Summary

This article gives the specifications of our standard computer hardware purchases. The purpose of this article is to help users find which device would be best for the work that they do.

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Broad IT Standard Computer Hardware

Michigan State University has negotiated with several hardware vendors to provide special pricing and an extended 4-year warranty for business purchases.

All devices in our Effortless PC and Apple Store for Education are suitable for basic computational applications (e.g., SAS or SPSS). For high-performance tasks (web programming, data processing, graphic design, video production, and application development), we recommend a device with at least an Intel i7 (or equivalent) processor.

Desktops Best value performance

Who Should choose this?
Choose a desktop if you work primarily in a fixed office setting and require consistent, high performance for tasks such as data analysis, financial modeling, or multitasking across multiple applications. Desktops offer the best value in performance, reliability, and screen real estate. Ideal for administrative staff and finance professionals.

PLATFORMS

Windows

Dell - Standard	Dell - Performance	Dell - AIO (24-Inch)

Compact tower • Everyday performance	Ultra-small • High multitasking	Clean setup • Space-saving
Ideal for email, spreadsheets, and web systems. Strong performance in a compact tower at a lower cost.	Powerful performance in minimal space—great for small offices or shared workspaces.	Great for front desks and advising areas where a sleek, cable-light setup is preferred.
Intel i5 CPU	Intel Ultra 7 CPU	Intel i7 CPU
32 GB DDR5 RAM	32 GB DDR5 RAM	16 GB DDR5 RAM
512 GB SSD	512 GB SSD	256 GB SSD
$925 includes wireless mouse & keyboard	$1,320 includes wireless mouse & keyboard	$1,068 includes wireless mouse, keyboard and built-in 24" screen

Mac

Apple - iMac (24-inch)	Apple - Mac Mini

Design & media friendly • macOS	Compact macOS • BYO peripherals
Recommended for users in the Apple ecosystem—great for marketing, communications, and media workflows.	Great for developers, creatives, or remote users who already have displays and peripherals.
Apple M4 (10-core CPU / 10-core GPU / 16-core Neural Engine)	Apple M4 (10-core CPU / 10-core GPU / 16-core Neural Engine)
24 GB unified memory	24 GB unified memory
512 GB SSD	512 GB SSD
$1,968 includes magic mouse and keyboard. 24-Inch built-in display	$1,320 Keyboard and mouse not included

Laptops Portable performance

Who Should choose this?
Choose a laptop if you need to move between offices, classrooms, or remote workspaces. Suited for faculty teaching in multiple locations, hybrid staff, and users who need full computing power on the go. 2-in-1 models add flexibility for note-taking and presenting. MacBooks and Surface Laptops are excellent for design, marketing, or macOS-preferred workflows.

PLATFORMS

Windows

Dell - Base (Non-Touch)	Dell - Base (Touch)	Dell - Performance (Touch)

Lightweight • Built for everyday performance	Built for flexibility • Everyday performance	Mobile performance • High multitasking
Solid all-around performer (Office, Zoom, light multitasking)—ideal for hybrid work.	Switch between laptop/tablet—great for presenters and note-takers.	For power users who want 2-in-1 flexibility—handles heavier workloads.
Intel i5 CPU	Intel i5 CPU	Intel Ultra 7 CPU
32 GB DDR5 RAM	32 GB DDR5 RAM	32 GB DDR5 RAM
512 GB SSD	512 GB SSD	512 GB SSD
14-Inch or 16-Inch Screen	14-Inch Screen	14-Inch Screen
$1315(14-Inch) / $1345(16-Inch)	$2,175 Prices are subject to change due to demand and availability.	$2,405 Prices are subject to change due to demand and availability.

Dell - Power (Non-Touch)	Microsoft - Surface Laptop

Mobile Workstation • Desktop replacement	Ultra-thin • By windows - for windows
Large screen + strong performance—mobile workstation/desktop replacement.	Premium Windows hardware—excellent portability and clean design.
Intel i7 CPU	Intel Ultra 7 CPU
32 GB DDR5 RAM	32 GB DDR5 RAM
512 GB SSD	512 GB SSD
16-Inch Screen	13-Inch Screen or 15-Inch Screen Touch Screen
$2,292 Prices are subject to change due to demand and availability.	$1,869 (13-Inch) / $2,042 (15-Inch) Prices are subject to change due to demand and availability.

Mac

Apple - MacBook Air	Apple - MacBook Pro

Ultra-thin and Lightweight • macOS	Compact and powerful • macOS
Lightweight with long battery life—great for web/doc-focused work.	For power users—video editing, development, or data-intensive workloads.
Apple M4	Apple M4 Pro
24 GB unified memory	24 GB unified memory
512 GB SSD	512 GB SSD
13-Inch or 15-Inch Screen	14-Inch or 16-Inch Screen
$1,538 (13-Inch) / $1,748 (15-Inch) Prices are subject to change due to demand and availability.	$2,168 (14-Inch) / $2,748 (16-Inch) Prices are subject to change due to demand and availability.

Tablets Ultra-Portable

Who Should choose this?
Choose a tablet if your work prioritizes mobility, quick access, light document editing, or frequent presentations. Ideal for instructors rotating classrooms, recruiters on the go, or staff attending events. Pair with a keyboard for enhanced productivity.

PLATFORMS

Windows

Microsoft - Surface Pro

Ultra-Lightweight • Built for everyday performance
Ultra-portable with full Windows flexibility—excellent for teaching, advising, and frequent presenters.
Intel Ultra 7 CPU
32 GB DDR5 RAM
512 GB SSD
13-Inch Screen
$1,958

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Article ID: 2164

Created

Tue 8/12/25 2:45 PM

Modified

Wed 8/13/25 12:24 PM

Broad Hardware Requests - Device Recommendations

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