IT equipment advice for Product Design and Manufacture
This page will help guide you through the requirements that your IT device needs to meet.
To support your studies, the university recommends using a suitable laptop to work on when on or off campus. This page will help guide you through the requirements that your device needs to meet. We can only recommend things to you; we cannot tell you what to buy. That's up to you. Please read the entirety of this section as the information on pen-enabled touch screens at the end is also important. There are computer rooms available on campus and a laptop loan service but both are offered on a first come first served basis. All students who might struggle with financing IT equipment can apply for support via the Hardship Fund.
How we use technology to teach on the PDM course
The University of Nottingham has moved to a "bring your own device" policy for computers and computing. In Product Design and Manufacture we have embraced this wholeheartedly and have developed highly digital workflow. In order to participate in class you will need a laptop.
Most of the software will be available free via the engineering remote desktop. There is one piece of digital drawing software that you will need to purchase called Sketchbook. This is available in the Windows store, the Apple store, and Android play store. You want to buy and download it before starting your degree. This is the only piece of software we will expect you to buy.
To allow the course to be taught in this way, you will need a laptop of your own that you will bring into university when needed. We will provide the software and any special equipment, but you need to own your own device which can run the software used and has a pen-enabled touch screen.
Purchasing a device with a pen-enabled touch screen might seem like an additional expense. However, over the course of your three or four years of study, it will save you money. You won't need to buy any paper or marker pens, nor will you need to get anything printed.
What to consider when purchasing your device
Should I buy a Windows PC or a Mac?
It is a common misconception that all designers use Apple Macs. In graphic design it is true that most designers use Apple products but for 3D designers this has never been the case.
Not all the applications you will need on the Product Design and Manufacture course run on Apple OS. For this reason, we strongly recommend you buy a Windows-based PC. If you already have a Mac or you “just have to get one”, then there are two options for you:
- Install software like boot camp that allows you to install Windows on your Mac. (This can often invalidate your warranty).
- Use virtual computers, which we will provide for you. As good as the virtual computers are it will mean you will always need Wi-Fi whenever you want to work, and it will make your workflow less smooth.
Recommended specification of Windows PC
- Operating System – Windows 10 or Windows 11 full version (not S Mode)
- Processor – Intel Core i5, AMD Ryzen 5 or similar
- RAM - 8GB minimum,16GB recommended
- 256GB SSD
- Screen size – 13inch or larger full HD screen
- Battery – Minimum 6-hour battery life
- USB – Two or more USB 3.0 ports
- HDMI – Direct (port) or by a separate adaptor
- Webcam
- 3 button mouse
- Pen enabled touch screen
You may have a laptop that meets all the specs above, but does not have a pen enabled screen. In this case, there are other options open to you so please read the last section of this page.
Alternatively, you might already have a laptop that does not meet the above specifications, or you might not want to spend the cost on a PC that meets all of these.
What are the key things you need to consider when buying your computer?
In product design we use large file graphics, images and have multiple workflows, which means that often, several applications are open at once. With this in mind, here are some specifications we recommend prioritising.
Ram is the most important specification. Ram allows you to work with large files and have them open at the same time. 8GB is the minimum, and we recommend 16GB for ideal performance. 32GB will allow you to run more powerful operations and conduct tasks simultaneously.
Processor has a significant impact on the speed of things, and i5 will usually suffice. If you’re looking for something more powerful, we can assure you that the virtual computers provided by the university come equipped with ideal specifications. There’s very little need to get an i7 or an i9.
Storage on a hard drive allows you to have more software installed and save your files directly on the PC at the same time. We don’t recommend going smaller than 256GB for ideal capacity to install all necessary software. SSD solid state drives are quicker, smaller, and more reliable than their predecessors, although they are not an essential requirement.
Screen size. You will be spending a lot of your time on your laptop, so it’s important to get the right screen size for getting your tasks done easier and quicker. Consider the balance between screen size and portability before making a decision, as you’ll have to carry your laptop to university every day. You may want to purchase a second monitor later in your course for enhanced productivity, rather than choosing the largest screen size available.
Battery life gives you added convenience. What is shown in specifications may not accurately reflect how long it can last with processor-heavy applications, so it’s safe to choose a large battery or to have a spare battery.
Ports. You will need an HDMI port as well as USB ports. The HDMI port will allow you to connect your laptop to other monitors, TV's and projectors. There are monitors in the design studios that you will be able to connect to, to give you more screen space. There will also always be a need for peripherals and additional memory storage devices, which all need USB ports. Many newer devices are moving towards USB-C, and this would be good to look out for to future-proof your device.
Webcams come built into most laptops now. However, if the model of your choice does not include one, this is something you will need to purchase. It is quite likely that in some points in your course, you will still need to have video-based meetings. A webcam is essential for modern IT communication purposes.
Mouse. CAD packages require a three-button mouse (two buttons and a scroll wheel). A laptop’s track pad will not do the job. You do not need an expensive wireless mouse. A three-buttoned mouse is inexpensive and harder to lose!
Pen enabled touch screens. There are lots of products on the market which you could get; some of which are easy, others that are incredibly difficult to use.
What options are there for pen-enabled touch screens?
There are many options or with different advantages and disadvantages. The most important thing to know is that you need to get a touch screen which enables you to use a stylus or pen. Not all touch screen devices allow this, so please check before you make your purchase.
A laptop
The simplest option is to buy laptop with a touch screen. It is also likely to be the most affordable and portable option. The downside of this, however, is that will need to use this one device heavily, which will drain your batteries more quickly. Using your laptop for drawing will also limit your ability to multitask. You can't do two things at once!
A tablet
You may already have a tablet that can be used with a stylus; for example, an iPad or an Android tablet like a Samsung Galaxy. These devices are suitable for use as long as the screen is big enough. We don’t recommend anything under 10 inches to draw on.
Having a separate device to draw on removes some of the disadvantages outlined above for a laptop. Tablets are also lighter and easier to use than laptops, giving you more flexibility. The downside is that you will have more to carry around, and more importantly, having an additional device will increase the overall cost.
Graphics tablet
The last option is a graphics tablet. However, making the right purchase can be tricky because some graphics tablets have full-colour display screens while others have hard plastic surfaces, where what you draw is displayed directly onto your computer screen. These two devices sound quite similar and produce the same results, but they are very different to use.
Although cheaper, we would not recommend you buy a graphics pad that does not have a colour screen.
We have tried to use these devices for many years and found them to be much more difficult to work with. Having the drawings appear on a screen, not where the pen moves, makes it very difficult to get lines to join where you want them to. These graphic pads require a huge amount of practice!
The benefits of a graphic tablet are that you get a second monitor for your laptop. You can effectively be doing two things at once. However, as with tablets in general, the downside of this choice is that it is more expensive and that you have more to carry if you want to bring it all into university.