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Frequently Asked Questions

Apple @ Howard University

• See Apple @ Howard University Page

• See Mac FAQs for Parents
• See Mac FAQs for Students and Faculty

For Parents

• Why should my son or daughter buy a Mac for college?
• Everything is easier on a Mac. The operating system is bullet proof. The software is more intuitive. The hardware is more reliable. In addition to integrating seamlessly with PCs, the Mac lets you run integrated productivity applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel (Microsoft Office is sold separately). With higher productivity, and a more enjoyable computing experience, your son or daughter will have a competitive edge in college with a Mac. And did you know that your student is eligible for special student discounts on all Apple computers? Not only is a Mac affordable, but it comes loaded with award-winning digital media software that would cost hundreds of dollars on a PC.
• Will my son or daughter fit in on campus with a Mac?
• Absolutely. Networking, productivity software, and Internet software all work as well or better on a Mac. This school sanctions and supports the Mac.
• If you learn on a Mac, won't you have trouble in the ‘real‘ world?
• The Macintosh operating system, called Mac OS X, is a lot like Windows, with a few key distinctions. First, Mac OS X is based on industry standards. That means your son or daughter will learn skills that can be used on any operating system - not just the Mac. Second, the Mac provides the freedom to innovate. Instead of worrying about whether your son or daughter will "fit in," choose the platform that will allow for the greatest professional and personal expression, flexibility, and growth. Choose the platform that will encourage your student to "stand out" and excel in their college life.
• Apple‘s processors seem slower than other PC processors for the same price. Why should I pay the same amount for a slower computer?
• Apple now uses Intel Core 2 Duo processors in all of their computers. These are the same processors that you will find in high-end PCs. Many PCs come with Celeron and Pentium processors, which are no match for the power of a dual-core processor. And, with OS X SnowLeopard, Macs can utilize the dual-core processor even better.
• Is my son or daughter eligible for a discount from Apple?
• Yes. We sell all of our Apple computers at Education Discount prices. This discount varies by model, so please come by the shop or call so we can give you our latest pricing information.
• I‘ve heard Macs are more expensive than PCs. Why is that?
• Don‘t be mislead by sticker price. When comparing prices, make sure the PC you‘re pricing has the same features. You should take a look at the list of software and hardware included on a Mac before drawing any conclusions. iLife, Apple‘s award-winning suite of digital media applications, is preloaded on every Mac. For similar applications on a PC, you'd have to spend hundreds of dollars. Macs are also designed and built using high-quality parts and materials. While this may seem trivial, it adds to your computer‘s longevity, which means less money spent on repairs and a longer life for your computer.
• What‘s better for college - desktop or laptop?
• Mobility, particularly in this age of wireless Internet connectivity, is central to campus computing lifestyles. And while a desktop system will certainly do the trick, most students find that the freedom and flexibility of a laptop serves them better through their years at college.

Student, Faculty & Staff

Functionality

• How to perform a mouse scroll in the MAC OS environment with no mouse?
• Move 2 fingers on trackpad.
• Where is the backspace key?
• There isn‘t a backspace key on the MACs. The delete key will delete to the left. To delete to the right, hold down fn key and click delete.
• In the Mac environment, how do I shut down an application that has stopped responding?
• Click on the apple icon to the left of the menu bar and select Force Quit. Then select the application to stop.
• How do I shutdown/restart in the Mac environment?
• Click the apple icon located to the left of the menu bar and select either shutdown/restart.
• How do I quickly view a document in the MAC OS environment?
• 1. Highlight document in the Finder
  2. Press the spacebar to quickly view the document
  3. Press the spacebar again to exit the view
• Where are the Windows close/minimize/restore icons located on the Mac computer?
• The icons are located at the top-left of application window.
• How do I eject a CD with the keyboard using a Mac computer?
• Hold down Option key and click the eject button . The eject button is the top-right key located below the power button on the MacBook. On the iMacs, the eject button is located above the delete key.
• How do I manually resize a window in the Mac OS environment?
• The resizing handle is located in lower-right corner of the window. May need to move the window to display the resizing handle.
• How do I right-click with no mouse?
• In the Mac environment, hold down Control key and click.
• How do I do a right mouse-click on a Mac?
• Hold down both the Control-key and click your Apple mouse. Another option is to purchase a standard 2-button USB mouse (they work on Macs and Windows).

Support

• Do I need to upgrade to Lion?
• No. Generally, computers run the operating system (OS) that they were shipped throughout the life cycle of the computer unless there is a compelling academic, research or business reason to upgrade to a newer OS.
• How do I purchase Apple computers for the university?
• Faculty and Staff are able to purchase Apple products through the Apple authorized reseller Howard University Bookstore.
• What about upgrading to Lion on personal Mac computers?
• If you are considering an upgrade on a personally owned Mac, you will want to do research and check with hardware and software venders to verify that there are no compatibility issues between Lion and the hardware and software running on your Mac. Lion can be purchased through the apple website or through the Apple app store. To purchase Lion go to the link below: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD256Z/A?n=osx&fnode=MTY1NDAzOA&mco=MjQ1MzY1NTA& s=topSellers

Applications

• How do I know which applications are still running?
• In the dock (located at the bottom of the screen), application icons will have a light at the bottom which means the program is still running. Not able to connect to the wireless network in the Mac OS environment. Click the AirPort icon (3rd icon to the left of the date) in the upper-right corner and make sure AirPort is turned on.

General Information

• I‘ve accidently clicked log off while in the MAC OS X environment and now I am prompted to logon. How do I continue?
• Select the Guest account and the computer will automatically logon.
• How to switch between MAC OS X (Leopard) & Windows XP on the dual boot computers?
• Upon startup/restart, a menu will appear which will allow you to select an operating system. You have 20 seconds to select an operating system, otherwise the default will load. Use the arrow & enter keys to select an operating system. All MAC computers will default to Windows XP except for the Thode multimedia stations (Mac Pros) which will default to MAC OS X.
• What does the vertical broken line on the dock indicate?
• Any icons to the left of the line are programs while anything to the right are documents.
• When I start up OpenOffice on the Mac OS environment, Writer automatically opens. How do I start up any other product in the suite such as Calc?
• Select File menu, New & pick application. Alternatively, clicking on the document from the Finder window, etc., will automatically start the applicable program.
• If an application freezes up while I am using it, how can I get out of it?
• From the Apple menu, choose "Force Quit." Select the frozen application and click Force Quit. Try holding down the Command key (apple key) and press period. If that fails, press the Command+Option+Escape keys. A dialog box should appear allowing you to click on Force Quit. If nothing happens, you will need to restart the computer.
• What anti-virus software is available at Howard University?
• The standard antivirus software used on university Macs is ClamXav, free to faculty, staff, and students for their personal Macs as well. Antivirus software is recommended; Macs that are not running anti-virus software are vulnerable to attack AND can pass viruses to other computers, when sharing e-mail, files, etc. For download see link: http://www.clamxav.com/
• How can I get Microsoft Office for Macs?
• The current version of Microsoft office is 2011. Microsoft Office is licensed and available for free at the iLab for all faculty and staff and can only be installed on Howard University equipment.
• What is Lion?
• Mac OS 10.7 Lion was released in July 2011 and is the current Apple operating system that ships with Apple computers. Howard University developed a standard Lion configuration to install on universityowned Mac computers, see details below.

  For more information about specific new Lion features see: http://www.apple.com/macosx/ Lion Requirements: Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor 2GB of memory (4GB recommended) OS X v10.6.6 Snow Leopard or later (v10.6.8 recommended) 7GB of available hard drive space.

• What is the standard university Lion configuration?
• Howard University develops standard configurations for Mac and Windows operating systems. These configurations are developed and tested to work with the university network, products, and services. The standard Lion configuration is recommended for all new university-owned Macs and includes common campus applications including: Microsoft Office and ClamXav antivirus.

Computer Labs

See Computer Labs Page

• What specialized software is available on iLAB computers?
• Mathemetica, SPSS, SAS, Adobe Design Suite CS4, Final Draft Pro, Autodesk
• Can I reserve a computer mini-lab?
• Yes, students and faculty can contact the iLAB Front Desk during normal business hours to make reservations.
• What are the mini-labs used for?
• Students: Group study
  Faculty: Class instruction and/or testing
• I am a currently-enrolled HU student/faculty/staff member, but I forgot to bring my ID. Can I still enter a computer lab?
• No, all lab entrants must present a valid Howard ID card.
• My friend/family member is visiting from out of town. Can he/she accompany me into the computer lab?
• No, only currently-enrolled Howard students, faculty and staff can enter the computer labs.
• Can I reset my password at the iLAB?
• Yes, if you are a student you can visit the iLAB front desk during normal business hours (8am-5pm) and bring a valid Howard ID. Faculty and staff who want to reset their password must contact the Service Desk.
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• I am a Howard student. Can I pick up software?
• No. Software is only distributed to faculty and staff. The only software available for students is Microsoft Forefront.
• Is a print limit?
• Yes, the daily print limit in each lab is 30 pages.
• Can I eat food and/or drink a beverage in the iLAB or other ETS labs?
• No, food and drinks are strictly prohibited in order to maintain clean equipment for all lab patrons. However, users may eat or drink in the lounge area adjacent to the iLAB.
• Can I speak on my cell phone in the computer labs?
• No, speaking on cell phones is prohibited to avoid disturbing others.

Email

See Email Page

• What is my email address based on?
• Your email address is generated based on the Howard username that you were assigned. If you are a student, the format is ”USERNAME@bison.howard.edu”, and if you are a faculty or staff member, the format is ”USERNAME@howard.edu”.
• How do I find out what my username and password is?
• Contact the Service Desk.
• How do I check my webmail?
• Student Email
  Faculty Email
• Can I get assistance in setting up an email client, such as Microsoft Outlook?
• Yes, contact the Service Desk.

General Information

• How do I update my name, email and/or phone number in Howard‘@‘s A-Z Directory?
• Update your information in PeopleSoft‘@‘s Self Service module. (See example). Please be aware that information changes (as displayed in the directory) are updated once a month, so the changes you make will not be reflected in the directory right away.
• How do I update my department listing in Howard's A-Z Directory?
• Contact HRIS (Human Resources Information Services)

IT Security

Phishing Alert

• What is Phishing?
• Phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. This is usually combined with a threat or request for information: for example, that an account will close, a balance is due, or information is missing from an account.
• How do I avoid being hooked by a Phishing scam?
• Do NOT click links in emails. Type the address directly into web browser.
• I received an email from a non-University website that ask for my HU user name and password what should I do?
• Your HU username and password should only be used at howard.edu sites.
• How do I know when it a legitimate HU website?
• Look at the address between the // and the first / - it should end with howard.edu

  Fake: http://www.sample.ru/js/mail.howard.edu

  Real: https://mobile.howard.edu/owa/auth/logon.aspx

• The email contains a link from ETS to website requesting me to enter my HU username and password
• When HU upgrades its computers or email systems we will NEVER send a link inside an email which will go to a website requesting that you login or enter your username and password. If a login is necessary we will just tell you what site you need to go to (i.e. webmail.howard.edu) with no link to click on.

  ETS, including the Service Desk (formally the Help Desk) and information security services, will NEVER ask you for your password via email, the phone or in person. Never reply to an email requesting your username and password.

• What should I do if I receive an email that looks suspicious?
• If you receive any email that looks suspicious, or from anyone unknown to you, before forwarding to any other recipient please call the Help Desk at 806-2020.


• Please remember: be suspicious of any unsolicited emails asking for information and do not click on links within emails.

Printer Services

• Where can I find support documents?
• See "Support Services/Materials" section on Printer Services Page
• Where can I find video tutorials and training materials for my printer?
• See "Video Tutorials, Specs, Training Manuals" section on Printer Services Page

Software Distribution

See Software Distribution Page

• Who is eligible to receive software?
• Howard faculty, staff, and students. However, the only software offered to students is Symantec Endpoint Anti-Virus and Mathematica.
• What software is available?
• There are three types of software available: Microsoft Office, statistics software and Windows Operating Systems.
• Is distributed software for personal use? Can I install it on a personal machine?
• No. All of our distributed software is strictly for use Howard University academic and business usage, as required by our site licenses. All software recipients must sign a user agreement that outlines this policy. See requirements on software page for more details.

Support Services

See Support - Help Desk Page

• How do I request IT support?
• Call or visit the Help Desk.
• What services are available?
• See the Service Catalogue.
• What is a "service ticket"?
• For each request a ticket is generated that allows you to track progress; you will receive an email notification with the service ticket number.