Where can you get the good stuff you ask? Or perhaps you are not yet sure what exactly the good stuff is? Then read on my friend, read on.

This good stuff that everyone’s talking about (well, so no-one’s talking about it, which is why I’m writing this here article) are all the software and other resources that are available to all of us at NCKU at just a few clicks of a few buttons.

On the student council’s resource link there are pdf files that explain where and how to download the software that is available through NCKU, as well as how to use a few of them in ways that will make life much more enjoyable here (or at least not as hellish as it sometimes can be).

The basic software that I would suggest you download from the NCKU server if you do not have them already are listed below, along with why. Now, I am not yet one of the cool students who uses a Mac, and so if you are in that elite group, not all of the software would apply to you.

• Anti-virus software. Importance is obvious. Especially if you are using a USB. Sticking your stick into a computer in the research room often results in an automatic 17 viruses and Trojans if you’re not careful. Some smart students even have a anti-virus software for their USB, which works wonders.

• Microsoft Windows Operating System. Get Windows XP perhaps; that seems to be the popular choice (over Windows Vista) with the least complaining that I have heard (you can always research the different versions and figure out which one you think would work best on your computer).

• Microsoft Office software. I’d download Office 2007. It may take a bit of getting used to (if you were using office 2003 before, there is a “map” workbook on the student council resource page that shows where everything is located in Office 2007; if you know where it would be in 2003 then you can get the location in 2007 from the map; some of it is applicable to Office 2000 as well).

• Go online to download the add-in save as PDF Microsoft dowload center: Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS) so you can save files as PDF files (good for when you want to print it at a print shop and you want it to look exactly like it looked on your computer, or when you are submitting a report)

• Learn how to use the styles function in Word [both PCers and MACers should do this] (see “secrets revealed” on the student council’s resource link). It will help you write consistent looking reports, potentially save you hours on formatting, as well as help when you are using the template for your thesis (also available with explanation on how to use the template).

• Then, from the library I would download the EndNote software. A definite Goody. This is not only for organizing research that you do for course papers and your thesis, but also for having your citations and bibliography in your reports be correct, as per APA 5th (which is NCKU requirement). Where and how to download, as well as how to use it, are all on the resource page.

• The last software item I would recommend you get is Adobe Acrobat Professional. The problem of getting this is that it is not available to students through NCKU as of yet. This is also a great tool for when you are reading PDF articles and papers for your thesis (or other reports) research (see how-to on resource site for details).

Finally, a request. After downloading the software, and after using it (perhaps by help of the how-to’s from the resource page), you may get stuck or have questions about how to do something specific (or have something not work as it is suggested it should). If this should happen, feel free to stop me in the research room or in class, or drop me a line at ra696781@mail.ncku.edu.tw. Chances are many others are struggling with it as well. We can then hopefully find a solution and include that in the how-to’s so that they are more and more useful and well-rounded.

Also, just a tiny disclaimer: I am not an expert in any of these software. Therefore, if you are, or if you have some other gems that no-one should be operating without, please share!

This post was submitted by JoJo.