Useful thing schedule posted

The schedule is at
http://csc125.blogspot.com/p/useful-thing-sked.html

If you haven't signed up, you need to let me know in class what slot you'd like. First come, first served!

Also, if you have a site you'd like to "reserve", email my Mercer account with the site and I'll add it to the reserved list.

Have a weekend!

good open source software (as in FREE)

This article has a list plus a short description - and links! - to some software that you may find useful. Windows only in the article.

"Open source is not ideal for every situation, but you will be surprised how many times you will find an open source solution superior to its proprietary cousins."

The article (windows) @ Techrepublic


Good source for Mac open soruce software: Open Source Mac

A Bit o' computer history.......

The Computer History museum opened an exhibit - the TechRepublic article is here - that shows some early computing machines.

CSC125 To-Do list

1. Pick up a myItlab Office 2007 code
2. Run the "Home Diagnostic" test and make any changes it tells you to make
3. Install the myITlab files. (http://www.myitalb.com for both of these steps) 
4. "Enroll" (there's a button that says this) in our class: Class Code CRSABAL-221684. Make sure the class is being taught by me and Dr. Andy Pounds.[Dr. Pounds is the Mercer myITlab admin]. 
5. Take some time to explore the "Start Here" folder in myITlab.Download the syllabus and the gradebook, take the practice Word 1 test, take a look at the gradebook and messaging systems inside myITlab.
6. Find out how long a US size 13 foot is (male) in inches. Keep track of where you found that info, and how you found it. We'll talk about this in class Tuesday.

BUT I DON'T HAVE OFFICE - WHAT DO I DO?

You actually have several options - you DO NOT have to go out and buy the software (but if you choose to do so, see below). You can use your laptop (Windows, Internet Explorer) to do most of the myITlab stuff (i.e. online testing) plus the Misc. Projects, and then use the ARC and CSB building computers to do the Capstones (i.e. download the instructions and create the files).

If you REALLY want to have a copy of Office 2007 for Windows - you are basically out of luck. HOWEVER! -----   you can pick up a copy of Office 2010 for Windows CHEAP through Mercer - click here. There are SOME difference between 2007 and 2010, but not tons. I didn't see any real problems from the students using 2010 version to complete 2007 projects - I was told that a few buttons were in slightly different places.

If your laptop already had Office installed when you bought it, you probably have a "lighter" [i.e. fewer parts to it] version. Make sure you have Microsoft Access. If you don't, you can use the lab machines for the Access projects.

ADVICE FOR MAC PEOPLE

Don't try to use Office for Mac to do these projects. You could get them done, but they will take longer because you will be trained on the Windows version, and then will have to translate those instructions into Mac in your head, and then actually do the project,,,,,,more brain trouble and confusion than the class is worth! The CONCEPTS transfer to the Mac side - that is, the Mac version will do everything you'll see (and then some, except Mac Office does not come with a database) - but the buttons are processes are different just because it is running on a different operating system.

START SPRING 2011

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START SPRING 2011

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