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Computer Requirements
- Computer technology
Computer (with CD-ROM drive) using any recent operating system and
browser. A few of the operating systems that work for WebAssign are
Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Macintosh OS 10.x
- Internet Connection
Cable, DSL, LAN, or Dial-up.
I use Firefox 9.0.1 as my browser and ComCast Cable provider with a MacBook Pro Laptop with a Zoom Cable Modem 3.0 and Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR3700.
The router has four 50 GHz inputs for ethernet cable which gives me the speed to download videos in less than 2 minutes. This equipment is standard and you can buy it at BestBuy.
- Web
Browsers
Firefox 9.0, Explorer 9, Netscape 7.x, and Safari 5.0.
- Frequently asked questions about WebAssign and browsers, Java, cookies, etc.
Click on http://webassign.net/user_support/student/student_faq.html
Some homework questions on WebAssign may have HTML that requires additional programs, like Java or Flash. Your
browser will indicate if it needs an additional program and will often
point you to the URL where you can download the needed files.
- Software
Microsoft Office (97-2004) or 2008 version - Primarily for reading Word and power point documents
Adobe Reader 9.0 - for reading pdf files - Download Free at Adobe Reader
Use Quicktime or Realplayer for viewing lecture videos in MP4 from course website COLLAB
Quicktime comes with Mac OS
For Windows or Mac Download Realplayer for Free at
RealPlayer
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Saving videos on your computer
You will find it valuable to have all the videos stored on your computer for subsuquent viewing.
For Windows system
Hover the mouse over the lecture video and a download option box will pop up or right click on mouse while hovering over the lecture video on COLLAB and then click on Save Link As...
Lecture video will be saved on your desktop. You may save all the videos on your computer.
For Mac OS X system
1) Download latest version it should be Real Player Version 12.0.0 (1725).
2) Install RealPlayer with the option install realplayer download agent.
3) Click on realplayer so that it is running on your computer in the background.
4) In COLLAB click on the video you want to save.
5) Click on play on the video.
6) RealPlayer will automatically open up with a window that gives you an option to download it and save it on your computer.
Usually it is saved on your desktop, but it could also get saved in your downloads folder. It comes up with a weird name so you
it is best to rename it so it is the same as in COLLAB.
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Hints on improving download speed.
Wireless is slower than direct ethernet cable. If you are on wireless, it will take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes
to download one 50 minute long video lecture file depending on the speed of your modem and router.
If your router and modem are relatively new, then they are probably sufficiently fast enough or otherwise
they will limit your speed. If you connect your computer to the modem directly with ethernet cable, then you
can download much faster - maybe in 2-4 minutes.
Direct cable is usually faster than wireless.
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