What are the minimum/recommended system requirements to use Backdrop?

Backdrop is a web application and is used exclusively through your web browser, so the concept of minimum requirements is a little different compared to typical boxed software that you have to install and maintain yourself.

Really, all you need to use Backdrop is the Firefox web browser, version 2.0 or later. If you don't have Firefox installed, you can get a copy for free by going to:
http://www.getfirefox.com/

The other important detail is that you need a fast, stable internet connection. How fast? Go here to test your connection:
http://www.speedtest.net/

Select a site in or near Austin, TX, which is where our main servers are located. (We selected a central location for now, but in the future we hope to open up more centers so that you can select the one closest to you.) If your download speed is 3 Mbit or more, your upload speed is 1.5 Mbit and your ping is 200ms or less, congratulations! You will be able to run Backdrop quite comfortably.

Still want the minimum system requirements? Well, okay. I'll give it a try.

Minimum requirements:
CPU: 1 GHz+
RAM: 1 GB+
Disk: 8 GB+
OS: Mac OS X 10.3+, Windows XP/Vista (other operating systems and versions may be compatible, but are currently unsupported)

Some other things we would recommend:
- If you operate outside of the U.S., some features may not make sense or may not work properly. Backdrop is currently designed solely for the U.S. market.
- Microsoft Excel (or some other spreadsheet/database program that can read and write CSV files) is highly recommended.
- While there are many ways of importing images, FTP is by far the easiest and most popular method. You will do well to select and familiarize yourself with an FTP client that can handle queuing and resuming interrupted transfers.