OACS News

Computer Lab Hours Change in Fall Semester

Beginning the week of September 2, the OACS computer labs will close as 7:00 pm on Fridays.  The schedule for the rest of the week remains unchanged.

New Schedule

Monday - Thursday: 8am - 10 pm
Friday:  8am - 7 pm
Saturday - Sunday: 9am - 5pm 

Pay-for-Print Changes in Computer Labs

Beginning on or around September 2, the BSOS computer labs in Somerset and Lefrak will only accept Terrapin Express funds as a form of payment for printing. To print using your Terrapin Express account, just enter your Directory ID and Directory Password when prompted to do so by the lab PC. If you want to transfer a remaining balance in your BSOS pay-for-print account to your Terrapin Express account, please go to the OACS main office (Room 0221 in Lefrak) beginning September 2 and request a pay-for-print balance transfer. You must bring your student ID with you, or else OACS will be unable to process your balance transfer request. Transfer requests will be accepted until December 20.

OACS Offers Enhanced Lab Services

Through the generosity of the Joint Program in Survey Methodology and a contribution by the campus Student Technology Fee committee, OACS now offers improved instructional technology functionality in each of its 4 computer lab classrooms. Improvements are as follows:

• SmartBoard in every room
• Video conferencing functionality in every room
• Ability to host class sizes up to 80 students
  (Instructor is located in a "master" classroom and transmits instructional content and an image of him/herself to the other lab classrooms via video conferencing technology)
• 2 LCD projectors in every room (one to show instructional content and one to show the instructor in the master classroom to students in "remote" classrooms)
• Ability to show a DVD, VHS tape, or streaming multi-media content from the Internet to one or all four classrooms

OACS will formally offer the enhanced lab services beginning this Fall. However, OACS welcomes instructors to visit over the summer to get a hands-on demonstration of the system. Please contact Dan Navarro to schedule a day and time.

OACS' stance on Windows Vista

Many of you are deciding whether to purchase new hardware pre-loaded with the Windows Vista operating system. OACS strongly recommends that you purchase hardware with the Windows XP operating system if you have that option. Windows Vista is still early in its life cycle and there are many compatibility issues with drivers and software packages. If you have a critical business need that requires Vista, OACS will support you as best as it can given the environmental constraints.

OACS urges you to work with your departmental business manager to utilize purchasing programs established by the University. For personal purchases, you may use the ACT program sponsored by OIT (http://act.umd.edu). Institutional purchases may be made via the Master Contracts page http://www.purchase.umd.edu/general/morder.htm (click the "MC07004_Dell" link).

When configuring your machine, please be sure that there is an operating system option for Windows XP Professional. If you do not see an option for XP, OACS recommends that you select another model that does have XP as an option. Otherwise, you run the risk of experiencing serious compatibility issues.

Regardless of what computer you select, be sure to get at least 2 GB of RAM.

NOTE: Please do NOT purchase a machine with Vista pre-loaded in the hope that OACS will remove Vista and install XP for you. Many Vista machines have hardware that will only work with Vista, rendering a Windows XP install useless. "Vista Ready" machines with XP pre-loaded are fine.

Please contact OACS if you need further guidance on hardware purchases.