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Journalism Department
Computer Advice and
Computer Lab Information

What kind? The make or software isn't critical but suggested minimum will be a PC with a Pentium-233 CPU chip or better; a 2-gigabyte hard drive; a 3.5 inch floppy drive; and a 33.6K baud modem; or a Macintosh with a PowerPC-233 CPU chip or better; a 2-gigabyte hard drive, a 3.5 inch floppy drive; and a 33.6K baud modem. Many instructors in this and other departments will expect students to have e-mail addresses. Students enrolled at SF State are eligible for a free e-mail account and free space for a personal WWW home page.

Minumum software? Any word processing program, any spreadsheet program and any telecommunications program. Many popular and useful programs are available as shareware or freeware and are accessible through services such as SHAREWARE.COM and JUMBO.

It is sometimes handy to get a package of "bundled" programs (e.g. Claris Works or Microsoft Works) or a "suite" of programs that include word processing, spreadsheet and telecom applications. While the computer department at the campus bookstore often has good prices on software, you can usually find hardware and software cheaper at local computer swap meets or by reading local free publications such as "Computer Currents" or "MicroTimes." Alternately, you could check the Sunday classifieds section of the Chronicle and Examiner or you could browse the local computer classifieds sponsored by Yahoo!. If you decide to purchase a used computer, be sure you're not paying more than the average street price.

The journalism department's computer network (more than 100 computers) combines Macintosh, DOS and Windows, and students can access Unix programs by Telnet. Our labs are connected to the Internet and are open to journalism students only nearly 80 hours a week -- specific hours vary by time of year but are posted outside the labs.

Any time the labs are open, either the full-time lab manager or a part-time student lab monitor will be available to help you with software, hardware, printing or Internet problems. Only students who have paid the required journalism department lab fee and are currently enrolled in one or more journalism classes may use the journalism labs. Anyone else will be instructed to leave. Access to the network is controlled with accounts and passwords.