University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry



Student Laptop ProgramAll incoming students in the Doctor of Dental Surgery program will require a laptop computer. The Faculty of Dentistry is focused on the use of instructional technology to enhance the student learning experience. Your laptop computer will help you make the most of these advanced learning tools.This guide will provide you with all of the information you need to ensure that your laptop is safe, up-to-date and appropriate for use on the Dentistry network. Take a moment to read all of the frequently asked questions and please feel free to contact the Faculty of Dentistry Information and Instructional Technology Services Help Desk at help@dentistry.utoronto.ca or (416) 864-8123 with any further questions about the Dentistry Student Laptop Program. Failure to comply with the following recommendations may impact the Faculty's ability to provide you with timely and effective technical support.Do I have to own a laptop computer to enter the DDS program?Yes, all students entering the DDS program must own a laptop computer that is able to connect to the University of Toronto’s wireless network as an entrance requirement.What type of laptop do I need to bring?The recommended device is a current PC-based laptop running Windows 7 or greater. Some of the Faculty's systems, specifically the Clinic Management System, only run on Windows, so the safest and most efficient way to go is with a Windows-based laptop.Can I use my Apple laptop?Some of the systems and applications you will use at the Faculty are only available for Windows. As such, the Faculty highly recommends the use of a Windows-based laptop. Furthermore, we do not test or support any platform other than Microsoft Windows. It is possible to use desktop virtualization software to run Windows on top of MacOS, however this is not a recommended practice. Those students who opt to bring a non-Windows device will receive limited technical support.What about my iPad, Android tablet or Ultrabook?Although there has been an extraordinary increase of mobile devices on the market in recent years, the Faculty recommends the use of a full-size laptop computer from a reputable manufacturer. We cannot guarantee that you will have a satisfactory experience with a smart phone, tablet, MacBook, Ultrabook or other mobile device.What are the recommended laptop specifications?The following chart outlines the recommended laptop specifications:ComponentRecommendedNotesProcessor (CPU)Intel Core i5, i7 or AMD equivalentThe processor in most current laptops should be sufficient. A faster processor will help to extend the useful life of your laptop.Memory (RAM)12 GB (8 GB minimum)More RAM will improve the performance of RAM-hungry apps or while running multiple simultaneous applications.Hard Drive500 GBMost current laptops ship with more than enough local storage to meet your needs. You will definitely want to purchase some sort of hardware or cloud-based backup solution to ensure that your files are safe and secure. The Faculty also provides a limited amount of network-based storage.Optical DriveDVD ReaderWhile this is not a strict requirement, some courses/instructors may choose to distribute information on DVD/CD.Video12-17" display (min 1280x720)The display size you choose depends on a balance between several factors. A smaller display might get you a lighter laptop with longer battery life. A larger display helps reduce eye fatigue and will help when viewing high resolution video and digital radiographs, for example.AudioIntegrated speakers or headphone jackSome online course materials and other resources have integrated audio. Besides, you'll want to spin some tunes in the background during those long study sessions. :)Wireless Networking802.11b/g/n with support for WPA2-EnterpriseWith so many different wireless networking and security protocols on the market, this can be the most confusing requirement to understand. Due to the highly secure nature of the data on the University of Toronto’s network, the industry standard WPA2-Enterprise wireless network security protocol is used, which you will want to ensure is supported by your laptop.BatteriesTwo 5 hours+ long-life batteriesYour laptop must last for 3 hours minimum, without charging.Some laptop models offer a selection of battery options. We highly recommend going with the longest available battery life to ensure uninterrupted service. It will be mandatory for you to purchase two long-life batteries for your laptop. Some of your courses will be hold online electronic assessments using the Examsoft platform. It will be the students’ responsibility to have sufficient battery power to complete the assessments. While there are a number of conveniently located outlets in the Faculty, don't risk getting stuck with a dead laptop and no nearby power. Go for the extended battery option, purchase a second backup battery and come to school with both of your batteries fully charged every day.Additional Useful InformationHow do I connect my laptop to the University’s wireless network?As a student of the University of Toronto you will be issued a University of Toronto UTORid username and password, which is used to access several of the University’s resources. These are also the credentials that you will use to login to University of Toronto wireless network at the Faculty of Dentistry. General information regarding U of T’s wireless network as well as links to information on how to connect to it can be found by accessing this link: .Most operating systems will automatically prompt you to enter your credentials, which can be locally stored and only need to be updated when you change your password.It is important to note, that a separate set of credentials issued to you by the Faculty of Dentistry for Faculty specific resources cannot be used to access the wireless network. What software do I need on my laptop?You will need Windows 7 or greater that is fully patched and up-to-date, with current versions of Internet Explorer and Remote Desktop Connection, which are built in to Windows 7. You will also need the Adobe Flash Player, QuickTime Player and Acrobat Reader. It is also essential to have an effective client security application, such as Microsoft Security Essentials and/or another reputable malware prevention software with the latest malware definitions to protect against viruses, spyware and other security threats. More antivirus resource information can be found on the University’s Antivirus Software site.What other things should I consider before purchasing a new laptop?Give some consideration to the size of the laptop and choose a balance between weight and usability. With the incredible selection of mobile devices entering the market in recent years, there are an overwhelming number of available options. Remember that you will likely spend a lot of time carrying this thing around, so choose something light but also make sure that it has a comfortable keyboard and large enough screen to avoid fatigue during those long study sessions. Purchase as much quality as your budget will afford. You may need to get up to four years from this laptop, so the cheapest one on the market might not be the best choice. Laptops have a habit of failing at the most inconvenient time, so go with a reputable vendor and avoid the low-end cheapest make and model on the market.When is a good time to purchase a laptop?We suggest that you order your computer approximately six to eight weeks before the start of your program (including any pre-courses) to get the best price and latest technology. But this will vary with the vendor and product you chose. Some vendors do not carry stock and have to order the equipment through their suppliers, so the time-to-delivery may vary greatly. Other companies only sell equipment "made to order". Dell laptops are examples of a "made to order" product. If you order your laptop through Dell, the laptop is not manufactured until the order has been placed. The time from order to delivery is about 10 working days. Whatever vendor you choose, make sure you ask about the availability of the product before you purchase. You should also be aware that sometimes newly announced models are not available for extended periods of time. It is also, advisable to choose and extended warranty to ensure you are covered against major hardware failures.How can I protect the information on my laptop?It cannot be stressed enough the importance of backing up the data on your personal laptop to protect against a hardware failure. It is advisable to have an external hard drive with enough capacity to back up your data or your entire system in the event your internal hard drive dies. Your laptop or the external drive you purchase for backups may come equipped with software for performing automated incremental backups of important data. This is the easiest way to back up your data without having to remember to do it manually. Please ensure you have password protection set up on your laptop. This is the first best step against information theft in the unfortunate event you lose your laptop or leave it unattended. Many new PCs that ship with Windows 10 will automatically have “Device Encryption” enabled. This feature was first introduced in Windows 8.1, and there are specific hardware requirements for this. Not every PC will have this feature, but some will. If your laptop has device encryption ensure this is turned on if you wish to protect your personal or confidential data in the unfortunate event your device is lost or stolen.USB Memory sticks are useful for transporting documents between your laptop and another computer; however, we do not advise keeping a sole copy of any document on your USB memory stick. A primary copy should always be kept on your laptop or in your Dentistry profile accessible through a Faculty computer or Remote Desktop Services. You should never work off of a USB memory stick and they should be considered only for the transportation of digital documents.If you do intend to purchase a USB memory stick for transporting digital documents you must ensure it is an encrypted-password-enabled USB memory stick which can be readily purchased from most major retail outlets that specialize in computers, computer accessories or portable digital storage devices. This will protect the information from unauthorized access in the event you lose your USB memory stick or leave it unattended.Finally, view the video “Securtiy Primer – Protecting Your Data” which can be found on the Information and Instructional Technology Services (IITS) Website FAQs here: . For additional help, visit our help desk in room 346, email us at help@dentistry.utoronto.ca or call us at 416-864-8123. ................
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