<p>I'm an incoming first year into the E-school. I was looking at the recommended engineering computers on Cav Computer's website. All of the ones listed come pre-loaded with Windows 7 64-bit. On the engineering Computer Recommendations for Incoming First-Years (which I accessed from Cav Computers) it says that they recommend 32 bit Windows. These are the recommendations from last year however. Did they not update the recommendations for this year? I'm not sure which Windows I actually need. Can anyone help me out?</p>
<p>64-bit is a little more powerful, which is probably why those are the ones they recommend, but you’ll be totally fine with either type of processor.</p>
<p>The link is dated 24 June 2010. It’s for last years incoming class. I’m sure it will be updated soon.</p>
<p>The top of the document states:
</p>
<p>What kinda engineering seeks Windows 32 bit, that I can’t get.
UVA and Microsoft are cooperating in any way?</p>
<p>I have had no major problem with my 64 bit Windows 7 laptop (bought from dell.com) in engineering .</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your replies 
I’m just going to end up getting the 64 bit laptop and doing what they recommend (getting the 32 bit Windows from the store and changing it) if I have any problems.</p>
<p>rkazemi, I’m not sure what you mean. Yeah, UVa and Microsoft have a campus agreement that gives unlimited windows licenses for the university at $15 copies of windows/office for students, but the Engineering School asks for Windows because some of the majors use software that simply isn’t available on other operating systems.</p>
<p>my D is a second year in the e-school and is going to get rid of the pc and get a mac. The dell laptop that was recommended has been a bust. She upgraded her software last fall and it has been terrible. My second D is going into the e-school in the fall and we’re getting her a Mac too.</p>
<p>Do any current SEAS students have thoughts on the tablet being offered (Lenovo C220)? Have tablets been offered in the past, and if so have you found them useful? I’m generally not a fan but don’t want to overlook potential benefits to an e’school student.
Thanks.</p>
<p>My thoughts:
-> Depending on your major, your computer may not to be that powerful. Some engineering majors like civil, mechanical, etc. use intensive programs like CAD which require a lot of RAM and processor capability. Other majors like Computer Science don’t really need a whole lot in the way of power.</p>
<p>-> You may want to consider building a desktop and buying a cheap netbook. You can build a very capable desktop and buy a decent netbook for less than $1000, which is far cheaper than a high-end laptop. This is especially advantageous to someone who’s a big PC gamer because desktops tend to be far cheaper than laptops for the same power.</p>
<p>-> Don’t worry about 32-bit versus 64-bit. As far as you should be concerned, all you need to know is that if you have 4GB of RAM or more, you need to go with the 64-bit version or else you won’t be able to utilize all of your RAM. </p>
<p>-> I have a tablet PC from my days at VT (where it’s required) and realistically it seems like it’s something that’s very useful for an instructor or an artist but not necessarily an average engineering student. Probably isn’t worth the extra $1000 or so unless you plan on drawing a lot of cool stuff. If you just want to draw diagrams then get a cheaper USB tablet.</p>