SHSU Information Resources Update

Get Ready, Get Set

The Computer Services department will fund the purchase of the new operating system, Leopard, for university-owned Macintoshes. We will be placing the order, testing the OS with the campus network, and then communicating with each department to schedule installation times. We appreciate your patience as we determine the idiosyncrasies of a new operating system.

Although Microsoft® Office 2008 for Macintoshes has not yet been released, you can do your part to prepare. Make sure your Macintosh has:

An Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (500 MHz or faster) processor

512 MB of RAM or more

1.5 GB of available hard disk space

HFS+ hard disk format (also known as Mac OS Extended or HFS Plus)

DVD drive or connection to a local area network

1024 x 768 or higher resolution-monitor

If your machine does not meet those specifications and you are tenure/tenure track faculty, the UCS department will ensure your machine is brought up to speed. For everyone else, you'll need to purchase the needed upgrade to meet these requirements. You may use the SamWeb WO system to place your purchase/quote requests.

Faculty Upgrades

Our Inventory/Purchasing team is currently evaluating which machines need upgrading. If our records indicate you are due a new machine by January 2008, you will be contacted via a personal visit to ensure your current equipment matches the official inventory records. Next, you will receive an e-mail asking if you prefer a PC or Macintosh and whether your department will be funding any enhancements for the new workstation.

If you are experiencing problems with your current machine and are not contacted by November 15th that you are on the upgrade list, please contact the Helpdesk by e-mail so that we can evaluate your workstation. We plan to coordinate two major purchases this year for faculty upgrades. This will ensure Dell (or their HUBs) can quote the lowest possible prices with the quantity discounts.

Preaching to the Choir

If you're reading the Update, you want to keep up with the technological changes that impact you and your department. (Thanks for that, BTW!) We have added an extra communication venue, the Computer Services Helpdesk blog. It's in its infancy and for now, is based on Google's system.

We will be posting tips on software/hardware and updates on problems. In time, we will be authenticating with our SHSU system, but that's still on the drawing board for now.

If you would like to subscribe so that you get updates as they occur, here's how. Or if you want to just look when you want, you can find the links from the Faculty/Staff page under the Technology section.

Training Time

You've been using Office 2007 for a couple of months. Is it time to start taking advantage of the special features? We have a couple of classes just for Tips and Tricks in Office 2007. If you need to get organized, take our seminar on OneNote+ Outlook.

If you're a Blackboard faculty member, find out more about Respondus, a way to easily create exams, or learn about the Assignment Manager.

Check the Calendar for classes. You can sign up now to reserve your seat.

Diet Time

We will begin paring down software that is on the network as we prepare for the Vista operating system next year. As the first step, this is the official notification that as of 1/1/08, the only browsers provided will be Internet Explorer and Firefox.

If you are still using Netscape as your e-mail system, please notify the Helpdesk for assistance in changing to the Exchange server e-mail.

We do plan to continue working with departments and faculty to ensure that software that is needed throughout campus is available, and unneeded or duplicative software is removed. We are striving for a leaner, more efficient network.

Protecting Your System
People frequently are surprised when they have a computer problem because "they don't do anything risky." At times, the Internet is actually a scary place. Browsing itself can lead to trouble. Here are a couple of tips from the US-CERT (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team)

Manage cookies - You can disable, restrict, or allow cookies. Generally, it is best to disable cookies and then enable them only if you visit a site you trust that requires them (see Browsing Safely: Understanding Active Content and Cookies for more information).

Block pop-up windows - Although setting the Block to on will restrict the functionality of certain web sites, it will also minimize the number of pop-up ads you receive, some of which may be malicious (see Recognizing and Avoiding Spyware for more information). SamWeb is one site that you can trust!

Blackboard

Knock on wood: Have you noticed us not crashing daily? We are continuing to work toward ensuring that you can't remember the last time Blackboard was down. To that end, we are planning on adding another server to help "carry the load" during Fall Finals, a traditionally heavy usage time for Blackboard.

We will continue to keep you informed with the Blackboard blog.

Staffing

We are delighted to welcome RaDonna Russ to the UCS-Administrative Applications department. RaDonna is a graduate of Tarleton State with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems.

More good news: The UCS-Systems department just received approval to add four new positions. Additionally new positions are in the planning stages for the UCS-Admin Apps and UCS-Client Support departments. So hang on---help is on the way.

There have been lots of title and organizational changes within Computer Services. If you want to know details, just check out the organization chart. A special note of thanks goes out to the staff members in Human Resources for all their hours of support in accomplishing this.

What's Good, What's Not, and What's Happening When?

The Helpdesk provides support for university equipment and software on the local area network. Each month's update will include the versions of software and minimum requirements for hardware with the new or changed information highlighted and bolded.

Memory Sticks: Purchase (and encourage your students to buy) flash drives that are USB Mass Storage Compliant.

Operating Systems: The supported version of Macintosh machines will be OS X, version 5 after the Leopard conversion. The supported version of Microsoft's operating system is Windows XP. We are still evaluating the timeline for the move from XP to Windows Vista. It will definitely not occur prior to Summer 2008, and may be delayed till Christmas 2008.

Software Packages: The supported versions of office suites are Microsoft's Office 2007 and WordPerfect 12 for PC's. The supported version of an office suite for Macintoshes is Microsoft Office 2004. Microsoft has not yet released a new version of Office for the Macintoshes.

Hardware Configurations: The minimum requirements for SHSU local area network support for a PC are a 1Ghz processor, 512MB RAM, and a 40GB disk. With next summer's Vista roll-out, the minimum configuration will be a 2GHz processor, 1GB memory, and 80GB hard drive. The minimum requirements for a Macintosh on the LAN are a 733 Mhz processor, 512MB RAM, and a 40GB disk.

Computer Services may schedule significant periods of downtime for major system upgrades and maintenance. For your planning purposes, the weekend following each graduation will be set aside for scheduled outages. Additionally, certain systems may be unavailable on Friday nights after 6 p.m.

All offers, training, and software above pertain to faculty and staff at SHSU only. If you have any questions, compliments, comments, or concerns, please let us know. Thanks to Lollie Dot Com for Get Ready Get Set photo.