1: Do I need to have a personal computer to attend NJIT?
YES. Access to a personal computer is essential for completion of all NJIT degree programs. Although the university provides a large number of public computing facilities on campus, freshman without access at their places of residence may not have sufficient time to complete all assignments. (top)
2: Can I use the computer I already own?
YES. If your system meets or exceeds baseline university specifications posted in the spring of 2008, then you may use your own computer. For those using your own computer, you will be given instructions on how to download the NJIT software bundle during Connections Miniversity, NJIT’s freshman orientation program held during the summer of 2008. If you use your own computer not purchased through the NJIT computer partner program however, you will be responsible for the installation and configuration of all software yourself, as well as all hardware support. (top)
3: My existing PC almost meets NJIT’s baseline specifications. What should I do?
Contact NJIT’s Academic Computing Services (ACS) with your details. A simple hardware upgrade to your existing machine may be all that may be needed for it to meet baseline specifications. Students enrolling in the New Jersey School of Architecture must purchase the architecture desktop model. (top)
4: I have a PC with a Celeron/Atom/Duron/Sempron processor. Can I use it?
No. Although some of Intel's Celeron and Atom, and AMD's Duron and Sempron processors are considered to be "Vista Capable" by Microsoft, they are unable to run the advanced engineering, design, and mathematical software that NJIT students may be required to use in a technical university curriculum. They do not meet our minimum specifications.
5: I have a Macintosh-based PC. Can I use it?
Since recent Apple Macintosh computers are equipped with Intel Core or better processors, NJIT has recognized that these machines can be acceptable. Please follow these specifications when choosing an acceptable Macintosh computer. In particular, pay special attention to the dedicated graphics card, as many of the consumer-level Macintosh computers do not have a dedicated graphics card. Acceptable Macintosh models include most iMac desktops, all MacBook Pro notebooks, and all Mac Pro workstations. Mac mini desktops and MacBook notebooks are not equipped with dedicated video, and are not acceptable for use at NJIT.
Please note that much of the technical software students will use at NJIT is made for Windows-based operating systems. In order to use these software titles, you will be required to install Windows on your Macintosh. NJIT does not provide support for the installation of Windows on a Macintosh computer. You are solely responsible for installing, configuring, and supporting the operating system yourself. (top)
6: Does NJIT provide the option of discounted computer purchases by incoming students?
For students entering in fall 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, NJIT partnered with Dell® to provide computers for student purchases. Special academic and volume pricing models made available at significant discounts. Our partnership with Dell continues for student computer purchases for students entering in fall 2008. Many models have already been announced, and more information is available here. (top)
7: If I own a notebook computer can I use it?
In general you may use a notebook computer as long as it meets or exceeds the minimum baseline specifications. However, students enrolling in the New Jersey School of Architecture must purchase the architecture desktop model. This is due to the graphics-intensive nature of the curriculum and the need to use specially licensed software. (top)
8: If I already have, or purchase a notebook PC, can I use it anywhere on the NJIT campus with network connectivity?
NJIT provides wireless internet access across most of the campus using 802.11b, and in some areas 802.11g, as well as wired access in various locations. Please refer to http://ist.njit.edu/connectivity/wireless.php for details.
Students in the residence halls have their own 100 Mbps Ethernet connection. This connection provides access to all campus services as well as to the internet and is intended for schoolwork use. (top)
9: I am a transfer student entering NJIT this fall. Will I need a computer and am I eligible to receive the software package?
Yes. Transfer students are subject to the computer requirement in place for the class level into which they enter. Undergraduate transfer students entering the School of Architecture should plan to purchase the School of Architecture model for their first-year studio classes, and should plan to keep it in the Architecture studio. All other transfer students should plan to have access to a computer that meets or exceeds baseline specs in their place of residence. Non-architecture transfers are eligible to purchase any of the computer models available from the NJIT computer program. All transfer students will be eligible for the NJIT software bundle at no charge. (top)
10: What are the specifications for the NJIT computer model? How do I order one? When will I receive it?
Many of the NJIT-partnered models have been announced and are available for purchase. Visit the model comparison page to view the current models. Click the Dell link on that page to continue. You will be able to purchase a model online or by phone directly from Dell. You can also customize your PC during the purchase process. Additional information on the program will be mailed to all accepted freshman and transfer students, as well as being available online at http://ist.njit.edu/compreq. (top)
11: Can I connect to the NJIT network from my home or residence hall room?
Students who live at home are encouraged to subscribe to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) through either a cable modem or DSL broadband high-speed connection. Use of a broadband ISP along with NJIT’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides high-speed access to most of the campus-based proprietary information services. You can access NJIT network services just as if you were on campus in the library, a computer lab, or residence hall room.
Students in the residence halls have their own 100 Mbps Ethernet connection. This connection provides access to all campus services as well as to the internet and is intended for schoolwork use. (top)
12: Will NJIT provide software for my major program?
NJIT provides a software bundle consisting of the most popular core Microsoft products, software development tools, mathematical programming, virus protection, computer-aided design, and other tools. Students bringing their own computer will receive instructions on downloading software during Connection Miniversity, the NJIT’s freshman orientation program held during the summer 2008. Students purchasing an NJIT-partnered computer model will have most software pre-installed on their machine already, at no additional cost.
Some courses or academic programs may have additional specialized software requirements students must license individually. (top)
13: Can I use Windows Vista or Office 2007 and will NJIT support them?
NJIT has not yet released Windows Vista or Office 2007 to the NJIT community for daily use. Until NJIT releases Windows Vista and Office 2007, we do not support any version of Windows Vista or Office 2007. Until that time, please use Windows XP Pro and Office 2003. We expect the earliest Vista will be released to the NJIT community for academic research is in late summer 2008.
Our initial research with Windows Vista found incompatibilities with some important software used at NJIT. IST is currently testing commonly used applications. We estimate the release of Windows Vista to the academic community by fall 2008 at the earliest. Office 2007 may be released before that time. Please check http://ist.njit.edu for more details during the year.
More details about Windows Vista and Office 2007 at NJIT can be found at http://ist.njit.edu/support/vista/ and http://ist.njit.edu/support/office2007/ respectively.
14: Will I receive an e-mail account?
Every NJIT student self-creates a University Computing ID (UCID). The UCID@njit.edu serves as a student’s official NJIT e-mail address. The UCID will be listed in the Campus Directory and faculty members are given this address so they may contact students regarding academic and class-related matters. Students are responsible for signing on to this account and checking for new mail at this address on a regular basis while enrolled at NJIT. Students have the option of forwarding their UCID@njit.edu e-mail to another e-mail account (e.g. Yahoo!, Hotmail, Gmail etc.) by updating their forwarding entry in the Campus Directory. However, students are responsible for making sure the forwarding is done properly and that the forwarding system can receive the NJIT e-mail, in both volume and size. Some systems offer only a small mailbox allocation, rejecting forwarded emails after that limit has been reached. (top)
15: Is there more information on computer requirements for Architecture students?
There is an additional FAQ for students enrolling in the New Jersey School of Architecture. Questions on the computer requirement for students entering the New Jersey School of Architecture can be e-mailed to arch-compreq@njit.edu. (top)
Questions not answered in the FAQ may be e-mailed to compreq@njit.edu. You may also call the IST Computing Help Desk at (973) 596-2900.
