 32 MB to 1 GB of
data. A USB Flash Drive with at least 32mb of storage should suffice for everyday use but can
vary from person to person. We currently sell USB flash cards in the campus bookstore.
Do I need an extended warranty?
If you are planning to keep your computer for 3 years or more, you should purchase a three- or –
four year extended warranty with technical support included.
What software will I need?
Westminster strongly recommends that every faculty/staff member and student purchase a
copy of Microsoft Office Professional. This includes Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and
Publisher. Faculty and staff can purchase a copy of Microsoft Office Professional from the
campus bookstore for a nominal fee.
If you are a faculty member and would like to work on your websites at home, the latest version
of Macromedia Studio MX is available to you at no charge. Just call the computer helpdesk and
someone can make you a copy for at-home installation.
Please do not purchase Corel Office Suite, Word Perfect, or other office productivity packages.
There is a chance that you will run into compatibility issues when converting the documents into
Office format.
How can I protect my computer against viruses and hackers?
Symantec(Norton) Antivirus is what we use on campus and recommend but McAfee VirusScan
also works well. If you have a DSL or Cable modem we recommend that you get firewall
protection. Both Norton and McAfee make firewall protection software for home-use. You can
buy the Firewall and Antivirus in a bundled package.
Computer Specifications Summary
2005-2006
Windows Operating system Windows XP Home Edition or Professional
Processor Pentium 4, 2.5 GHz or faster, or Pentium M 1.8 GHz or faster
RAM 512 MB or more
Hard drive 20 GB or larger
Ethernet card 10/100 card Built-in or a 10/100 PCI card
Wireless Network Adapter for Laptops 802.11b and/or 802.11g compatible Some laptops
include wireless adapters, others may require additional purchase.
CD/DVD drive DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive
Floppy disk drive Recommended but not required
Microsoft Office Microsoft Office 2003 – Standard, or Professional, or Student and Teacher
Edition.
Warranty 3-4 year warranty
Recommended accessories
-- Surge protector. A surge protector with UPS(uninterruptible power supply) capability is ideal
but not required.
-- USB Memory Key
-- CD-RW discs that are at least 8x-compatible
-- Printer and printer cable (please note that cables must often be purchased separately)