| Operating System |
Windows 7, 2000, XP, or Vista,
Recent Mac OS |
| Processor |
350 MHz, but the faster the
better |
| Memory |
64 MB of RAM, but the more the
better |
| Hard Drive Space |
1GB free disk space |
| Browser |
For your Notes on the Web,
about any descent browser will due. However, for various web
sites linked from your Notes on the Web, and for all functions
of Blackboard, Internet Explorer (latest version preferred)
is probably your safest bet, although I personally use the most recent versions of Firefox.
|
| Browser
Settings |
By default, web browsers
store visited web pages on a computer's hard drive (cache).
These pages are erased either after a number of days or after
the maximum file size is reached. These options can also be
set by the user.
Since the content of this BIO
1114/BIO1114L course can change on a daily basis (such as
when I am updating or adding information to your notes), it
is important that you make the following modifications to
your cache settings. If you do not, your computer may
use previously cached old versions of the page.
| If
you are using Firefox
-click on TOOLS
-click on CLEAR PRIVATE DATA
-click on the make sure CACHE is checked in the list.
-click on CLEAR PRIVATE DATA NOW
-now when you refresh or revisit any web page, the lastest
version should display.
NOTE: Don't check "Saved Passwords"
or all of your saved passwords will have to be re-entered
when you. |
If
you are using Internet Explorer (version 5 or higher)
-click on TOOLS
-click on INTERNET OPTIONS
-click on DELETE FILES (in the middle of that screen)
-click on OK
Now click on SETTINGS (it is to the right of the "delete
files)
-have the dot beside "Every visit to the page" |
|
Plug-ins
& Downloads
- Not all of these may be
used, but here they are in case you need them.
|
- Acrobat
Reader -View and print millions of documents on the
Web with the free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader. You WILL
need to have Acrobat Reader on your computer.
- Apple Quick Time -Quick Time lets you add more than 200 digital media
capabilities and components to your Mac or PC.
- Chemscape
Chime - Note that you must register first with MDL before
being permitted to download the Chime software. This
plugin allows the viewing of certain 3-D graphics at required
web sites you will use during the semester.
- Excel Viewer - allows you to view the Microsoft's EXCEL files on this
system if you do not own EXCEL - Do NOT install if you have
EXCEL on your computer.Use the search feature on the web
site and select Excel for the program and "viewer"
for the key word. It will then give you choices to
download.
- Mozilla
Firefox - I like using this brower for most everything;
however, there are times when only Internet Explorer or
Netscape will do (e.g. with Chemscape Chime).
- Internet Explorer
- standard browser, but oh so subject to viral hijacking!
- Microsoft Media Player - Windows Media Player supports Windows Media
(WMA,ASF), MP3, WAV, MIDI, AVI, and other formats.
- Netscape
- standard browser that will allow viewing of all web animations
with appropriate plugins
- PowerPoint Viewer - allows you to view the Microsoft's PowerPoint files
on this system if you do not own PowerPoint - Do NOT install
if you have PowerPoint on your computer. Use the search
feature on the web site and select PowerPoint for the program
and "viewer" for the key word. It will then
give you choices to download.
- Real
Networks RealPlayer -Play online audio and video content.
Note that you should want to download the free version,
NOT the "free trial" version. One is truly
free while the other cost money if you wish to keep using
it beyond the free period.
- Shockwave, Flash & Authorware - Macromedia's Shockwave, Flash and Authorware
Player plug-ins let you experience automation and entertainment
in your Web browser. The new Shockwave 7 provides auto-updating
of the player.
- Word Viewer - allows you to view the Microsoft's WORD files on this
system if you do not own WORD - Do NOT install if you have
WORD on your computer.Use the search feature on the web
site and select Word for the program and "viewer"
for the key word. It will then give you choices to
download.
- Other plugins and add
ons to your browser may be required by certain web sites.
If so, they will nearly always offer you a link to download
those items. If you have trouble, please contact Mr. Bill
Adams (see contact information earlier). Be sure to have
the specific name of the plugin you need before calling
Bill.
|
| ONLINE ACCESS!!!! |
128 kbps or higher speed, but
higher speeds definitely make the experience faster and better. |
| Thumb Drive |
Recommended 500k or higher... ALWAYS BACKUP |
| Printer |
graphics-capable (inkjet or
laser) printer |
| CD-ROM |
not needed for this course |
| Sound Card |
required for a few items, but
most all computers have sound capabilities these days |
| Monitor |
Recommend minimums of 15"
monitor and 800 x 600 resolution. Higher resolutions make the experience visually richer. |
|