With estimates of 12,000 desktop and laptop computers, the University has a considerable asset base. To allow flexibility for staff and students while still maintaining a degree of consistency across the University, the Workspace Program Working Party has developed a list of end user computing standards. These standards are not meant to fulfil every computing requirement, but to cater for the majority of staff and students everyday computing needs.  

The list will be updated and reviewed on a regular basis.Requests for purchasing end user hardware outside this Standard List should follow the exemption procedure where a demonstrated business, research or academic requirement is necessary.

Both the Standards and the Exemption Procedure are draft policies and are subject to approval.  They are currently out for consultation.

The End User Computer Hardware Standards are grouped in three categories:

• Desktops: Standard Performance and High Performance
• Monitors: Standard Performance and High Performance
• Laptops: Standard Performance

Standard Desktop (for general use)

General-purpose computing functionality will be provided by this hardware type and it is expected that this will represent suitable capability for a large number of university staff and students.  The following use cases comprise a non-exhaustive list of day-to-day computing functionality required:

• word processing;
• spreadsheet operation;
• simple desktop database operations;
• web browsing;
• electronic messaging;
• desktop publishing;
• basic graphics and multimedia work; and
• access to administrative systems.

High Performance Desktop (for high-end/intensive use)

Enhanced desktop computing functionality will be provided by this hardware type for users with specialist requirements.  The following use cases comprise a non-exhaustive list of the computing functionality required:

• application development;
• network / system performance analysis;
• complex desktop database operations;
• use of spatial information systems;
• high-end desktop publishing;
• multimedia authoring;
• highly complex 3D modelling and simulation

System Specifications 

Standard Performance Monitor (for general use)

General-purpose functionality will be provided by this monitor type which will be suitable for everyday use by a large number of university staff and students. 

High Performance Monitor (for high-end/intensive use)

An enhanced viewing functionality will be provided by this monitor type which will be suitable when high colour accuracy and resolution is required.

All-in-one Laptop (light, mobile and all round performance)