- Major/Hobbies
- Usage
- Storage
- Questions
Student Laptop Recommendation Tool
Welcome to WPI's Student Laptop Recommendation Tool.You'll answer questions about your major, what you want to do, and how you use your laptop. Once you're done, you'll get recommended laptop specs to begin your laptop search!
This will take about 5-10 minutes, and your answers aren't recorded.
Step 1 - Major & Hobbies
Get started by selecting your major, and what you plan to do with your laptop.What are you majoring/minoring in? *
What you're studying helps determine the type of laptop you should get.
Please pick at least one major.
What do you want to do on your laptop?
Select the things you'll do on your laptop to improve your recommendation.
You missed a few steps that are required. You'll need to complete those steps before moving forward.
Step 2 - Your usage
Use these sliders to tell us how you use your laptop.What types of games do you play? *
Select which type of games you play. This will improve the accuracy of your laptop recommendation.
Please select the type of games you play.
A program is any app that you have open (e.g. Teams, Discord, Outlook, etc) - except for web browsers.
Please input a value of more than 0 programs.
0 programs
20+ programs
Approximate how many browser tabs you have open at once.
Please input a value of more than 0 tabs.
0 tabs
50+ tabs
You missed a few steps that are required. You'll need to complete those steps before moving forward.
Step 3 - Storage
Use the sliders below to tell us how much you store on your laptop.
These are photos downloaded to your laptop - don't count photos stored in the cloud.
For this approximation, a photo is 5 MB.
For this approximation, a photo is 5 MB.
0 photos
10,000+ photos
These are videos downloaded to your laptop - don't count videos stored in the cloud.
For this approximation, a video is 200 MB.
For this approximation, a video is 200 MB.
0 photos
5,000+ videos
These are songs downloaded to your laptop - don't count songs that you stream.
For this approximation, a song is 5 MB.
For this approximation, a song is 5 MB.
0 songs
10,000+ songs
These are movies downloaded to your laptop - don't count movies that you stream.
For this approximation, a movie is 5 GB.
For this approximation, a movie is 5 GB.
0 movies
100+ movies
Each step represents 2 programs.
For this approximation, a program is 1 GB.
For this approximation, a program is 1 GB.
0 programs
100+ programs
These are games downloaded to your laptop - don't count games streamed over the internet.
Depending on what types of games you play, a game is 5, 10, 50, or 100 GB.
Depending on what types of games you play, a game is 5, 10, 50, or 100 GB.
0 games
200+ games
Additional storage sliders
Your storage approximation should be pretty accurate as it stands. However, If you'd like to refine the accuracy of your laptop recommendation, use the sliders below to approximate how many small/large files you store on your laptop.
For this approximation, a small file is 50 MB. Documents shouldn't be counted.
0 small files
2,000+ small files
For this approximation, a large file is 1 GB.
0 large files
500+ large files
Step 4 - Additional Questions
A few additional questions to improve your laptop recommendation.Do you need extra power in certain parts of your laptop?
Most people won't need extra power in their laptop. If you're confident you need some extra power in a certain category, select them below.Would you want a secondary drive for backups/storage? *
For peace of mind, we strongly recommend having a backup drive. Depending on how much space you need, they range from $60 to $180.
Please input a value.
Use the bare minimum laptop recommendations? *
If you are looking to save on your laptop (at the expense of your laptop potentially needing upgrades sooner), you can opt to choose the bare minimum recommendation.
Please input a value.
Ready to view your answers?
Click the view results button below. You can also go back to other steps to refine your choices.
You missed a few steps that are required. You'll need to complete those steps before moving forward.
Based on your answers, we recommend these specifications for your laptop.
Processor
N/A
Your next laptop should use a N/A. Here's why.Memory
N/A
Your next laptop should use N/A of RAM. Here's why.Graphics
N/A
Your next laptop should use N/A. Here's why.Storage
N/A
Your next laptop should use N/A storage. Here's why.Note: This is a specialized component. It'll be harder to find it in off-the-shelf laptops.
Form Factor
N/A
Your should consider a N/A form factor. Here's why.Networking
Your next laptop should have Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or better, which is standard in most laptops. WiFi is available across campus.
You may equip your laptop with a Gigabit Ethernet port (or buy an adapter) if you'd rather be wired into WPI's network.
You may equip your laptop with a Gigabit Ethernet port (or buy an adapter) if you'd rather be wired into WPI's network.
Operating System
Computer labs and remote access terminal servers are provided so you can access academic software that may not run on your laptop.
Office bundles
An Office 365 subscription is provided during your time at WPI, so you don't need to bundle Microsoft Office.
More information about Office 365 at WPI
More information about Office 365 at WPI
Printer bundles
Public printers are available to use across campus, so you don't necessarily have to bring your own printer.
Some students appreciate the convenience of personal printers, especially if you're living off-campus, or plan to live off-campus later in your time at WPI.
If you do bring your own printer, bring the printer cable to connect to your laptop! Printers aren't allowed on the WPI Wi-Fi.
Some students appreciate the convenience of personal printers, especially if you're living off-campus, or plan to live off-campus later in your time at WPI.
If you do bring your own printer, bring the printer cable to connect to your laptop! Printers aren't allowed on the WPI Wi-Fi.
Warranty
We recommend getting an extended warranty for your laptop, if money allows. This will add extra peace of mind if your laptop breaks, especially if you intend to keep it for a long time.
Questions?
If you have any questions, or need additional help finding a laptop, reach out to the IT service desk. Include the diagnostic details below.
Copy diagnostic details to clipboard
Copy diagnostic details to clipboard
Disclaimer
This laptop recommendation should be treated as a starting point for your laptop search, and what specs you should be filtering by. We can't recommend exact laptop models.
Edit recommendation Start a new recommendation