Hi! I’m (student’s name) and in this lesson we’ll talk more about some of the computer software standards here at UB, and where to find the resources you need here on campus or online.

As you learned in the first lesson, your choice of computer is not limited to a particular brand or platform. What you do need to be sure of is that whichever computer you choose, it must be able to install and run all the standard software programs that have been identified by UB’s faculty. These standards have been established to not only ensure that you are able to communicate and complete your course work, they also make sure that UB maintains a safe computing environment for all students and one that can be well supported by our academic support staff. While it might not sound like such a big deal, having everyone using the same standard software is especially important as the threat of new computer viruses continues to grow. These standards help to make sure that UB continues to provide worry and trouble-free computing for all of us.

Now wait, before you start thinking that there’s no way you can possibly collect, buy or install all this software on your own, UB makes it really easy for you to get what you need.

Let’s start with the iconnect@UB UB TechTools program. This program has been designed to provide you with tools to help you get connected when you arrive on campus. TechTools CDs are made available during new student orientations and also at UBMicro, our on-campus computer store. This software is provided at no additional cost to all students and contains a number of required software programs for Windows, Macintosh and Linux based systems. This software includes the latest in firewall and antivirus software, a variety of supported web browsers, and supported versions of media players and communication applications. It’s might be a good idea to get a head start if you’re setting up your computer from home, so you can also find this software available for download on the iconnect@ub website (www.buffalo.edu/iconnect).

In addition to TechTools, students have access to a wide variety of popular academic software products through the iconnect@ub program and supported through their student comprehensive fee.

The most popular software available through iconnect@ub are the Microsoft Office products that most students use. This includes Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint for both Windows and Macintosh platforms, and other Windows programs such as Publisher, Visual Studio and FrontPage web development software. Upgrades to the Windows XP operating system are also available. For Linux platform users, iconnect@ub offers OpenOffice, which is software that is equivalent and compatible to the Microsoft Office products, as well as software development tools and many other utilities. OpenOffice is bundled with our UBLinux version of the Linux operating system.

This software is available to students at UBMicro. Each student is entitled to one copy of Microsoft Office per calendar year. You won’t be charged for a copy of the Microsoft Office product, but there is a small charge for some of the other software to help cover the CD duplication costs, less than $5 per CD. Believe me, it’s a small price to pay when you consider that without the iconnect@ub program, this software would cost you hundreds of dollars if you tried to purchase each program on your own.

Okay, so now you know all about the set of standard software that you need when you get to campus. But what about all the other programs you want to run on your computer? As a general rule, if you have a question about the safety or compatibility of programs not offered directly though the TechTools or iconnect@ub programs, it’s probably a good idea to check with someone at UBMicro or the CIT Help Desk before you install anything.

Thanks for watching!