Resources - Computer and Software Recommendations

Computer and Software Recommendations for Distance Education
October 2009

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Hardware requirements for Windows Computers:

Preferred system requirements

• Pentium® 4 at 2.0 GHz or higher

• 1 GB RAM or more

• Broadband internet connection (256 Kbps DSL / Cable Modem) <-- must have!

• Full Duplex sound card and speakers

• 65,000 color video display card (display 1024x768)

• Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 & current patches  or Windows Vista

Minimum system requirements

• 450 MHz Intel Pentium III processor or greater

• 256 MB RAM

• Broadband internet connection (256 Kbps DSL / Cable Modem) <-- must have!

• Full Duplex sound card and speakers

• Color video display card (display 800x600)

• Windows XP

• Internet Explorer 6 or later

Hardware requirements for Macintosh Computers:

Preferred system requirements

• PowerPC G4 1.25 GHz or greater

• 512 MB RAM or more

• Broadband internet connection (256 Kbps DSL / Cable Modem) <-- must have!

• Full Duplex sound card and speakers

• 65,000-color video display card (display 1024x768)

• OS X 10.4

Minimum system requirements

• PowerPC G3 500MHz or greater

• 256 MB RAM

• Broadband internet connection (256 Kbps DSL / Cable Modem) <-- must have!

• Full Duplex sound card and speakers

• Color video display card (display 800x600)

• OS X or higher

Possible Peripheral Requirements
Check with instructor for specific course requirements.

• Headset with microphone (for live webinars where students participate verbally)

• Web cam (for live webinars where students share their screen / give presentations)

• DVD-ROM/CDRW drive (textbook or instructor may provide DVD/CD in some courses)

Commonly Used Software:
Use newest version;  check with instructor for additional course requirements.

• JAVA, http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp (meet WebCT compatibility requirement below)

• Abode Acrobat Reader, http://www.adobe.com/downloads

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Image editing software (Photoshop, Illustrator - may be course specific)

• iTunesU, http://itunesu.iastate.edu (connect to ISU
  

• One or more of the following free players/add-ins:

  • Adobe Flash Player, http://www.adobe.com/downloads

  • RealPlayer, http://www.real.com/freeplayer/?rppr=edu

  • Quicktime, http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download

  • Windows Media Player, http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia

Computer Compatibility Checkers
(very important to work through these!):

For WebCT (a.k.a. BlackBoard Vista version 8)

• CRITICAL: do the browser check available at https://webct.its.iastate.edu/

• need supported web browser

  • PC: Internet Explorer 6 & 7 (not 8) , or Firefox 2.0 & 3.0
  • Mac: Firefox 2.0, or Safari 3 & 3.1

• pop-up blockers must be turned off

• cookies must be enabled

• must have compatible version of JAVA

• indicate that WebCT is a "trusted site" (instructions for Internet Explorer users)

• allow file downloads (instructions for Internet Explorer users)

• make sure web browser is checking for newest version of web page each time page is requested (instructions for Internet Explorer users)

For Adobe Connect

• System connection test

• Connect Pro downloads for content authors