Minimum standards for ITS Technical Support

What computer should I be using?

·   Be sure the computer you use meets ITS published Computer Standards as explained in this document.

·   If you need to buy a computer, the DSGS page has current recommended specs.

·   For most purposes at SMCCCD, either a PC (Windows XP SP3, VISTA or Windows 7) or Apple Macintosh (OSX Panther or later) is equally supported. Currently Banner tech support is for PC only.

What if I already have a computer (privately owned)?

If you already own a laptop computer, you are welcome to bring it with you to the campus and use the free wireless network, however ITS technicians are unable to provide support for these computers. If you rely on a computer for your employment, we recommend you talk to your Supervisor or Division Dean, who may be able to assist with supplying a supported/college-owned computer for you. Our computer specifications are updated regularly to reflect the evolving minimum requirements of computers in a modern Community College environment.

Where should I purchase a new computer?

Your Division Office (faculty) or Supervisor (Classified) should already know how to submit a Requisition for a new computer, however you can look at the specs on our DSGS (District Supported Goods & Services) website for available options. (Dell or Apple are our current standards)

For personal (home-use) purchases, the campus Bookstore staff are well informed and can obtain Educational pricing for you. The Bookstore sells network-ready computers from both Apple and Dell to SMCCCD students, faculty and staff at educationally discounted prices.

It is recommended that you understand how you will have repairs made on your computer. ITS Technicians will not repair or configure your computer for you when purchased privately from an outside vendor or through the Bookstores, therefore it may be advisable to obtain an extended warranty on new purchases. We would suggest a 4 year warranty for high end computers.

Should I purchase a notebook/laptop computer?

Today it is possible to have all the power of a desktop computer in a notebook computer. A laptop computer gives you freedom to work anywhere you choose. Keep in mind that notebook systems usually cost a bit more than desktop systems. Notebook computers are also more susceptible to theft, damage, and need additional care when transporting them to or from your office.

And, of course, no matter what type of computer you have, back up your data regularly. We recommend using a USB Flash Drive for this purpose. These can hold between 16MB and 128GB of data, and are extremely portable. Alternatively a USB hard drive can handle even more data and can be used on either PC or Mac.

SMCCCD - ITS Current Minimum support requirements for Faculty/Staff/Lab computers
The following specs are our minimum requirements for ongoing support by ITS Technicians. While computers of lower spec are usually available, they are not recommended or supported by ITS.

Current Windows Minimum supported System:

·   Dell Optiplex GX620 (2.6Ghz CPU or faster)

·   Windows XP with Service Pack 3, Windows VISTA, or Windows 7

·   1GB RAM (memory) 4GB recommended)

·   60 GB hard drive with at least 6 GB free space

·   DVD-Rom drive

·   Built-in Ethernet

·   17" monitor or larger for desktop computers, 13in for laptops

·   Keyboard

·   Mouse

Current Macintosh - Minimum supported System:

·   Laptops: MacBook or MacBook PRO

·   Desktops: iMac or Power Mac G5, 1.4Ghz or faster

·   Macintosh Operating System OS X Panther

·  1GB needed for OS X - 4GB recommended)

·   60 GB hard drive or higher with at least 6 GB free space

·   DVD-rom drive

·   Built-in Ethernet.

·   17" monitor or larger for desktops - 14in or larger for laptops

·   Keyboard

·   Mouse

Storing your Files
Floppy and ZIP drives are no longer offered. Both Apple and Dell have discontinued selling these with new computers, so the following is a partial list of more reliable alternatives to using a floppy or ZIP disk for personal storage.

·   USB Flash Drive: Available in various sizes up to 128 Gigabytes. To assist in making these devices more easily used, all new computers being purchased will come with keyboards with USB ports on them. In addition, all CPU’s have multiple USB ports for this purpose. These devices are very small and reliable. USB Flash Drives can be obtained at the Campus Bookstores or through the Dell or Apple websites. For more information about using USB drives see our guide here: USB Drive Use.

·   USB External Hard Drive: Available in sizes from 60GB through 4TB – these backup drives are available via the DSGS page and can be purchased on a Procurement card as needed, or personal purchases can be made through the campus Bookstores. ITS can assist you in setting up these drives and configuring your computer to perform regular backups. A work order should be submitted at the ITS HelpCenter to schedule this.

·   Email Attachment: Smaller files (up to 20MB) can be emailed to yourself and collected later. For more information about email see the ITS Email FAQ .

Wireless Networking: SMCCCD has many free wireless “hotspots” at each campus. If you are buying a laptop, you should definitely include a wireless card as part of the configuration.. Any network card bearing the Wi-Fi logo should be compatible with SMCCCD wireless network. Faculty/Staff laptops all have wireless cards included as standard equipment. A list of current Wireless “hotspots” can be found here: http://www.smccd.edu/wifi

Questions/Comments: witham@smccd.edu

Revised 11/8/2009