Laptops are now required for Sophomores and above.

Please read the School of Architecture Laptop Requirement technical specifications.

From the Director's Office:

"The profession of Architecture and allied design fields is a completely digital profession. All design & technology disciplines associated with Architecture are completely digital. All visual and computational aspects of the profession have been digital for over 15 years, with software becoming ever more complex.

Affordable laptops are able to contain any and most, if not all, the standard and hybrid professional software that students and professionals alike use. Laptops afford complete portability in that students can continue with their design and non-design work anywhere."

Laptops are available through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

From the IlliniFlashDrive store in the Illini Union.

Tips for your laptop:

Naming Your Computer: When the installation runs on the computer (when you first turn it on, when prompted to name the computer, use the assigned NETID from the university. It allows us to identify the computer on the network if we need to contact you regarding suspected problems (viruses, etc.) If you don't have a NETID yet, name it in the format Firstname-Lastname.

Backing Up Your Data: There are at least a few students each semester that lose their data somehow. Architecture students need to protect their data more than others because they use it to build their portfolios for job interviews (summer internships, awards/competitions, etc.). The following options are available to backup data, as well as making it portable (in case they want to transfer it to another machine.)

1. Student file server (4GB) of space per student.
   
   • Pro: Backed up nightly.
   • Con: Need to connect to the campus network to access it.
2. External Hard Drives: Unlimited space (you can buy as much as you want).
   • Pro: As a second copy of your data you’re insured against hardware failure on your laptop. Large amount of storage.
   • Con: You have to have the discipline to regularly copy your data. Bulky.
3. Thumb/Flash USB drives.
   • Pro: Extremely portable, they’ll fit on a keychain. They don’t need an external power source.
   • Con: They hold less data than external hard drives. They can be easily lost, or left in the lab. (Tip: add a large, brightly colored object (or a ribbon) to the thumb drive so it will not be overlooked as easily.)
4. CD/DVD burners.
   • Pro: Usually they’re integrated in the laptop and you can burn as many discs as needed.
   • Con: Aren’t as commonly found on lighter weight laptops, would need to buy an external usb drive

Make sure the Administrator password is NOT left blank; it should be a lengthy password that is not a dictionary word.

Recommended Software:

• Antivirus software, McAfee VirusScan is free to university students through the Webstore.  ISP's such as Comcast provide a virus checker as well.
• Free student version of the AutoDesk software available by registering with AutoDesk.  Registration is free for students.
• SketchUp free version available here:
         http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/download/index.htm
• Microsoft Office Academic version from the Webstore.
• Adobe Design Standard, from the Webstore (includes Photoshop and Acrobat Professional)
• http://webstore.illinois.edu (requires NETID account to purchase)

Other Expected Expenses:

• PRINTING: All student printing is on a cost-recovery basis. Students will have to add money to their printing accounts before being able to print. Costs vary by size and printer/plotter. The cost is much cheaper than using retail printing such as Kinko’s, or even other campus printing centers, since we only charge for replacement costs and materials used.
• LASER CUTTING:  Juniors and above.  Architecture students will be required to purchase their own materials (wood, acryllic supplies) and pay $5/hr.
• USB Flash Drive: USB Flash Drive (aka Thumb drive, USB stick). You can get an up to 32GB flash drive for less than $35, with lesser capacities being quite reasonable. These are needed to transfer files from your laptop to our printing workstations, backup files, etc.
• USB Mouse w/Scroll-wheel:  These are required by many CAD programs and your student should have one.  Preferably a corded USB mouse rather than an undersized wireless  travel mouse which requires batteries.