{"id":761,"date":"2022-06-15T19:37:38","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T19:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/?page_id=761"},"modified":"2026-04-06T16:23:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T16:23:54","slug":"laptop-recommendations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/laptop-recommendations\/","title":{"rendered":"CCS Laptop Recommendations 2026-2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordions advgb-accordions-9ccea4ea-a2cf-4472-8bf2-989f36ae072e advgb-accordion-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordion-item advgb-accordion-item\" style=\"margin-bottom:15px\"><div class=\"advgb-accordion-header\" style=\"background-color:#000;color:#eee;border-style:solid;border-width:0px;border-radius:2px\"><span class=\"advgb-accordion-header-icon accordion-state\"><svg class=\"advgb-icon-closed\" fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12,5.83L15.17,9l1.41-1.41L12,3L7.41,7.59L8.83,9L12,5.83z M12,18.17L8.83,15l-1.41,1.41L12,21l4.59-4.59L15.17,15 L12,18.17z\"><\/path><\/svg><svg class=\"advgb-icon-opened\" fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M7.41,18.59L8.83,20L12,16.83L15.17,20l1.41-1.41L12,14L7.41,18.59z M16.59,5.41L15.17,4L12,7.17L8.83,4L7.41,5.41L12,10L16.59,5.41z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h4 class=\"advgb-accordion-header-title\" style=\"color:inherit\">General Laptop Recommendations<\/h4><\/div><div class=\"advgb-accordion-body\" style=\"border-style:solid !important;border-width:0px !important;border-color:undefined !important;border-top:none !important;border-radius:2px !important\">\n<p>The following recommendations are for departments at CCS that do not currently have a specific requirement for laptops. Before purchasing a laptop, we recommend contacting your department to confirm your choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any additional technical questions after speaking with your department, please email the CCS Helpdesk at <a href=\"mailto:helpdesk@ccsdetroit.edu\">helpdesk@ccsdetroit.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are minimum suggested specs; better\/faster\/larger\/newer is fine as long as supported by applicable application software.&nbsp; Information regarding software compatibility is available here:&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/software-requirements\/\">https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/software-requirements\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apple MacBook Pro<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Educational discount<\/strong> available at Apple Stores or the Apple online educational store (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/us-hed\/shop\">https:\/\/www.apple.com\/us-hed\/shop<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Processor: M1 Pro or Better (M4 recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memory: 32GB unified Memory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard Drive: 512GB minimum SSD storage or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AppleCare 3-year protection plan: Highly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Windows PC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Windows 10 Pro 64-bit OS or Windows 11<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Processor: 64-bit Intel\u00ae Xeon, or i-Series processor with Intel\u00ae or AMD equivalent. Highest affordable CPU speed with multiple cores recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memory: 32GB of Memory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Graphic Card: Supported NVIDIA\u00ae&nbsp;or AMD graphics card with OpenGL 4.3 support and a certified driver. 8GB Memory minimum.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard Drive: 512GB SSD3-yr protection plan: Highly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Required Software:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Adobe Creative Cloud<\/strong>: Provided through CCS for all registered students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Microsoft <\/strong>Office<strong>: <\/strong>Available for free at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/products\/office\">https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/products\/office<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordions advgb-accordions-dccc1cea-f58f-42f4-b0e8-b9a2ceb0532f advgb-accordion-wrapper\" data-collapsed=\"true\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordion-item advgb-accordion-item\" style=\"margin-bottom:15px\"><div class=\"advgb-accordion-header\" style=\"background-color:#000;color:#eee;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-radius:2px\"><span class=\"advgb-accordion-header-icon accordion-state\"><svg class=\"advgb-icon-closed\" fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12,5.83L15.17,9l1.41-1.41L12,3L7.41,7.59L8.83,9L12,5.83z M12,18.17L8.83,15l-1.41,1.41L12,21l4.59-4.59L15.17,15 L12,18.17z\"><\/path><\/svg><svg class=\"advgb-icon-opened\" fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M7.41,18.59L8.83,20L12,16.83L15.17,20l1.41-1.41L12,14L7.41,18.59z M16.59,5.41L15.17,4L12,7.17L8.83,4L7.41,5.41L12,10L16.59,5.41z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h4 class=\"advgb-accordion-header-title\" style=\"color:inherit\">Communication Design &amp; Strategy<\/h4><\/div><div class=\"advgb-accordion-body\" style=\"border-style:solid !important;border-width:1px !important;border-color:undefined !important;border-top:none !important;border-radius:2px !important\">\n<p>Communication Design &amp; Strategy students enrolling at The College for Creative Studies will be required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies. The information below provides the minimum hardware configuration and software requirements. Any Apple MacBook purchase made beyond the minimum requirements is your choice. This investment will remain current throughout your 4-year experience at CCS. Our curricular approach blends this tool and software seamlessly into your learning experience and prepares you for working professionally. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact your Department Chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Information regarding software compatibility is available here: <br><a href=\"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/software-requirements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/software-requirements\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apple MacBook Pro 16\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Educational discount<\/strong> available at Apple Stores or the Apple online educational store  (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/us-edu\/shop\/buy-mac\/macbook-pro\">https:\/\/www.apple.com\/us-edu\/shop\/buy-mac\/macbook-pro<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Processor: M1 Pro or Better (M4 recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memory: 24GB unified Memory (32GB recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard Drive: 512GB minimum SSD storage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AppleCare 3-year protection plan: Strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Apple MacBook Pro 14\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Educational discount<\/strong> available at Apple Stores or the Apple online educational store (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/us-edu\/shop\/buy-mac\/macbook-pro\">https:\/\/www.apple.com\/us-edu\/shop\/buy-mac\/macbook-pro<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Processor: M1 Pro or Better (M4 recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memory: 24GB unified Memory (32GB recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard Drive: 512GB minimum SSD storage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AppleCare 3-year protection plan: Strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Apple MacBook Air 15\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Educational discount<\/strong> available at Apple Stores or the Apple online educational store (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/us-edu\/shop\/buy-mac\/macbook-air\">https:\/\/www.apple.com\/us-edu\/shop\/buy-mac\/macbook-air<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Processor: M4 or Better&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memory: 24GB unified Memory (32GB recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard Drive: 512GB minimum SSD storage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AppleCare 3-year protection plan: Strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Required Software:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Adobe Creative Cloud:<\/strong> Provided through CCS for all registered students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Microsoft Office:<\/strong> Available for free at: <br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/products\/office\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/products\/office<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>MacBook Laptops are Recommended to all Communication Design and Strategy Students but a PC equivalent can be used as an alternative. Here are comparable PC Laptops. Top Brands include Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Razer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Windows Laptop Equivalent \u2013 16\u201d High Performance PC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Educational discounts may be available through manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 or better (Intel Core Ultra 9 recommended)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>AMD Equivalent:<\/em> AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS or newer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Snapdragon Equivalent:<\/em> Snapdragon X Elite (when available in 16\u201d devices)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memory: 16GB DDR5 RAM (32GB recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard Drive: 512GB NVMe SSD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warranty\/Protection: 3-Year manufacturer protection plan&nbsp;strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Windows Laptop Equivalent \u2013 14\u201d High Performance PC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Educational discounts may be available through manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 or better (Intel Core Ultra 9 recommended)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>AMD Equivalent:<\/em> AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS or newer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Snapdragon Equivalent: <\/em>Snapdragon X Elite (when available in 14\u201d devices)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memory: 16GB DDR5 RAM (24GB\u201332GB recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard Drive: 512GB NVMe SSD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warranty\/Protection: 3-Year manufacturer protection plan&nbsp;strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordions advgb-accordions-4fb9ff03-8c9d-4910-8a1a-5b91de603368 advgb-accordion-wrapper\" data-collapsed=\"true\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordion-item advgb-accordion-item\" style=\"margin-bottom:15px\"><div class=\"advgb-accordion-header\" style=\"background-color:#000;color:#eee;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-radius:2px\"><span class=\"advgb-accordion-header-icon accordion-state\"><svg class=\"advgb-icon-closed\" fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12,5.83L15.17,9l1.41-1.41L12,3L7.41,7.59L8.83,9L12,5.83z M12,18.17L8.83,15l-1.41,1.41L12,21l4.59-4.59L15.17,15 L12,18.17z\"><\/path><\/svg><svg class=\"advgb-icon-opened\" fill=\"#fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0,0h24v24H0V0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M7.41,18.59L8.83,20L12,16.83L15.17,20l1.41-1.41L12,14L7.41,18.59z M16.59,5.41L15.17,4L12,7.17L8.83,4L7.41,5.41L12,10L16.59,5.41z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h4 class=\"advgb-accordion-header-title\" style=\"color:inherit\">Graduate studies<\/h4><\/div><div class=\"advgb-accordion-body\" style=\"border-style:solid !important;border-width:1px !important;border-color:undefined !important;border-top:none !important;border-radius:2px !important\">\n<p>Please see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccsdetroit.edu\/life-at-ccs\/resources\/laptop-requirements-recommendations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CCS Website<\/a>&nbsp;for the Laptop Requirements for each of the following Graduate Studies Programs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Color &amp; Materials Design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interdisciplinary Design Studies (IDS)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transportation&nbsp;Design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>User Experience Design (UXD)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-761","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/author\/sevans\/","display_name":"Sean Evans"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 4 years ago","modified":"Updated 5 days ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on June 15, 2022","modified":"Updated on April 6, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on June 15, 2022 7:37 pm","modified":"Updated on April 6, 2026 4:23 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":false,"series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=761"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1189,"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/761\/revisions\/1189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}