Computer Purchase Recommendations

Art students use digital technology for research, in the exploration and communication of ideas, and in the creation of art and design. Courses using digital technology can be found in all program areas, including multi-disciplinary Foundations courses, Art & Technology, Communication Design, Photography, Print Media, Painting and Sculpture.

UB recommends that students come equipped with laptop computers minimally configured to handle general course requirements (visit the UB IT Student Technology Guide). While the Department of Art maintains state-of-the-art labs for its students to use outside of class, it is strongly recommended that students purchase their own laptop capable of running typically more demanding graphics applications used in class. Owning your own computer will enable you to conduct research, write, and make work in-class, at home, and elsewhere.

The Department of Art has standardized on the Apple Macintosh platform, used widely by professionals in the arts, design and media industries. Macs are comparable in power and price with other platforms. However, they are generally considered to be easier to maintain, more secure against viruses and spyware and seamlessly integrate with iOS and Apple services. All new Macs include high speed networking capabilities, plug-and-play peripheral connectivity and support for 4K video and professional quality audio.

Macs can easily be used for courses outside of Art, integrating well with UNIX, Linux and Windows. Popular applications are available for both Mac and PC, and Macs can read and write to PC disks.

Minimum Hardware Requirements

In order to be successful in both in-person and online classes, you must have access to a laptop or desktop computer with a functioning webcam and microphone, and minimally configured to run Adobe Creative Cloud software. 

If you will be purchasing a new computer, to maximize compatibility and the level of support we can offer you within the department, we recommend any Macintosh computer capable of running macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later with at least 8 GB RAM (16 GB preferred) and at least 64 GB of unused disk storage.

To run Adobe Creative Cloud on a Windows computer, you will need to be running Windows 10 (or later) on an Intel or AMD processor with 64-bit support, 2 GHz or faster processor, and at least 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended.) You will need at least 32 GB or more of unused disk storage.

Recommended MacBook Pro Minimum Configurations

MacBook Pro 14˝ — recommended for Art History & General Studio majors:

  • Apple M3 chip with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
  • 8GB unified memory
  • 512GB SSD storage
  • 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
  • Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
  • Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port
  • $1,499, plus $219 AppleCare+ coverage (recommended), extending hardware replacement and tech support to three years.

MacBook Pro 16˝— recommended for Photo, Graphic Design & Emerging Practices majors:

  • Apple M3 Pro chip with 12‑core CPU, 18‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
  • 18GB of unified memory
  • 1TB of SSD storage
  • 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
  • Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
  • Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port
  • $2,479, plus $319 AppleCare+ coverage (recommended), extending hardware replacement and tech support to three years.

Additional Recommendations

In addition to a MacBook Pro, we also recommend an external storage device for backups and file transportation, such as the Samsung 1TB T7 Shield Portable SSD ($110).

An external monitor can be used to extend your laptop display onto a larger screen, facilitating image & video editing and working within multiple apps at once. The ViewSonic VP2756-4K 27" 16:9 4K IPS Monitor has high quality color and great resolution at a price of $400. 

SOFTWARE: Adobe Creative Cloud apps and other software required for classes may be accessed using Department of Art lab computers during class and in the Open Labs during posted hours. Students are not required to purchase their own software, but must do so if they wish to use it on their personal computers.
Adobe CC Subscription student pricing is available for one year. For alternatives to Adobe, and for other applications used in class, please contact your instructors.

If you have any questions about technical concerns, please contact Domenic J. Licata.

This page is intended as a reference only. Prices and links above were current as of August 13, 2024 and are subject to change.