Laptop advice EEMCS

A laptop is an absolute must for anyone studying in the Faculty of EEMCS. Many EEMCS students already have a laptop, but we will expect every student to have access to a laptop. Desktop computer facilities will gradually disappear and be replaced by connections for laptops. Having your own laptop means that you do not have to depend on the opening hours of the computer rooms or the availability of a computer in busy periods (during exams or as deadlines for assignments approach).

The Faculty has an excellent wireless network and numerous spots with power connections for laptops. In addition, we also provide fast, easy Internet access via the wired network, which is handy when you’re using large files. Plug in with a network cable, register (once only) and you can get straight down to work. All central ICT facilities (mail, file, print) are accessible from student laptops. 

Which laptop?

We would advise you to buy a Windows laptop. All TU Delft applications will work in a Windows environment. In most cases, there are also solutions or workarounds to enable applications on an Apple. 

The laptops offered by TU Delft in the laptop project are suitable for programmes in Applied Mathematics and Electrical Engineering. The low-end laptop  is not compatible with the graphics software used in the Computer Science programme, but the high-end models do meet the software requirements. 

The laptop project is not compulsory, but the laptops on offer have an extensive, on-site hardware guarantee, which includes the battery. If you buy a different laptop (not one from the TU Delft laptop project, but via Surfspot, for example), you will be personally responsible for any hardware problems you encounter. Replacement laptops are not available. 

If you decide to buy your own laptop, pay particular attention to:

  • Suitable for Windows 10 (64-bits)
  • A multi-core (quad-core) processor
  • A discrete (dedicated) video card
  • At least 16 GB of RAM (32 GB recommended)
  • At least 512 GB of storage (1TB SSD recommended)
  • At least 15” full HD screen

The Student IT Desk (SID-EEMCS) can provide adequate advice and support for problems with (student) laptops during your studies. SID-EEMCS also gives advice about computer security: how to avoid losing data and how to ward off viruses. You are personally responsible for making your own back-ups.

Apple

For your studies you mainly use Windows software that is often not available in an Apple Mac (OS) version. A Mac is therefore less suitable for your studies. On a Mac with an Intel processor (the i7 processor) you still use this Windows software via a detour. Follow the Bootcamp manual from Apple for this. You do need a Windows 10 installation file and serial number (available from Surfspot) and a lot of free disk space.

Apple now also offers Macs with an Apple M1 processor. This processor is not compatible with the Intel processors, which means that no Intel version of Windows 10 can be installed on it and therefore these Macs are less / not suitable for your studies.

Software

The required software can be downloaded by all students from the software portal. Click here for more information. 

You are personally responsible for installing the required software, but the SID-EEMCS can help you if you run into problems and show you how to use the software. 

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