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Hardware, Software, and Connectivity

Connections Learning solutions are web-based and designed to work with a wide range of standard computer systems. For optimum use, you’ll want to make sure your systems meet certain minimal requirements.

Connectivity

Whether your students are working from home or in the school computer lab, they will need a broadband Internet connection to make the most of your Connections Learning solution.

End-User Computers

Connections Learning solutions work with both Windows and Macintosh computers with these basic specifications.

Windows Operating System:

• Windows^® XP
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7

Hardware:

• Processor: 800 MHz (Recommended: 1.5 GHz)
• Memory: 256 MB RAM (Recommended: 512 MB)
• CD-ROM: 8X or better
• Monitor: 15-inch color display (Recommended: 17-inch color display)
• Audio: 16-bit sound card with speakers and/or headphones
• Printer: Black inkjet printer
• Video: XGA (1024 x 768 resolution)
• Internet: High-speed Internet connection (e.g. cable, DSL, FiOS) strongly recommended. Users with 56 kbps modems may be unable to participate in some activities.

Browser:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer^® version 7 or higher
• Mozilla Firefox version 3 or higher

Other Recommended Software:

• Windows Media Player version 11 or higher
• Adobe Flash Player version 10.1 or higher
• Adobe Acrobat Reader version 9 or higher
• Microsoft Office XP, 2003, or 2007 or productivity software compatible with Microsoft^® Word, Excel^®, and PowerPoint^®

Mac^† Operating System:

• Mac OS X 10.5 or later

Hardware:

• Processor: 1.5 GHz
• Memory: 512 MB
• CD-ROM: 8X or better
• Monitor: 15-inch color display (Recommended: 17-inch color display)
• Audio: 16-bit sound card with speakers and/or headphones
• Printer: Black inkjet printer
• Video: XGA (1024 x 768 resolution)
• Internet: High-speed Internet connection (e.g. cable, DSL, FiOS) strongly recommended. Users with 56 kbps modems may be unable to participate in some activities.

Browser:

• Apple Safari 4 or higher
• Mozilla Firefox version 3 or higher

Other Recommended Software:

• Flip4Mac version 2.2 or higher
• Adobe Flash Player version 10 or higher
• Adobe Acrobat Reader version 9 or higher
• Microsoft Office 2008 or productivity software compatible with Microsoft^® Word, Excel^®, and PowerPoint^®

^†Some course content may not work correctly on a Mac. Please refer to individual course summary pages for more information.