Bring Your Own Device

​​​​​​​​​​​​2025 - BYOD Minimum Specifications Advice

Coolum State High School recommends that all laptops used by students meet the minimum requirements below to ensure suitability for curriculum-based activities. The minimum specifications provided reflect the needs for connecting to business or corporate-grade Wi-Fi protocols. 

​Important Note: In order to connect your student’s device to our network and install necessary software, they must have administrator access on the device. This means that all restrictions or parental controls must be removed prior to the network connection workshop (typically with in the first two weeks of term 1). Once your student has completed this workshop restrictions and all parental controls can be reinstated. 

Devices Accepted at School

·      Laptops running Windows 11 Home or Pro with the latest updates.

•  Apple Laptops running Mac OS 13+ (Ventura or newer).
  

Unsupported Devices at School

·    Android devices are not compatible with our system.

• Windows S Mode is not compatible with our system.
• Google Chromebooks - Various manufacturers produce products known as Chromebooks (eg Linux). This is a Google enclosed ecosystem that does not support our Microsoft operating environment. These devices should not be purchased for school use as they are reliant on cloud services to operate which are blocked by Education Queensland filters.
• iPad minis are not supported.
• iPads and Android Tablet devices should not be purchased as a primary BYO device, devices like the iPad and Android device are not suitable educational devices. They provide inferior functionality for typing large documents, running school-based software packages such as Adobe Photoshop, AutoDesk Inventor, Visual Studio etc.​
  

• Windows Copilot (Snapdragon CPU)
  The newly released Windows Copilot computers with Snap Dragon CPUs are not compatible with EQ systems. These devices will not be able to be used at school as they will not connect to the school wifi due to the inability to install the necessary security certificates and software.
  

W​hen Purchasing​ your Device

• Parents can and should purchase from their preferred computer supplier. All warranty and service issues will be the parents' responsibility. Coolum State High School is not involved in these arrangements, as these are personal devices.
• We strongly recommend that protection plans are purchased with all devices. Accidents do happen so having a warranty and accidental damage protection plan to cover the device for the duratio​n of its life is advisable.
• We encourage families to consider future proofing your investment by considering the subjects chosen and the device requirements for these. For example, graphics programs or video editing software imposes higher demands on devices.

Coolum State High School cannot tell you what to buy or who to buy your new device from, however we can offer general advice to parents.