Bringing a personal computer to campus? We support both Macintosh and Windows laptops – and either can be sufficient for your needs at Simpson College. Students may have specific uses for their laptop that could lead you to purchase one vs. the other. We will not recommend one over the other.
Here are our required and recommended computer hardware and software to bring with you.
Required items for Mac and Windows:
Macintosh
- Macintosh OS 10.12.X or higher
- Memory 8 GB minimum
- All Macintosh OS updates
- Download Free Sophos Anti-virus (or any anti-virus you prefer)
- Microsoft Office software provided by Simpson College
Windows
- Microsoft Windows 10
- All Microsoft Windows updates
- Avoid Realtek network interface cards (they tend to have Wi-Fi issues)
- Download Free Sophos Anti-virus (or any anti-virus you prefer)
- Microsoft Office software provided by Simpson College
To connect your computer to the Simpson College network, be sure to have your operating system updates done prior to arriving on campus. When you arrive there will be an onboarding process to help you connect to the STUDENT wireless network. You will:
- Select STUDENT Wi-Fi on your computer.
- Log into the network with your Simpson credentials (first.last, and your password).
All devices can be connected to Simpson’s campus network wirelessly.
- Many students prefer to connect their gaming systems via wired connection for best performance. If you plan to do that, we recommend you bring a 25′ Ethernet patch cord.
- Many devices will require that you know your Media Access Control (MAC) address in order to connect to Wi-Fi. During welcome week in August, we will provide a guide for finding this and connecting to the network. You may also look this prior to your arrival by using your favorite internet search engine to research how to locate a MAC address for your specific device.
Recommended items
Having a computer that meets or exceeds these guidelines will help ensure your ability to connect to our network. We recommend that a laptop is purchased instead of a tablet. Also, most laptops have limits on memory and storage – and it is best to purchase as much memory and storage as you can.
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Macintosh Desktop or Notebook Any recent model of Macintosh notebook or desktop is recommended. Operating System Productivity Software We recommend an external hard drive to use for backups of the system using Time Machine. |
Windows Desktop or Notebook Any recent model of computer with Windows 10 is recommended. Operating System Productivity Software We recommend having an external storage device to back up your data. |
Contact Information:
Simpson College Information Technology Services Help Desk
515-961-1411
helpdesk@simpson.edu
Help Desk Hours:
Academic Year
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Monday - Thursday Friday Sunday |
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. |
Summer
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Monday - Thursday Friday |
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |