Laptop Requirements and Recommendations

For MD Program Class of 2029 and PA Program Class of 2027

Last updated: April 16, 2025

Welcome to the University of New Mexico’s MD and PA Programs!

As you begin your journey, it’s essential to have a personal laptop that meets our minimum system requirements and complies with the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy used across UNM Health & Health Sciences. This helps you participate fully in academic and clinical activities, protect sensitive data (HIPAA/FERPA), and meet institutional cybersecurity standards.

1. Overview

Why These Requirements Matter

• Academic & Clinical Demands:
  • You’ll rely on your laptop for lectures, exams, course materials, and more advanced tasks such as handling electronic health records (EHR), completing peer reviews, and conducting research analysis. Meeting these requirements helps ensure your device remains reliable and compatible with the full range of academic and clinical activities throughout your program.
• Verified Compatibility:
  • We have reviewed the minimum system requirements (MSRs) for all core curricular applications to confirm that a laptop meeting our recommendations will run them smoothly. Adhering to these requirements helps you avoid technical obstacles down the road.
• BYOD Policy:
  • Our requirements align with the BYOD policy, which uses Microsoft Intune (a Mobile Device Management system) to protect confidential data and maintain HIPAA compliance. While enrolling a personal device may feel intimidating, your participation helps uphold patient privacy, maintain academic integrity, and secure our learning environment. If you have questions or concerns about the BYOD policy, we’re here to help.
• Long-Term Reliability:
  • We strongly recommend starting with a laptop that not only meets but exceeds our minimum requirements for at least two years. Older or borderline systems are more prone to slowdowns or failures at critical moments. By investing in a capable machine now, you set yourself up for a smoother, less stressful academic experience.

2. Minimum & Recommended Laptop Requirements

Notes:

¹ We recommend extended warranty coverage because AMS offers only limited support for MD student devices (and HSC IT’s support is even more restricted). If your laptop experiences major issues—such as overheating from a fan failure or a virus infection—our assistance is limited to basic troubleshooting. Extended warranty plans can cover repairs or replacement beyond our support, and AMS maintains a limited number of loaner laptops to bridge the gap during repairs.

⚠️ ASUS Laptop Compatibility Warning (Medical Students Only)

ASUS laptops with touchscreen displays or the ScreenPad™ feature are not compatible with National Board Medical Examinations (NBME) software. If you currently own a laptop with these features, you do not need to purchase a new one solely for this issue—loaner laptops can often be made available through AMS for NBME exams, but availability is limited and not guaranteed.

That said, student loaners are intended as a last-resort backup. For this reason, if you’re purchasing a new laptop, we strongly advise avoiding ASUS models altogether, as they often encounter compatibility issues with the NBME secure browser—even those without touchscreen or ScreenPad™ features.

3. Tablets & Additional Devices

Note: BYOD enrollment for tablets and phones is optional but recommended for smoother access to HSC apps and secure Wi-Fi.

Tablets

• Optional Device:
  • Tablets are not required, but they can be valuable for note-taking, digital textbooks, or completing electronic assessments.
• Minimum OS for Using Tablets for taking electronic assessments:
  • iPad: Must run iPadOS 17 (compatible with iPad 5+, iPad Air 3+, iPad mini 5+, and iPad Pro).
  • Surface Pro: Must run Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11 23H2 (S Mode is not supported).
• Minimum OS for Enrolling Tablets in Intune (BYOD):
  • iPad: Refer to the BYOD iPadOS requirements.
  • Windows (Surface Pro): See the BYOD Windows requirements.
  • Android: Review the BYOD Android requirements.

Smartphones

• Optional Device:
  • Smartphones are not required, but they are ideal for quick access to email, schedules, and communication.
• Minimum OS for Enrolling Smartphones in Intune (BYOD):
  
  • iPhone: Please refer to the BYOD iOS requirements.
  • Android: Please refer to the BYOD Android requirements.

Note on BYOD Enrollment:

While BYOD enrollment is optional for tablets and smartphones, it’s recommended if you plan to access HSC resources like the Outlook mobile app, Teams, or secure Wi-Fi. Without enrollment, your access may be limited—for example, you may need to check your email through a mobile browser instead of the app.

Keep in mind that laptop enrollment is required for all MD students. For the best overall experience, we suggest ensuring that all devices you plan to use—laptop, tablet, or smartphone—meet our minimum requirements and are enrolled if needed.

If you have questions about your setup or aren’t sure if enrollment is right for your device, feel free to reach out using the contact information in the Help section.

4. Financial Aid & Cost Considerations

We recognize that purchasing a new laptop (and possibly a new smartphone or tablet) can be challenging. The School of Medicine Financial Aid Office has increased borrowing limits to help address these costs. If you have financial concerns, please contact them to discuss loan adjustments or additional resources.

5. Pre-Built Laptop Configurations

For students seeking a cost-effective and reliable laptop, we offer two pre-configured models that meet our recommended specifications and qualify for student discounts. These carefully reviewed options can serve as a direct purchase or a starting point for comparison when evaluating other devices.

💻 Windows Option:

• Model:
  • Dell Latitude 3450
• Key Specifications:
  • Processor: 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1335U (10 cores, up to 4.6 GHz Turbo)
  • OS: Windows 11 Pro
  • Memory: 16 GB DDR5 (5200 MT/s)
  • Hard Drive: 256 GB, M.2 2230, PCIe Gen 4 NVMe (TLC)
  • Display: 14.0″ Full HD (1920×1080), IPS, 250 nits brightness, anti-glare, non-touch, with built-in Full HD webcam and microphone.
  • Network: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2.
  • Battery: 3-cell (54Wh), 3–5 hours of runtime depending on usage, with ExpressCharge Boost for faster charging.
  • Extended Warranty: 4-year ProSupport including next business day onsite service and comprehensive hardware and software support.
• Price:
  • Approximately $938.95 plus tax (after a 5% student discount)
• Quote:
  • Use our shared cart link, or provide Cart Number 3000188413626 when contacting a Dell representative. Cart valid through July 12, 2025.
• How to Apply the Student Discount:
  • Visit the Dell Student Pricing Store.
  • Create a Dell account (if you don’t already have one) and verify your student status using a valid student email address.
  • Once verified, a “Member Discount” should appear in your cart. If it doesn’t, try logging out and back in.
  • Dell Rewards enrollment is optional and does not affect the price.

🍎 Apple Option:

• Model: 
  • 13-inch MacBook Air (2025, M4 chip)
• Key Specifications:
  • Processor: Apple M4 (10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine)
  • OS: macOS Sequoia
  • Memory: 16 GB unified memory
  • Hard Drive: 256 GB SSD
  • Display: 13.6” Liquid Retina (2560 x 1664), 500 nits brightness, with built-in Full HD webcam and microphone.
  • Network: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and integrated Bluetooth 5.3.
  • Battery: Built-in (54Wh), 12–15 hours of runtime depending on usage, with MagSafe for faster charging.
  • Extended Warranty: 3-year AppleCare+, including hardware and software support.
• Price:
  • Approximately $1,078 plus tax (after a ~10% student discount).
• How to Apply the Student Discount:
  • Visit the Apple Education Store, where prices already reflect the educational discount.
  • Sign in with your Apple ID (or create one).
  • Configure the MacBook Air to match the specs listed above.
  • At checkout, Apple may prompt you to verify your student status using UNiDAYS or request an .edu email address.
  • If purchasing or picking up in-store, you may be asked to provide a student ID or .edu email address.

Why We Recommend These Models

These configurations were selected for their balance of performance, affordability, and extended support coverage. Each one meets our recommended specifications and has been carefully vetted for compatibility with all required curricular applications and the BYOD policy. They’re designed to provide students with a low-research, ready-to-go option when purchasing a laptop for MD or PA school.

That said, there are many excellent laptops on the market. We’re not claiming these are the best—just that they’re reliable, well-suited for our environment, and easy to buy if you’re looking for a proven starting point.

Have Specific Needs? We Can Help

If you have unique academic, accessibility, or software needs—or if you’re unsure which device is right for you—Academic Multimedia Services (AMS) is here to help. Contact us before making a purchase, and we’ll gladly review your plans to ensure your tech is fully set up for success.

6. Timeline

If your current laptop does not (or only barely) meets our minimum requirements, we strongly recommend acquiring a new device by June 1, 2025. Around June 2, 2025, you will receive instructions from the Office of Medical Student Affairs (OMSA) on how to access our annual New Student IT Guide on SharePoint. 

The New Student IT Guide provides step-by-step instructions for:

• Setting up your HSC NetID and password.
• Configuring your Salud email and curriculum calendar.
• Accessing essential online, mobile, and desktop apps.
• Enrolling your laptop and other devices in our BYOD (Intune) system.

Having a compliant computer by June 1 ensures you can promptly follow the guide. Furthermore, our weekly BYOD Enrollment Clinics, beginning the first week of June, provide in-person assistance for Intune enrollment and troubleshooting, helping you finalize your technology setup before New Student Orientation on July 14, 2025.

7. Questions or Need Help?

Academic Multimedia Services (AMS)

AMS is your first stop for technology support tailored specifically for medical students. While the university offers multiple IT help desks, we pride ourselves on delivering premium, student-centric assistance for the MD Programs. We also leverage our relationships with other offices to expedite your requests and provide exceptional customer service. If the system requirements above seem confusing, or you’re unsure whether your devices meet them, we’re here to help!

• 📧 Email: HSC-AMS@salud.unm.edu
• 📞 Phone: (505) 272-0666
• 📅 Schedule: Book a 30-minute support session (online or on campus)
• 🧑‍💻 Attend: Join a weekly BYOD Enrollment Clinic (beginning June 2, 2025)
• 🚪 Drop by: Visit our studio in Room 140, Health Sciences Library (appointments or scheduled events recommended)

8. Final Note

We look forward to welcoming you to the MD and PA Programs. Ensuring you have a compliant, high-performance device from the start will enable you to focus on your coursework, clinical training, and overall success. Thank you for reviewing these requirements and taking proactive steps toward a smooth start to your medical education.