All undergraduate students in aerospace engineering and computational engineering are expected to have a laptop at their disposal. Laptops are being increasingly integrated into the classroom experience and the Cockrell School of Engineering is moving toward a model where the departments provide space for students to work but we do not necessarily provide the computers to do the work. Most of the work that you will do on a computer will be on your own laptop and so we strongly encourage you to have a system with the recommended specs and software.
Laptop Specifications
It is recommended that existing laptops or new laptop purchases meet the minimum specifications.
| Laptop Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i7 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Hard Drive | 250 GB | 500 GB SSD |
| Wireless | 802.11ac | 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 6 |
| Video (GPU) | Integrated | Dedicated/Discrete (Nvidia or AMD) |
| Camera | Front facing SD camera with mic | Front facing HD camera with mic |
| Warranty | 3 year warranty | 3 or 4 year Accidental Coverage |
The Campus Computer Store has several laptop models available that meet these recommendations. Purchasing Safeware Coverage can extend a one year manufacture's warranty with an optional accidental damage protection. AppleCare is three year warranty extension for Apple MacBooks.
Recommended Software
All computers must have an active antivirus software installed before being connected to the campus network. Systems running Windows 8 or 10 have the builtin Windows Defender. UT recommended anti-virus solutions are listed on the ISO Anti-Virus page.
Although most of the engineering software packages in the ASE Computing Center are available via remote access through the vLRC (aka AppD) service, the following applications are recommended for local installation on your laptop.
| Package | Availability |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Office | site license download |
| MATLAB | site license download |
| UTprint Drivers | UTprint driver download |
Additionally the Cockrell School of Engineering provides access to various products through the Microsoft Azure Dev Tools program program and to National Instruments' LabVIEW.
Virtualization Tools
Some engineering software packages require Microsoft Windows. Virtualization tools allow MacBooks to run Windows as a guest operating system inside a virtual machine. The two recommended virtualization tool options are:
The department has a subscription to the VMware Academic Program (VMAP) which includes VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation Player. Submit a request form to get access to the VMAP subscription.
Backup and Encryption
A backup strategy is important for data protection and using a cloud data sync service is one option. The UTBox service provides unlimited cloud data storage at no cost.
Although not required for general purpose use, it is recommended that your laptop be encrypted using your operating systems native encryption utility (e.g. BitLocker or FileVault 2). The encryption method chosen may depend on the hardware and operating system supported by the encryption utility. Note: BitLocker requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and Windows 7 Enterprise/Ultimate, Windows 8.1 Pro/Enterprise, or Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise/Education. FileVault 2 requires MacOS 10.7 or later.
Financial Aid
Students receiving aid and that are loan eligible may contact The Office of Student Financial Services to have their aid adjusted to include the cost of their laptop. Students not eligible for aid can apply for alternative or short-term loans through The Office of Student Financial Services
