General
General Computing FAQ
Select the topic below which best fits your needs, or browse through the collection of questions and answers.
- Where can I learn about general computing topics?
- What kind of support is available?
- What computer equipment/supplies do I need?
- Should I buy a system or upgrade my present equipment?
- What kind of computer equipment should I buy?
- Is there special pricing available to students for computer equipment?
- Is it possible to move between Macintosh and Windows environments?
Where can I learn about general computing topics?
- Workshops
UW-Eau Claire offers free learning, instruction, and training workshops to students, faculty, and staff. Check the training website for current offerings. - Desktop Consulting
Consultants lend assistance with specific computing questions while striving to help users become self-reliant. - McIntyre Library
The library offers several resources on computing skills, including software manuals at the reserve desk available for checkout.
What kind of support is available?
Learning and Technology Services (LTS) provides support to users of University equipment and supported software. Consulting services are available for walk-ins at the LTS Helpdesk located in the Old Library 1144, over the phone at 836-5711, and via email, offering problem resolution within 24 hours when possible. The University provides workshops for students and faculty at introductory and advanced levels as demand dictates, and LTS publishes online documentation for most University supported software.
What computer equipment/supplies do I need?
UW-Eau Claire does not require students to own computers. The University offers several general access computer labs as well as laptop checkout, with which you can do word and data processing, create presentations, email, or simply access the Internet.
It is suggested that you purchase at least 1 rewritable CD and, if possible, a flash memory drive for storage of documents. Each student is also encouraged to utilize the storage capabilities of their H:drive. The student H:drives are accessible from any campus computer and offer 100 MB of storage. Since paper is not provided by the University, you should purchase your own 20-pound bond paper.
Should I buy a system or upgrade my present equipment?
The answer depends on what you own and what you will need to run the software you want to run. See the PC Purchasing Guidelines for recommended PC or Macintosh equipment, or call the LTS Helpdesk at 836-5711 for more information.
What kind of computer equipment should I buy?
The PC Purchasing Guidelines from Learning and Technology Services provide recommendations for purchase of equipment that will meet the estimated software demand of the next three to five years.
Is there special pricing available to students for computer equipment?
Yes! Information on student hardware discounts is available from the LTS Helpdesk at 836-5711. Currently, student software discounts are available through the Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog.
Is it possible to move between Macintosh and Windows environments?
Yes. See the Macintosh FAQ pages for more explanation.
