Survive life on campus by becomin
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Imagine the following scenario: It's 2 a.m. and
your term paper is due in six short hours. Of
course, you've been to the library, but you still
have more research to do. Logging onto the
Internet, you access an online library, and find reams of
information on your topic. You read through it and with
your handy word-processing program, you type
with lightning speed. You frequently save
your work on a Zip disk, all while digi
tally recording your favorite songs on
an MP3 player.
After taking a break to play with
your digital dog, Fido, you get
back to work and finish just in
time to e-mail your paper to
your professor.
Sound far-fetched? Not really.
Technology has revolutionized
college life. But to make the
most of the tools at your dispos
al, you've got to learn to use
them to your advantage. Here's
the Cliffs Notes version to
becoming a TechnoWhiz.
—Shows Harper
Choose
the right
computer
T. mat step in ya ms
journey is purdamili a
*aflutter If you'm s
melon% In a technical field like engi
neering a computer science, denote am
your college mandates what type of corn
ptft. you weld pet. For Immo* else.
k's &onion time. To help name me
choices, here are I few *Wigs so mak*
II Operating platform: The heat sad
soul cis computer is its operettas system
(OS), software that commis a computer's
functions and directs the powwow
orf its; pnipams For most students,
the choice of operating systems comes
down to %crown s Wondows XP or
Apple Computer's Macintosh OS 10.1 ,
Both systems have their strengths end
weaknoracs for miomuttoon on both,
check out 213 Net's OS review section at
http liwwwsdnot.comlproduetantori
9uletagl 72.7,1500110,00.Mmi
• Desktop or laptop. Once you pick
an OS, you have to decide on caber o
laptop or a desktop computer. Desktops
can be easily upgraded and offer mono
computing pastier for your buck But they
can take up a lot of precious desk awe
and can be difftccik to tronapart Laptops.
on the other hand are small and mobile
you can take them 10 class, study ses
sions or wherever you need to work .
However, their size also makes them easy
prey for thseves kw mar on the desk •
lop/laptop debste visit the College
Confidential Web site at (h 404 www
coliegoconfidenttal comicollogpk,
laisMotabooli_ deaktop.htm)
tiz Fiartainasea and f ret• Goadttin
Easy credit can bring hard
Stoning college is scary enough. But new fig.
uses from a national poll just might tenify you,.
Almost 10 gement of college students have
at least one min card. And about 10 pervas have
at least $7,000 in debt, These statistics., !mm an
American Institute of Certifiai Financial Planners
poll. show that forming solid financial habits early is
essential,
You know the basics. but undemanding the rules
and following them are two different things. Again,
technology can help. fkre's how
Having froubk balancing your checkbook?
Several computer programs can help you track your
expenses, including "Quicken 2002 Monte and
Business" (Slat) or "Microsoft Money 2002" (36.5).
These programs can monitor your spending habits,
remind you of upcoming hills and alert you if you
conic close to overspending your but. These pro-
Technology tips
Let's fact 4 --- as much a.s you'll use
whinnies) , tor coursewors. you'll
use it even more for entenain.
ment. With video slimes, DVDs. MP3s,
digital photos and all the other techno
&dads at the market, today's students
have got it made. Add the fact that
many college dorm moms come
equipped with high-speed Internet
access, and you may *under how any
one sets any work dune at ali. Hem are
a few hints on how to fill up tho.e study
breaks:
■ MPS*: The advent of MP3s has
allowed people to exchange music like
never berui . fik-sharing
services this give you access to hun.
dnadail kith tunot Kam
(hdpitwww.kuaszorn) and Audio Galaxy
(http://smow.suclko. Com), Lki.h services are free
and offer a wide selection of music genres for your lif•-•
testing plower..
And once you've downloaded some songs, you've got
to have a way to listen them. In addition to burning your
tracks on CDs, you can transfer them to a ponahle MP3
player. The player range in price from $95 to $501) with
grams might seem prim. but they could save you a
bundle in the king run.
11l With a click of a mouse button, you also can
monitor your aedit awd and bank account balances.
Logging on regularly can help you curb your spend
ing.
II Know your limits. If it's hani for you to be
responstbk. consider using tutother tam of plastic.
Check cards look like credit cards but the money is
automatically deducted hum your checking amount.
The tick w the3C is keeping track of what you use
the card far. Another option is prepaid cants, like
those from Visa ffittp:liwww.visabtauc.com) or
MauerCud (http: ilwww.mastarcard.comtegi
stactaserchreaults.crprdctida3). Mom of
Dad puts cash on the clad, and you spend it until k's
seme or mere money is added.
114,WitnArtON
Nw Alaildllls .ICIIII
to pass the time
Since Its debut In 2000 L
"The Sims" has become
the best-selling corroutef
game of se time.
will allow your Sim to interact with Sims
created by other users. caimans the playing field firm
your vomputer to the enum Internet. You will even be
abk to instant message the pkyors you imounadr,
adding ever mire depth to an already engaging game.
Be careful, Video runes can wily go from a simple
diversion to a full.blown asessioa. Make sung you set
limits on playing time.
Gayk issa
memory ranging from 64 MB (about 12
songs) to 74 OS (about 4,000 sons).
• Video yarrow Amster way to blow
off steam Is by playing video garnm. One
popular some is "Snood" (tottpitwww.
snood care, $14.95 registration fee). A
cross between "Space Invaders" and
"Connect Four." Snood can beanie quite
addictive,
Of course, no PC is complete without
the top-selling' video game ti all time, "The
Sims" (http. $39.95).
This fall, be Sims" will hit the Web with
the highly enicipated "The Sims Online."
Like the original pile. users will be able to
create and control their own virtual person
(s "Sim"). licAvever. "The SOW Oalirm"
Lit Doti and Erie Goodwin
lessons later
040ology grad student Xu Xigiso, 21, @Win
for his first audit cord st the ikitversiV al
Michigan whom, Nke other campuses. the tun.of sari omit sveywhers.
Use the 'Net
for research
The barna am be a powerful
mentareh tool, but orgy if you know
where to Wok. In atielitket to south
engines like Yahoo (Itttpti
www.yehoortom) and Googk (MO
wawissiiiii.oom), weal emetic.
Web sites an help you gather beck
gruuml infonnision ft, term popes ix
elan projects. Just be suns went& any
information from your hew* simmhes.
and dos% even Mink about lifting" m
ops verbena big mom if* might
help you go from "lbehrieWhit to
Dropout two shim you can reboot your
ai r er PorioClad lionvho. 4 on on
'Lefty muirattimi
Immo")). Adkno r is a
SUbila l / 4 010104111114d 001 a ,
archive did Awry to t '
gun datable* of '
doom or top rbooks ovarai pm
pesiortiolk end
media traiusiipu. Some of
the sib's mow partners
include The Washington
BusineasWesk. Newswenks
Narkinal Public Radio and CBS's IQ
Minuses!' The site offers a hoe severßity
trial or Brat-time tunes. Otherwise, s
monthly subscription costs 514t.95, and a
firliloar subscription onus $9931. Odor
digital archives so check OW kWh*
Ma Mt .101limerwtauxmland
Re; QUEST ckit Net OW WWW•
hsitseethst).
I If you've looking for hiss:mica!
information, visit the U. National
Ulises Ind Rends **Miamian
Ws* she (Mlptliwww.archivewv).
NAM dries transcripts and analyses or
important &comma like the tosehession'
of edepeehmee and the limmeipsekse
Procianwsksi and iodides dishel bumps
of the documents.
g a
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Mc GotNtwin