None of the equipment is necessary to succeed in the department. A wealth of information about the manufacturer of the equipment you are interested in can be found on a search of the World Wide Web. It is highly recommended that you review a copy of Computer Shopper , especially the section on do's and don't's for purchasing computers by mail. These include Office, Frontpage, and Visual Studio. Both Windows and Mac applications are available.
Some computer companies offer discounts to students purchasing equipment.
It is worth contacting the company and inquire if they offer such a discount.