What you need for Cs 150

Computer: It is assumed that you have your own laptop computer! Bring it to class every day. If it's not functioning, borrow one from a friend for that class. If you absolutely cannot get a functioning computer for a class, come and look on with someone. Not having a computer is no excuse for missing class!

Text: Arthur Whimbey and Jack Lochhead: Problem Solving and Comprehension, Fifth Edition, ISBN 0-8058-1024-2 Note: The bookstore carries the latest edition. The cover may be a different color, and a few changes may have been made inside, but any edition 5th or later will do just fine.

If you're really not good with Excel, you might want to get a reference book. There are many that are written for beginning users. Most will do. They're a lot cheaper than textbooks! What we will cover is the more advanced (mostly mathematical) uses -- these won't be in any beginning text.

Software: The software used for the office applications part of the course is Microsoft Office Professional which is standard for this college. It's not my favorite, but others on campus will expect your work to be done in it, so you need it. You've already paid for it with your technology fees, so have the IT Department load it onto your computer. The programming language used will be Scilab, a system developed in France (by INRIA, the French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control). It is very similar to to MatlabŪ, a program most design engineers will be expected to know. You can download it for free from www.scilab.org We will be using version 4.1.1 or later.