Operating System

Your computer's operating system should have Microsoft Windows (XP or above works best) or Macintosh (OS 10 or above works best). If you are taking a Computer Science course that requires a specific operating system, such as Windows, you can't use a Mac. Check with the instructor of the course if you are unsure.

Processor speed

Any computer with a Pentium, Pentium clone, or PowerPC should work. Of course, the faster your processor speed (300 MHz or above), the better the performance.

Hard disk space

Make sure you have enough for all of your application programs, particularly your web browser. If you download a recent version of a web browser, you'll need anywhere from 50-150 MB to install and run the program. Your instructor might also have you download and install free media players, such as RealPlayer and QuickTime. Aim for at least 1 GB free space on your hard disk.

RAM

64 MB is probably the minimum, 128 MB is better, and 256 MB or higher is preferred.

Web browser

Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox work best with Blackboard. If you are using Windows XP, IE 6 is the preferred browser. If you are using Windows Vista, IE 7 or Firefox 2.0 is the preferred browser. Vista users should also consider using Safari for Vista:

Download Safari

If you are a Mac user, Firefox or Safari are recommended.

It is a good idea to have two browsers installed on your computer because if something doesn't work in one browser, it may work in the other.

Download Internet Explorer

Download Firefox

AOL Users:

1. Connect to the Internet using AOL version 4.0 or higher

2. Open a private chat within AOL (the allows AOL client to remain open, without asking if you wish to disconnect while minimized)

3. Minimize AOL

4. Launch a recommended browser, such as Firefox or Internet Explorer

Cookies

Blackboard requires that cookies be enabled in your browser. Cookies are small text files that are stored in your computer and contains information from web sites, such as your preferences when visiting those sites.  

To enable cookies in Internet Explorer:

• From the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
• Click the Privacy tab.
• Move the slider to Medium, and click OK.

To enable cookies in Firefox:

• From the Tools menu, click Options.
• Click Privacy.
• Click the Cookies tab.
• Check the box next to Allow sites to set Cookies.

Browser Updates

Also, make sure your browser updates properly by following the steps below.

Internet Explorer 6:

• From the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
• Click the General tab.
• Under Temporary Internet Files, click Settings.
• Under Check for newer versions of stored pages, select Every visit to the page, and click OK.

Internet Explorer 7:

• From the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
• Click the General tab.
• Under Browsing history, click Settings.
• Under Check for newer versions of stored pages, select Every time I visit to the webpage, and click OK.

If you are having problems viewing the latest version of Firefox, clear your cache.

• From the menu bar, select Tools.
• Select Options.
• Select the Privacy icon.
• Click the Cache tab.
• Click the Clear Cache Now button.
• Click OK.

Plugins

In order to view certain multimedia elements and documents on the Web, you need specific plugins. Your instructor will tell you exactly which plugins you need for your course. The most popular are QuickTime, RealPlayer, Flash, Shockwave, and Acrobat Reader, and they are all freely downloadable.

Get the QuickTime player (Test Movie - 6 seconds)

Get RealPlayer. Look for the free player, not a free trial version. The free player is hard to find, but it's there. (Test here)

Get Flash player (Test here)

Get Shockwave Player (Test here)

Get Acrobat Reader (Test PDF)

Internet Service Provider

It doesn't matter which ISP you use; just make sure it's reliable. If you use AOL, minimize it after launching, then open Internet Explorer to use Blackboard.

Modem speed

Blackboard works fine at 56k, but a cable modem or DSL is preferred in order to get the best experience with multimedia content.

Multimedia

High-speed CD-ROM drive (24x or better) or DVD-ROM drive with speakers. If you have a Mac, your speakers are built in.

Software

It's always best to have a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word, on your computer. This way, prior to submitting assignments, you can check work for spelling and grammar errors. If your instructor requires you to submit specifically formatted documents either through the Assignments tool in Blackboard or via email, it is suggested that you submit a Word document (.doc) or a Rich Text Format (.rtf) file. By doing so, you are ensuring that your instructor will be able to open your assignment on her computer.

For Mac Users: If you are using Blackboard with a Macintosh, be sure to add the extensions (.doc, .xls, .ppt) to the name of your files when sending an assignment to your instructor in the Digital Drop Box, attaching files to the Discussion Board, Assignments, and/ or Email Messages.

You may also be asked to download Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer.