Overview
University students, faculty, and staff have access to discounts on hardware and software for personally purchased computers and devices, as well as cellular services. Each service has a product catalog, but some limitations may apply.
These services are only offered to current students, faculty, and staff. They are not available to students who have graduated or to faculty and staff who have retired. Students must be enrolled to take advantage of these services.
Recommendations
- The use of Google Chromebooks is highly discouraged due to incompatibility with commonly used University systems. Chromebooks do not meet the requirements for laptops listed below.
Minimum Recommended Specifications
Windows Laptop
Processor - Intel Ultra 5 or AMD Ryzen 5 or better
Operating System - Windows 11
Software - Microsoft Office (See below for info on Office 365)
Memory - 16 GB RAM or better
Hard Drive - 256 GB Solid State Drive or better
Wireless - Wi-Fi 6 or 7
Webcam - Integrated or external webcam required
HDMI Port - To use projection systems on campus, laptops should have an HDMI port or adapter (current model machines typically use a USB-C to HDMI)
Mac Laptop
Processor - Apple Silicon (M2 or better)
Operating System - Current Version macOS (macOS 16 - Tahoe)
Software - Microsoft Office (See below for info on Office 365)
Memory - 16 GB RAM or better
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 Port - To use projection systems on campus, laptops should have an HDMI port or adapter (current model machines typically use a USB-C to HDMI)
Program-Specific Laptop Requirement
The College of Business and College of Nursing as well as the Computer Science and Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering departments have laptop requirements for students majoring in these programs. For information on the specific requirements, please refer to the following pages:
- College of Business Laptop Requirement
- College of Nursing Laptop Requirements
- College of Arts and Sciences -
Hardware Discounts
Apple offers discounts on computer hardware. Use the following link to access their UW-Eau Claire education stores.
Software Information
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 software is currently available to students, faculty, and staff. This includes common Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You can access Office 365 on most devices either installed on a computer, mobile device, or through a web browser.
For more information, please see the Office 365: Downloading Office 365 Software article or Office 365: How to Access article.
On the Hub
Through the UWEC On the Hub Software Download Center, current students, faculty, and staff can install various software products on their personal computers for free (or at a low cost).
Virtual Lab
The Virtual Lab system allows current students, faculty, and staff to access software titles from the general access computer labs on their personal computers from almost anywhere. Access to the Virtual Lab environment is available through dedicated software installed on a computer or the Virtual Lab web interface.
Personal Cellular Discounts
Visit the Purchasing: Cellular Devices knowledge base page for details on personal cellular discounts.