General Information
News

News

2007 Laptop Requirements
2007 Laptop Requirements have been released. To view the required models click on this link. These models will be available through the UConn Co-op Bookstore.

2008 PDA Recommendations
2008 PDA Recommendations have been released. To view the recommended models click on this link. These models will be available through the UConn Co-op Bookstore.

Windows Security Updates
New Windows Security Updates will be released June 12th, 2007. These updates include high priority updates that fix Windows security holes. It is recommended that these updates be downloaded and installed. Be sure to create a system restore point before installing the updates in case anything happens during the update. The windows update page can be found at: http://update.microsoft.com/

CEC Printing Issues
Hi everyone - We are hearing from many of you that you are frustrated by the printing situation in the Library's Computer Education Center and want you to know we are taking the following steps to address these issues:

• One printer will be moved closer to the CEC entrance.
• We are investigating newer printers that may be faster.
• Depending on what we find, we may replace the current printers or at least add one new one.
• The UCHC ordering system for supplies changed in Dec 06 resulting in a longer lead time for printer supplies. We are now ordering backups of everything so we don't have to wait.
• Some files posted to Blackboard are very large and take up so much printer memory that it jams the whole printer. We will begin monitoring files in advance when possible to ensure they print correctly.
• For the Shafer Study Rooms, we are ordering "white noise" machines for each of the study rooms and the hallways so that the printer noise won't be so disruptive.
• We have discussed the possibility of printing syllabi with the Curriculum Operating Committee, but members are committed to a process that reduces the need for printing, so that is not likely to happen.
• To reduce the need for printing, we will offer FAQs and instruction on taking notes directly within the presentations and files posted on Blackboard using your laptop. BackPack is a great tool for that purpose.
• We will post a questionnaire on Blackboard asking how many people are printing wirelessly. That will help us further assess technical issues.

We will continue to look for additional ways of relieving the congestion and frustration, and appreciate your patience as we do so! Please feel free to send comments directly to me, to the CEC, or to Blackboard. Evelyn Morgen, MSLS, AHIP Library Director UConn Health Center emorgen@uchc.edu V(860) 679-3323 F(860) 679-1230

Windows Vista Upgrade?
The UConn Health Center's IT department like many organizations is carefully testing Windows Vista to ensure that the upgrade process is a smooth transition. The official stance is that IT is not yet supporting Windows Vista while all of the bugs are worked out with the new Operating System. Microsoft will also continue to support Windows XP through 2014. Here is the UConn Health Center IT department's official broadcast on Windows Vista:

"Microsoft officially released the business version of its new operating system, Vista in November 2006. Today, January 30 2007, Microsoft is making Vista available to all consumers. While this new operating system contains improvements over the current operating system (Windows XP), there is a relatively high level of complexity to upgrade to this new release. With potential issues such as inappropriately sized hardware, application incompatibilities (both with the operating system itself and Internet Explorer 7), and no real need to upgrade immediately (support for the XP Operating System will be in place until 2014), the UCHC IT Department will not be migrating the institution to Vista for the foreseeable future. Industry experts have indicated that the majority of organizations will not be migrating to Vista for at least 1-2 years and we are no exception. As a result, new PCs will not be installed/configured with Vista, nor will PCs installed with Vista be considered a supported platform by IT."

The Computer Education Center staff will continue to support Windows XP and strongly urge that all students (current and incoming) continue to use Windows XP on laptops used in school here at the Health Center, as many of the educational applications are only officially supported under XP. That being said, the Computer Education Center will work towards testing educational applications to look for any compatibility issues and will not turn students with Vista machines away. We will support you the best that we can. Finally if you are thinking of upgrading on a home computer or would like to find out if your laptop will be upgradable to Vista when the Health Center official supports Vista you may be interested to know that Microsoft has released a Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. This Upgrade Advisor will scan your PC to find out if it meets the hardware requirements to upgrade to Vista as well as give you a comparison of the versions of Vista. If you are planning on upgrading, CEC staff highly recommends that you scan your computer before going out and purchasing a copy of Vista to ensure that it will function properly on your PC. The installer can be found here: Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor 1.0.