The following is the recommended computer (desktop or laptop/notebook) for College of Business students:
Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.6 GHz (or higher) processor, 2 GB of RAM (or higher), 320 GB hard drive, DVD/CDRW combo drive, a 10/100 network port, and Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium operating system.
A wireless network is available in Barsema Hall. Wireless connectivity is now included with most new laptop/notebook computers. If a student wants to connect his/her laptop/notebook computer to the Barsema Hall wireless network but wireless connectivity is not included with his/her laptop/notebook PC, the student can purchase a $64.99 PCMCIA wireless card (g specification) at the Holmes Student Center bookstore. Instructions for setting up that card are available on the College of Business web site at
http://www.cob.niu.edu/cobtech/wirelesssetup.pdf.
Although other wireless cards are available and may work within Barsema Hall, the card the bookstore carries has been tested and is known to be compatible.
The College of Business has made available Prentice Hall's Train & Assess IT performance and objective based training and assessment software. Although the software comes on CD-ROM, it is also accessible through the Internet. The self-paced training software can be picked up at the Technology Resources Department front desk, BH 228. To get a free copy of the software, each student will need to show his/her NIU OneCard and provide their student Z-ID. The software is also available in each of the main Barsema Hall computer labs.