Minimum Supported Systems

Multi-year contract customers, click here.

Recommended Specifications:

As with any software, the faster the processor, the more RAM, and the larger hard drive space you provide, the better the performance. Users wanting to move their material to their hard drive may need additional space. It is also important that users understand the process and benefits of maintaining their machines in top operating condition by keeping them current with the latest operating system updates, correctly configuring virus control, and other beneficial h abits.

Software Specifics:

Hardware Specifics:

Minimum Requirements:

Software Specifics:

Hardware specifics:

Multi-year Contract Customers

Every November, we provide our multi-year contract customers with a minimum hardware specification for use with the incoming freshman in the upcoming fall. Our commitment is that any incoming freshman who meet the announced specification will not have to upgrade their hardware or do a major operating system upgrade for the 4 years they are in the program. The following chart shows the minimum specifications announced each year, and the academic years they are in effect.

Minimum Supported Systems
by academic year
2000 - 2001 2001 - 2002 2002 - 2003 2003 - 2004 2004 - 2005 2005 - 2006 2006 - 2007 2007 - 2008 2008 - 2009 2009 - 2010 2010 - 2011
Mac OS 9.1/400mhz G3
Windows 2000/400hmz P3
-128 MB of RAM
-DVD Drive
-1024x768 resolution monitor
-Ethernet port & online registration
-2GB of drive space available over the 4 years
* * * *
Mac OS 9.1/400mhz G3
Windows 2000/400hmz P3
-128 MB of RAM
-DVD Drive
-1024x768 resolution monitor
-Ethernet port & online registration
-2GB of drive space available over the 4 years
* * * *
Mac OS 10.1.3/600mhz G3
Windows 2000/800hmz P3
-256 MB of RAM
-DVD Drive
-1024x768 resolution monitor
-Ethernet port & online registration
-2GB of drive space available over the 4 years
* * * *
Mac OS 10.2.7 /800mhz G3
Windows XP/1.2ghz P3
-256 MB of RAM
-DVD Drive
-1024x768 resolution monitor
-Ethernet port & online registration
-2GB of drive space available over the 4 years
* * * *
Mac OS 10.3 with 800mHz G3
Windows XP with .NET Frameworks 1.1 and 1.2gHz processor speed
-256 MB of RAM
-DVD Drive
-1024x768 resolution monitor
-Ethernet port & online registration
-2GB of drive space available over the 4 years
* * * *
Mac OS 10.4 with 1gHz G4
Windows XP SP2 with .NET Frameworks 1.1 SP1 and 1.2gHz processor speed
-512 MB of RAM
-DVD Drive
-1024x768 resolution monitor/display
-Ethernet port, internet access, and online registration
-4GB of drive space available over the 4 years (1 GB per year)
* * * *
-Mac OS 10.4 or Windows XP SP2 with .NET Frameworks 2.0
- 1.2 gHz processor
-512 MB of RAM
-DVD Drive
-1024x768 resolution monitor/display
-Ethernet port, internet access, and online registration
-4GB of drive space available over the 4 years (1 GB per year)
* * * *
-Mac OS 10.5 or Windows Vista
- 2.0 GHz processor
-1 GB of RAM
-DVD Drive
-1024x768 resolution monitor/display
-Ethernet port, internet access, and online registration
-4GB of drive space available over the 4 years (1 GB per year)
* * * *


The listed specifications will be supported only in the academic years denoted with an *

In the 2004-2005 academic year, MacOS 9.1 users will continue to use VitalSourceTM KEY 3.2, and will not be able to run any future updates to the application until they update to MacOS 10.2 or higher.

In the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 academic years, MacOS 10.1 users will continue to use VitalSourceTM KEY 3.2, and will not be able to run any future updates to the application until they update to MacOS 10.2 or higher.



Take a Tour of Bookshelf

Click Here to take a virtual tour of Bookshelf. (Flash Required)

VitalSource™ Products

Quick Links

Sales Partners

VitalSource Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with VitalSource offers, releases and news.

Submit your email address:

Latest Software Update

Stay up-to-date with the latest version of VitalSource Bookshelf.

Download for Windows

Version 4.8.1
File Size: 8.3 MB (.exe)

Download for Mac OS X

Version 4.8.1
File Size: 8.9 MB (.zip)