Personal computer (PC)

In its more general usage, a personal computer (PC) is

a microcomputer designed for use by one person at a time. Prior to the PC,
computers were designed for (and only affordable by) companies who
attached terminals for multiple users to a single large computer whose
resources were shared among all users. The advent of the era of the personal
computer was acknowledged by Time magazine in 1982, when they broke
with tradition by choosing the PC as their "Man of the Year." By the late
1980s, technology advances made it feasible to build a small computer that
an individual could own and use.

The term "PC" has been traditionally used to describe an "IBM-compatible"

personal computer in contradistinction to an Apple Macintosh computer. The
distinction is both technical and cultural and harkens back to the early years of
personal computers, when IBM and Apple were the two major competitors.
Originally, the "IBM-compatible" PC was one with an Intel microprocessor
architecture and an operating system such as DOS or Windows that written to
use that microprocessor. The Apple Macintosh uses a Motorola
microprocessor architecture and a proprietary operating system. The "IBM-
compatible" PC was associated with business and use, while the "Mac,"
known for its more intuitive user interface, was associated with graphic design
and desktop publishing. Although the distinctions have become less clear-cut
in recent years, people often still categorize a personal computer as either a
PC or a Mac.

-----------------
-------
Our Recommended Computer Specifications
Currently, ITS recommends that faculty, staff and students request the following
specifications when buying new personal computers:

When ordering from the HP store ITS recommends purchasing from the Elite Book
series for Laptops and from the Elite Desk series for Desktops. When purchasing
from the Apple store ITS recommends purchasing from the Mac Book Pro series for
Laptops and from the Mac mini for Desktops.

 Processor - dual core 2.4 GHz+ (i5 or i7 series Intel processor or equivalent
AMD)
 RAM - 16 GB
 Hard Drive - 256 GB or larger solid state hard drive
 Graphics Card - any with Display Port/ HDMI or DVI support - desktop only
 Wireless (for laptops) - 802.11ac (WPA2 support required)
 Monitor - 23" widescreen LCD with Display Port/HDMI or DVI support -
desktop only
 Operating System - Windows 10 Home or Professional editions, or Apple OS
X 10.12.3
 Warranty - 3 year warranty - desktop only
 Warranty - 4 year warranty with accidental damage protection - laptop only
 Backup Device - External hard drive and/or USB Flash Drive
 Please note: The extended warranties listed above must be added at the
enhancement page when selecting your hardware for purchase.

Minimum Specifications
The current minimum computer specifications to ensure the ability to run the basic
software most end users operate is:

 Processor - dual core @ 2.4 GHz (i5 or i7 Intel processor or equivalent

AMD)
 RAM - 8 GB
 Hard Drive - 320 GB 5400 RPM hard drive
 Wireless (for laptops) - 802.11g/n (WPA2 support required)
 Monitor - 19" LCD - desktop only
 Operating System - Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 or Apple OS X 10.11
 Backup Device - External hard drive and/or USB Flash Drive

Other Specifications
The majority of Clark's computing resources and backend systems are built on the
Windows platform. Support is available for Apple's OS X operating system, but we
currently do not provide support for the Windows operating system on an Apple
computer. Since the choice between an Apple and a Windows system is usually a
personal preference, we recommend that you come to campus with which ever
operating system you are most comfortable with. If you have no preference, ITS
recommends you contact the ITS Help Desk (helpdesk@clarku.edu) for purchasing
advise. If you are coming to Clark with a particular program of study in mind, you
may want to check with your academic department to see if they have a preferred
computing platform.