Student Personal Owned Devices - Minimum Specifications

Updated 01/07/2026

DMU students are required to own a laptop computer for their coursework by the first day of orientation. Although DMU doesn’t require any specific model or brand of computer, below are the minimum specifications needed. Please note these specifications are subject to change as technology and software requirements change. Either the Windows or Mac platform can be used.

Minimum & Recommended Device Specifications

Peripherals Required & Optional

Recommended Optional Peripherals

Tablet / E-Notebooks: Any device that can be used for note taking and annotations of digital documents.
- Special Note for COM students: Starting Fall 2026, the College of Osteopathic Medicine is recommending students use a touch-enabled device to access and annotate the PDF versions of course content (such as course packets and lab manuals), with the option to print their own copy if they prefer.
External USB Hard Drive: An external USB hard drive is useful for data backups and transferring files between computers. We recommend regularly backing up your data so your important personal files will remain intact in case of hard drive failure in the computer. The backup process is different for Apple and Windows systems.
USB or Built-In Ethernet Adapter: Since wireless network access is now more widely available, some laptop manufacturers have stopped installing ethernet cards for network cable access in certain models of laptops. If you purchase a laptop without an ethernet card, we recommend having a USB ethernet adapter as a backup method of accessing the Internet should wireless not be available.

Not Approved

Windows devices on ARM processors running older versions of Windows 10/11: These devices are not currently supported by some software needed for your coursework. (Click here to learn how to tell if your laptop has an ARM Processor)
- Exception: Any ARM processor device that is running Windows 11 version 24h2 or newer.
Chromebooks, tablets (iOS & Android) or devices running Windows RT, Windows 10 Home on ARM or 10 S as a primary device: These devices are great as a companion to your primary computer, but they are not sufficient to use as your primary computer. You will likely encounter issues running the software needed for your coursework. 
Smart devices like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Smart Watches, etc.: Our networks require more security and control than a home network and these devices are designed for home networks.

If your program uses ExamSoft/Examplify for testing, please see any additional notes available on their website: https://examsoft.com/resources/examplify-minimum-system-requirements/