External Hard Drives:
For your first semester at Ithaca College, you WILL need an external hard drive. We recommend a drive with at least 1 Terabyte of open storage. We strongly recommend getting a solid-state drive (SSD). A recentNew York Times article gives a good overview of some of the best solid state drives available and where they can be purchased.
Laptops:
Students who are Documentary Studies and Production majors are NOT required to purchase a laptop computer. The Park School has numerous labs with all the necessary hardware and software for students to complete their required assignments and projects. However, students may choose to bring their own laptop.
The Park School has both Windows and Apple computers and either platform is suitable for those purchasing new laptops. However, Apple computers are more widely available in the Park School. For that reason, an Apple MacBook Pro will integrate more easily with the computers in our labs. Adobe has a helpful page that outlines the specs needed for a laptop computer to work well with its editing software.
Software:
Students who are Documentary Studies and Production majors are NOT required to purchase an Adobe software package. However, Adobe Premiere is a recommended software package for students wishing to edit video on their personal computers. For those who want to edit on their personal laptops it is recommended that you wait until classes start before purchasing an Adobe package that includes Premiere. Ithaca College students are eligible for an educational discount.