The laptop is a fully-fledged learning tool and indispensable for most courses. Before you purchase a new laptop, it is best to take into account a few elements and think about what you want to use the device for:
- Minimal configuration (according to UCLL)
- UCLL advice when buying a laptop
- UCLL advice for specific courses
- Laptop offer by Signpost
- Laptop offer through an Apple reseller
MinimAL CONFIGURATION
To work smoothly, your laptop should meet the following requirements :
| Item | Aanbevolen |
|---|---|
| OS (operating system) | Windows 10 or Windows 11, always with the latest security patches. As a student you can upgrade a windows 10 home license to a windows 10 pro version. |
| Office Suite | Via UCLL you will have Microsoft 365 Apps for Business (formerly Office 365 ProPlus) during the duration of your training |
| Harddisk | inimal 256 GB SSD 128 GB SSD is only an option if you store all your documents in the cloud and not on your laptop.. (See also type of users ) |
| Connections for a monitor | Most screens at UCLL have an HDMI cable to connect to your device. |
| Memory | We recommend a minimum of 16 GB to run smoothly. This is certainly necessary if you want to work smoothly with multiple packages at the same time, such as Office, Teams, Collaborate... (See also type of users ) |
| Wireless network | Support for WiFi 6 or WiFi 6e (!) UCLL is gradually phasing out support for 2.4Ghz |
| Screen size | The student chooses the screen size he/she feels most comfortable with. We recommend at least 14" for intensive laptop use. |
| Network connector | An RJ45 connector is an added value for technical training. If your computer does not have this, you need a tool to connect to the wired network in a lab. |
| Battery | The battery of a laptop can malfunction or break after intensive use of your device. A device whose battery is easy to replace is therefore recommended |
| Guarantee | We recommend a warranty period of 3 years. That way you are quickly helped in case of defects. Please note: theft, water damage, etc. are not covered by the warranty. If you want to protect yourself against this, it is best to take out additional insurance.. |
| Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware | Wiindows 10/windows11 comes standard with "Windows Defender" |
Besides, it depends of course on what you want to do with your laptop. We have attempted to define a number of profiles below.
| Type user | Applications | Minimal configuration | Model from Signpost offer ( you can of course choose a model with better specifications)) |
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| For someone who will do a lot of video editing, the video card is a very important part. However, these video cards are quite expensive |
Currently, there are no courses that require such heavy and expensive laptops |
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ucll AdVICE TO STUDENTS
The college UCLL itself does NOT offer laptops for sale, it just wants to give advice to (future) students if they are considering buying a new laptop. Therefore, it is best to read the Minimum Requirements Minimum requirements we recommend as a college to be able to work smoothly during your studies at UC Leuven Limburg.
When making a purchase, do not only consider the price, but also pay attention to the service. After all, it is not pleasant that you have to wait a long time for a repair or replacement, when you're device stops working.
ucll AdVICE for specific Courses
If you follow one of the courses below, be sure to read the requirements for the specified type of device
| Course | type of device (See table above) |
|---|---|
| PBA creative media management | video editor |
| PBA ELO-ICT | developer |
| PBA toegepaste informatica | developer |
Laptops - offer Signpost
UCLL has asked Signpost Belgium to put an offer online that meets its (minimum) requirements for a good price and with the possibility of a 3-year Next business day on-site warranty. The latter means that you can report a problem with your device by phone or e-mail and a technician will come to your place (home, school, dorm) the same day or the next working day at the latest to check the problem and carry out the repair on site. If the technician cannot solve the problem, a similar replacement device is immediately provided with (if possible) all your data on it.
See also the folder.
This is a completely non-binding offer, so no obligation!
The purchase of a laptop is made directly from Signpost which is responsible for delivery, service and warranty. Any questions about payments, deliveries, etc. should also be addressed directly to the company.
Do you have a problem with the laptop you purchased from Signpost? You can make a ticket at Signpost -fieldservices
Prefer an apple-computer?
Check with your training whether you can run all software used in the training on an Apple device!
For example, some software packages are not available for an Apple computer. Examples include Microsoft Access. as well as software packages that are not compatible with the ARM processor (Mx chipset). The college also offers only minimal support for Apple devices. We only help connect to the wireless network of Apple hardware.
There is software that allows you to run Windows on an Apple device. ( example Parallels Desktop for Mac at 45 euros at academic software )