Not all students will need or wish to purchase a computer or laptop when coming to MATC. We do have open computer labs on-campus for student use and many classrooms also have labs.
If you want your own personal computer for course work, here's a few tips to help as you explore options:
Software
- If you are buying a new computer, or already own a computer, we have some free software including Office 365, and you may be eligible for other software discounts for students.
- Students can also access a virtual desktop with programs they may need for their classes.
Hardware / Computers
- If you are looking to purchase a computer, check and see if you can get a student discount. Many companies give discounts to students. Sometimes you need to provide your college email address for verification.
- The type of computer and specifications depends on your personal preferences, as well as which classes you are taking. Your instructors or program may provide some guidance too as far as what they suggest.
- For example:
- If you need to run Auto-Cad or Adobe programs, you're going to want to have a more powerful computer with a lot of memory.
- If you are taking liberal arts courses, most laptops will work fine.
- For some graphics arts courses, you might want to have a MAC.
- Chromebooks have a good price point, but keep in mind that they run on a different operating system and some applications will not work on a Chromebook. However, you may be able to access some Windows apps using HTML access to virtual desktops on a Chromebook.
If you stop in any of our campus libraries, we can help you get started with accessing college resources on your computer. Plus all our libraries have open computer labs right there that you can use.
Welcome to Madison College!
