InfoTech Tuesday, Kansas State University's information technology news source
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Public demand high for new iPod shuffle

by C. Loehr, K-State Student Union Computer Store
published Feb. 22, 2005

Since the release of the iPod shuffle in early January, public demand has been extremely high and has caused sizable waiting lists for this new technology. The Union Computer Store is no exception, and the first 10 in stock sold within 24 hours. The store has been seeing 5-10 customers daily who want to purchase the iPod shuffle. This has caused a waiting list of 20-50 customers at a time.

This level of interest has far exceeded any other technology product that the Union Computer Store has sold. The store recently began receiving small quantities of the iPod shuffle and expects to receive enough by mid-March to alleviate the current waiting list.

The 512-megabyte version of the iPod shuffle holds an estimated 120 songs and is $99. The 1-gigabyte version holds an estimated 240 songs and is $139 for education ($149 retail). Either drive can double as a USB flash drive. For more information about the iPod shuffle, see www.apple.com/ipodshuffle.

Departments: Gateway PC volume purchase
this week only

by R. Satterlee, Computing and Network Services
published Feb. 22, 2005

Computing and Network Services is ordering Gateway PCs in volume this week to obtain significant price breaks. K-State departments are welcome to join this volume purchase by placing orders no later than 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, for the following configuration only:

  • Intel Pentium 4 processor 530 (3.0GHz)
  • 17" black LCD flat-panel display (17" viewable)
       (upgrade to 19" flat panel for additional $140)
  • 512MB memory
  • 80GB hard drive
  • 48x/32x/48x CD-RW/DVD combo drive
  • floppy drive
  • 6-bay mid-tower case with front audio ports
  • Windows XP Professional Edition (SP2)
  • 3 years parts/labor on-site, 3 years technical support

Based on the number CNS is ordering, the current price is $1,105 each. If the order total goes over 200, the price will drop to $1,075 per unit. There is no limit on the number a department can order. Orders must be e-mailed to satterl@ksu.edu by 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, with the following:

  • Department name
  • Department APO number
  • Department contact: name, phone, and e-mail
  • Number of units ordered
  • Number of upgrades to the 19" flat-panel display

Mydoom e-mail virus continues to mutate

by the K-State Security Incident Response Team
published Feb. 22, 2005

A new version of the Mydoom e-mail virus began hitting K-State e-mail Inboxes last week. K-State's central e-mail systems are being updated to detect and block this virus. The virus has a message similar to the one shown below and includes a .ZIP file attachment.

From: Post Office <noreply@ksu.edu>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 16:16:25 -0600

Dear user of ksu.edu,

We have found that your e-mail account was used to send a huge amount of unsolicited e-mail during this week. Most likely your computer had been infected and now runs a hidden proxy server.

Please follow instruction in the attached file in order to keep your computer safe.

Have a nice day,
ksu.edu user support team.

K-Staters should delete this e-mail without clicking on any attachments. Questions about viruses should be sent to the IT Help Desk, helpdesk@ksu.edu, 532-7722.

TechBytes Feb. 25: Acrobat Basics

by C. Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 22, 2005

Acrobat Basics is the TechBytes topic at 1:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, in 501 Hale Library. This demonstration will provide an introduction to Acrobat. The session will cover topics such as converting MS Word to Acrobat, optimizing file size, locking files, etc. See the TechBytes website for more details.

LASER newsletter's winter issue online

by A. Hagedorn, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 22, 2005

The winter edition of the LASER online newsletter is now available. Visit the LASER newsletter page for updates on FIS training, views of the newly renovated Fairchild 9 training lab, and insight on Oracle's recent takeover of PeopleSoft. For additional information about the LASER project, visit laser.ksu.edu.

CHECK conference slated June 20-21 at Washburn

by M. Griffin, Fort Hays State University
published Feb. 22, 2005

Higher education technology professionals from across the state are invited to the campus of Washburn University for the 2005 Conference on Higher Education Computing in Kansas, June 20-21. Please join us to share your campus activities with our peers in Kansas so that we may learn from each other's experiences and continue to build on our working relationships.

CHECK's program committee, the Information Technology Services Advisory Subcommittee (ITSA), is inviting proposals for presentations and activities. Which projects and activities are creating excitement, raising concern, or improving service on your campus? Send ideas and proposals in the following areas:

  • Speakers - submitted proposals
  • Birds-of-a-Feather topics
  • Forum or panel suggestions
  • Training session ideas
  • Suggestions for "after-hours" activities

The committee is anxious to incorporate suggestions from participants. E-mail check2005@fhsu.edu by April 1 to submit your own proposals or to recommend someone else as a potential speaker. Submissions do not have to be formal. Only a short description or outline is necessary. Questions should be sent to Mark Griffin (mgriffin@fhsu.edu, 785-628-4026).


On the spot:  IT questions from K-Staters
by the editors, InfoTech Tuesday
published Feb. 22, 2005

What's the "VPN" at K-State?

It stands for "Virtual Private Network". It's a way for your computer to access K-State's networks in a secure manner via the Internet. Any current student or employee can use K-State's VPN. For details, see the university's Virtual Private Network website.

Have a question or comment? TellTuesday@ksu.edu.


Web watch

Microsoft site has K-State case study

by the editors, InfoTech Tuesday
published Feb. 22, 2005

K-State has been recognized on Microsoft's website for their collaboration with Microsoft and Tegrity on the Tegrity Notes project. For details, see the K-State case study page on the Microsoft site.

Find a good site? TellTuesday@ksu.edu.
InfoTech Tuesday is a weekly newsletter about information technology at K-State.

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     Betsy Edwards
Executive editor:
     Rebecca Gould

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Feb. 25, 2005 (Fri)
TechBytes: Acrobat Basics.
web-arrow pointer TechBytes site

April 1, 2005 (Fri)
Deadline to submit proposals for CHECK conference. See the article in this issue.

K-State Online: Tip of the Week

Encourage online journals. In online courses, require students to take notes on readings, keep minutes on group activities, submit weekly writing assignments, or complete other journal activities as a substitute for taking notes in a traditional classroom.

Constant writing on course topics facilitates the ability to recall material and to process and analyze the material for essays and quizzes.

E-mail a suggestion or help areas for the K-State Online tip to help@online.ksu.edu. Questions? Contact the K-State Online Help Desk, 532-7722.
Tuesday's Gem

National Educational Technology Plan released

by A. Hagedorn, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Feb. 22, 2005

In January the U.S. Department of Education released its National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) titled, "Toward a New Golden Age in American Education: How the Internet, the Law, and Today's Students are Revolutionizing Expectation."

Among the topics covered in the report is the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act. According to the NETP website, "schools are reporting notably sharp gains for poor and minority children, particularly in the elementary grades". Test scores in reading and math have risen significantly throughout the U.S. from 2001-2004.

Also included in the report is a profile of what is considered to be "today's students" based on the views of more than 200,000 students from all walks of life. The findings can be viewed at the Student Voices website.

The report ends with these seven action steps and recommendations made to enhance the use and benefits of new technologies:

  1. Strengthen Leadership
  2. Consider Innovative Budgeting
  3. Improve Teacher Training
  4. Support E-Learning and Virtual Schools
  5. Encourage Broadband Access
  6. Move Toward Digital Content
  7. Integrate Data Systems

For more information about the National Educational Technology Plan, visit their website at www.nationaledtechplan.org.