Computer Recommendations

Computer Skill Requirements

Coursework may include material on the Web that you must be able to access. It is important to have a basic understanding of how to use the Internet. If you are not comfortable with using the Web, the Medical Center Library offers helpful classes. These classes are, "Introduction to the World Wide Web", and "Evaluating Web Sites." To register or find out more information about these classes visit the Medical Center Library Web site or call Stephanie Allen at (859)323-6567 or Mary Vaughn at (859)323-8285 or send e-mail to medref@pop.uky.edu.

Technical Resources

Some courses may use one or all of the following free plug-ins:

• RealPlayer provides live and on-demand real-time RealAudio and RealVideo streaming online content. 
• Adobe Reader allows you to view and print pdf files on all major computer platforms.
• Shockwave / Flash MX - interactive animations with streaming audio.

Student computer labs are available on campus. All have access to the Internet. To work from home, these are minimum technology requirements:

• Access to a computer (PC, Mac, or other) connected to the Internet
• CD-ROM drive
• A 28.8 Kbps modem or higher
• An e-mail account and address
• A browser that supports attachments such as Netscape Navigator (4.08 or higher) or
• Microsoft Internet Explorer (4.0 or higher)

Some courses may require more recent browser software and additional plug-ins. In these cases, your instructor will inform you of the preferred browser version and where to go to download that particular software. Optionally, you may also want to purchase a Zip drive. You can also purchase APA format software extension for your word processor.

If you want to exchange files electronically with faculty, you will need to keep in mind that faculty have Microsoft Office products, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Recommended Hardware Products

The University maintains minimum recommendations for purchases at www.uky.edu/IT/Standards/. For the medical center, hardware standard recommendations are posted in Adobe Reader (pdf) format at www.mc.uky.edu/mcis/about/MCIS%20Support%20Standards.pdf

Basic system requirements are identical for both sites.

Through a partnership with Dell the University can recommend pre-configured systems matching the above specifications through the eBuy web site located at www.uky.edu/ebuy/ which will meet or exceed our minimum recommendations.

If you need further assistance please feel free to visit the eBuy Purchasing site at www.uky.edu/ebuy/ or call the Information Technology Customer Service Center at (859) 257-1300. If you are thinking of purchasing a new computer, you may wish to check out the options on eBuy.

What are the benefits of broadband?

• It’s fast: 10 to 80 times faster than a conventional dial-up connection from your computer to the Internet, so you’ll receive the information you have requested quicker. Broadband connections allow you to connect at speeds between 512 kbps and 4 mbps compared to 56.6 kbps for standard modem connections.
• Always on: This means that you are permanently connected to the Internet and don't need to dial up a connection every time you want to surf the Web, send e-mail, etc.
• Flat rate: Often there are no additional charges for the time you are online. You can use it as much or as little as you like for a fixed fee, although some providers have a download limit.
• Dedicated connection: This means your telephone line will not be busy if you are using the Internet.
• Students can take advantage of faster access speeds, a greater range of downloadable material and less time gathering online research material.

Broadband disadvantages

While faster, broadband connections are often times twice as costly as a dial-up connection.
"Always on" connections offer greater speed, but they also pose increased risk to your system. Because your computer is always connected to the Internet, it is possible that someone will try to access your computer. This can largely be overcome through proper security, but still something that needs to be dealt with.

Do you need broadband?

If you spend a great deal of time at your computer, have the desire to download large programs, or often get frustrated with slow-loading pages, you may want to consider increasing your speed by 50-100 times with broadband.

When might you actually have a real need for it? If you want to watch live broadcasts, watch videos, or play Internet games. Trying to do these on any dial-up just doesn't cut it. It might be virtually impossible to do with a dial-up connection.

What's a PDA?

By definition, PDA stands for personal digital assistant. PDAs are pocket-sized electronic organizers (If you've ever used a Franklin Planner or any similar kind of paper bound organizer, you get the general idea). You'll also hear the names pocket PC, handheld organizer, or Palms. Pocket PCs are typically PDAs that use the Windows CE operating system. 'Palms' are PDAs that run on the Palm operating system. Other PDAs use their own proprietary OS, such as the RIM Blackberry. PDAs contain essentially anything one might need from a computer when on the move. They contain e-mail functionality, fax functionality, and the ability to access special PDA formatted Web channels, or to browse ordinary Web sites (more on these below on this page).

PDAs can also easily share information with Windows-based or Macintosh computers. PDAs are not self-contained — they are designed to synchronize with a desktop PC and keep information up-to-date on both sides. Thus, what you'll find is that people usually carry a PDA and a laptop. Check out Palm's site at www.palm.com, or Microsoft's site at www.pocketpc.com.

Why use a PDA?

• Organization: Combines address book, electronic calendar, notepad, documents, doodle pad, to-do list, diary, secret codes and passwords, alarm clock, timer and more in one small, sortable, searchable device.
• Is very easy to use and easy to back up to your PC, and very easy to share data with others via infrared port beaming or the Internet.
• Can use thousands of applications that allow you to do lots of other things like read and send e-mail, view Web pages, documents, spreadsheets, databases, charts and so on.
• Can store a lot of text data, such as entire books, and smaller portions of multimedia such as movies, audio and graphics.
• Games

The hot thing on the market today is the "smartphone," which combines the features of a PDA into a cell phone.

 

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