All School of Communications Design students are required to purchase an Apple laptop computer, digital pen tablet and relevant software (described below) in their first semester of second year. We realize that this is a rather large investment, but it is necessary for all Communication Design majors.
Note: We do not support the Windows OS in the School of Communications Design. Although students who use Windows based laptops will be able to use the Adobe CS6 suite, your instructors will not offer assistance with OS, networking and compatibility issues.
Please note that the VSCM.225 - Design - Technology I course is taught in the fall semester and that you are required to have a laptop, digital pen tablet and software at start of this class. The following information helps identify what the required and optional resources are and how we suggest you acquire them.
Minimum
15-inch: 2.3GHz
- 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
- Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz
- 4GB 1600MHz memory
- 500GB 5400-rpm hard drive
- Intel HD Graphics 4000
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB of GDDR5 memory
- Built-in battery (7 hours)
- Available to ship: Within 24 hours, Free Shipping
Education Price - $1,699.00 + GST
If you want to get longer life (more years) use out of your laptop then it is recommended that you have the memory (RAM) increased from the 4GB listed up to 8 GB at the time of purchase.
Recommended
15-inch: 2.4GHz with Retina display
- 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
- Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz
- 8GB 1600MHz memory
- 256GB flash storage
- Intel HD Graphics 4000
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
- Built-in battery (7 hours)
- Available to ship: Within 24 hours, Free Shipping
Education Price - $1,999.00 + GST
Laptop Specifications updated April, 2013
or
AppleCare Protection Plan (3 Year) While not mandatory, this purchase is strongly recommended. Price ~ $259.00 +GST. Can be purchased with the laptop.
Wacom Intuos 4 small tablet Price - $229. + GST
Note: Students can use the software without a graphics tablet. However, the track pad on a laptop is simply not a sensitive enough tool for complex drawing tasks.
Source
University of Calgary
- USB3 Backup hard drive (1 or 2 TB recommended cost ~ $100) (Highly Recommended)
- Computer Carrying Bag or Backpack (Price > $60.00)
- Security Cable (Price > $30.00)
- Inkjet printer (Canon or Epson recommended, ideally capable of 13 x 19 inch outputs)
- Extension power cord
- USB flash drive (8 or 16 GB recommended)