Step into the Future with Your Laptop Computer
at San Jose State!

Important advances in computing have changed higher education and the arts significantly. The ability to use computer hardware and software is now an indispensable part of a college education. Many courses convey course materials with computers, and students prepare and submit required course work using them. After graduation, almost all art and design careers require both computer skills and the ability to learn about new systems as they become available.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose State University recognizes the importance of preparing students to take leadership positions in a highly advanced technological society. San Jose State University’s Wireless Laptop Pilot Project is committed to creating a dynamic and collaborative educational environment that enhances teaching and learning, creativity, scholarship, and global connectivity through a wireless laptop initiative. Wireless technology provides an opportunity for SJSU students to develop 21st century skills as part of an innovative and highly creative learning community with flexibility and ubiquitous computing that traditional computer labs cannot offer.

As a student entering SJSU in Fall 2002, you will help the School of Art and Design set the pace for the future with the launch of the SJSU Computer Requirement. Beginning with Fall Semester 2002, students entering BS and BFA programs in the School of Art and Design are required to have a computer that can run the appropriate software for classes and access the World Wide Web. By fall, 2004, this requirement will be extended to all students in the School’s BA, BS, and BFA programs. We will be requiring all students to have laptop computers. Specifically:

Fall 2002
Students in the BFA and BS programs, or those at the 100 level seeking admission to the BFA/BS programs in Graphic, Industrial, and Interior Design, Animation/Illustration, Photography, and Digital Media Art are required to own a computer and the appropriate software for their classes. All students in these programs should have a computer equivalent to a Mac G4, 800 mhz processor, with 40 GIG HD, 512 SDRAM, and a CD/DVD read/write drive. The computer can be a Mac or PC.

Fall 2003
Students in the BFA programs, or those at the 100 level seeking admission to the BFA/BS programs in Graphic, Industrial, and Interior Design, Animation/Illustration, Photography, and Digital Media Art are required this fall to own a LAPTOP computer and the appropriate software for their classes. All students in these programs should have a computer equivalent to a Mac G4 Titanium, 800 mhz processor, 40 GIG HD, 512 SDRAM, a CD/DVD read/write drive, and an Airport card. The computer can be a Mac or PC.

Spring 2004
Students in the BFA programs, or those seeking admission to the BFA/BS programs in Graphic, Industrial, and Interior Design, Animation/ Illustration, Photography, and Digital Media Art are required this spring to own a computer, preferably a LAPTOP computer, and the appropriate software for their classes. All students in these programs or seeking admission to them should have a computer equivalent to a Mac G4 Titanium, 800 mhz processor, 40 GIG HD, 512 SDRAM, a CD/DVD read/write drive, and an Airport card. The computer can be a Mac or PC.

Fall 2004
All students in the School of Art and Design are required as of this date to own a LAPTOP computer and the appropriate software for their classes. Students planning to enter the BFA/BS programs in animation/illustration, digital media art, any of the design fields, or photography should have a laptop computer equivalent to a Mac G4 Titanium, 800 mhz processor, 40 GIG HD, 512 SDRAM, a CD/DVD read/write drive, and an Airport card. All other students (Art Education, Art History, Pictorial and Spatial Art will be required to have a laptop computer as well. A less powerful computer may be adequate for students not directly involved in high end digital processing. , but the laptop should have a 40 GIG HD, 512 SDRAM, a CD/DVD read/write drive, and an Airport card. The computer can be a Mac or PC.

Have questions? This section contains important information about the new requirement and how to best prepare for the new requirements.

Q: Why must each student have access to a laptop computer?

A: The computer will be an essential tool used regularly within the classroom. It will be as important for participation in the classroom activities as other more traditional instructional materials. A laptop computer costs more than a similarly equipped desktop. However, the laptop provides extraordinary mobility that should be worth the extra money for many students. SJSU provides classrooms and libraries that are equipped with wireless access points that will give a laptop instant access to the World Wide Web and other SJSU information resources such as library databases. Further, if a student plans to go home for many weekends, or travel for extended periods, having laptop would be a great advantage. In addition, the laptop will become a personal electronic portfolio useful for interviewing for positions when exiting the university.

Q: What do you mean by "have access to a computer"? Must I buy a new one?

A: You may meet the requirement with any laptop computer, new or old, that can connect directly to the Internet and utilize the software applications used in the curriculum. Your program advisor will be able to explain the specific system requirements for the art and design program in which you are enrolled. Please review the suggested configurations listed above for Fall 2002, 2003, and 2004 programs.

Q: If I’m eligible for financial aid, can I use those funds to pay for a computer?

A: The purchase of the computer must be a requirement of the participating
department of the College in order for students who receive federal and/or state financial aid funds to include the purchase amount in the Cost of Attendance, or student budget. Students must present proof of this requirement to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office by submitting a budget adjustment form, signed by a department representative. A reasonable allowance, as determined by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, will be used to adjust the budget. The Financial Aid Office Web Site can be located at http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/finaid/. They can be reached at 408-283-7500.

Q: Are there any loan programs available to use to purchase the computer?

A: Apple Computer is offering interest loans as low as 9.99% for qualifying students. Students may defer principal payments for up to 24 months. There are no pre-payment penalties for the Apple Instant Loan (managed by MBNA). Please visit Apple’s education web site at http://www.apple.com/financing/leases/education for additional details and to apply for the loan. Spartan Bookstore will facilitate student orders using the approval code generated through the enrollment/approval process. Loans may also be obtained through credit unions or banks.

Q: Does my computer have to be a particular brand or use a particular operating system?

A: Check the hardware and software requirements for School of Art and Design programs as explained above. You should talk with faculty in your major to see if there are particular advantages of one operating system or level of hardware for your program. Any computer and any operating system are acceptable subject to the minimal requirements explained in the opening paragraphs.

Q: How can any one computer -- even a brand new one -- meet the needs of every SJSU course I will take?

A: No computer is likely to meet all the needs of a sophisticated user -- and that's what SJSU students should be. The need for specialized systems in certain courses is one reason why SJSU will continue to operate many of its microcomputer labs. Your personal computer should support the bulk of your use (such as creating studio projects, transferring files, writing papers, using the Web, e-mail, etc.), but you can expect to use SJSU systems for special purposes, or to learn alternative systems.

Q: What equipment do I need to connect to the wireless network?

A: The laptop computer must have a wireless access card that utilizes 802.11b protocol, the most commonly available wireless access protocol. By the end of Fall 2002, San Jose State will publish a list of specifications that will significantly increase the options for purchasing wireless access cards. Generally wireless access cards have a purchase price between $80 and $150. If you have a Macintosh computer, the wireless card sold by Apple will be compatible with the network. If you have a Windows computer, until specific brands have been tested with the wireless access points, the best suggestion is to purchase a Cisco wireless access card as Cisco is the manufacturer of the 802.11b Wireless Access Points that will be utilized in our wireless network.

The wireless network on the main SJSU campus is compatible with many wireless cards. A list can be found on the BlueSocket website (http://www.bluesocket.com/solutions/arch.html):

AirMagnet
Airpath Wireless
Avaya (Orinoco)
Certicom
Cisco
Dell
D-Link
Enterasys
Free-Swan
Funk Software
GRIC
IBM
Intel
Interlink
iPass
Linksys
Microsoft
Proxim
RSA
Safenet
Spetralink
VASCO
Q: What else does SJSU suggest?

A: First, your computer should run the Macintosh operating system, (version 9.2 or higher, preferably OS X+) or the Windows 2000 (or higher) operating system. This will assure that the computer can operate successfully on SJSU's network. Second, the computer should have an Ethernet card. Please review the minimum specifications for already-owned and newly purchased computers from the School of Art and Design ( listed above) or call your program’s advisor.

Q: What devices that can access the Internet would you not recommend?

A: Cell phones, Palm Pilots, etc. that can access the Internet will not prove to be satisfactory. They lack the software, large display, and convenient keyboard that make a computer useful for word processing, viewing videos, and playing sounds that a personal computer can provide. SJSU's experience is that most computer use in courses involves sending and receiving e-mail, viewing web sites (including animation and sound), writing papers, and completing projects with other software, sometimes including Excel, PowerPoint, and graphics editing packages.

Q: Will SJSU have a purchasing program to help me acquire the computer I will need at the university?

A: While you are free to buy or lease a computer from any source you choose, the Spartan Bookstore offers a wide range of computers from major manufacturers, including Apple, Compaq, Gateway, IBM, and Toshiba. San Jose State has negotiated very attractive pricing on laptops from Apple Computer. The prices currently being offered for Apple laptops are available by calling or visiting the Spartan Bookstore, from the department in which you are enrolled, and from the Wireless Network Project office, 924-3605. Prices are subject to change each quarter, Negotiations are currently underway with Windows compatible manufacturers as well.

Q: Will SJSU have a program to help me acquire the computer skills I will need at the university?

A: The Spartan Bookstore will provide “out of the box, on your lap, and onto the Internet” training with every computer sale. The School of Art and Design regularly offers course in the use of PhotoShop and other software needed in design, animation, photography and digital media fields, This group of courses will be expanding over the next several years as the laptops are integrated in all curricula. The Adobe Education web site has excellent tutorial materials available as well.

Q: Is there a specific Internet Service Provider required to participate in the wireless project?

A: No specific Internet Service Provider will be required. Students will not need an Internet Service Provider while they are on campus. Students will be able to access the Internet through the Wireless Network and through traditional wired access points. Services provided by SJSU include an e-mail account and access to the email account from a web browser. To apply for a SJSU email account, visit http://www.sjsu.edu/unixaccounts.

Q: Will I need a special account to access the Wireless Network?

A: Yes, if you have an email address from SJSU that follows the following pattern, _____@email.sjsu.edu, _____@athens.sjsu.edu, ______@jmc.sjsu.edu, then you already have a SJSU UNIX account that will allow you to authenticate to the wireless network. If you do not have an email address that follows the pattern shown above, visit http://www.sjsu.edu/unixaccounts to apply for a SJSU email account.

Q: What about software?

A: For Art and Design students, two very useful software bundles are MS Office and the Adobe Design Collection. These two bundles will cover your needs in most classes. Before you purchase software though, you should check with the instructors in your classes. Each program area may have specific needs beyond these bundles, particularly at the junior and senior level.

Other pieces of software to consider are a virus protection program (sometimes bundled with hardware), and a web browser. Both Netscape Communicator and Internet Explorer, the two most popular web browsers, are available for free, and Netscape includes a web page editor for free.

Spartan Bookstore provides software to members of the SJSU community at substantial educational discounts. Microsoft Office Suite is available at the Bookstore through a special negotiation with the Chancellor’ s office for an incredible discount. Visit the Spartan Bookstore on campus for the details.

SJSU's existing microcomputer laboratories, with computers in the student union and some of the dormitory complexes, and in academic buildings across campus, will continue to be maintained. These labs will provide student access to special, and possibly very expensive, software programs that may be required in some courses.

It is important to keep in mind that all of SJSU's microcomputer laboratories currently support Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Most academic units and faculty on campus use Microsoft Office to create working papers, spreadsheets, and lecture displays.

Many computer sellers try to bundle software with the hardware they are selling. Check with your program before purchasing additional software.