Getting Started

Plug-Ins and Downloads

Sometimes, it may be necessary for you to download software or plug-ins in order to successfully participate in the online course in which you are enrolled. For your convenience, NJCU has compiled a list of some software you might need along with links to the sites where you will find the applications available for downloading.

Generally, all you need to successfully download files from a website is a web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, and space on your hard disk to store the application.

If you do not have a compression program, it is suggested that you download WinZip (for Windows) or ZipIt or Stuffit (for the Mac) before downloading other software.

Software available for downloading from the Web generally falls into one of two categories:

Freeware is software that you can download and use without ever paying a fee.

Shareware programs may be downloaded without a fee for evaluation purposes. After the evaluation period, you are expected to pay a fee which is typically minimal. In some cases, you are "on your honor" with regard to submitting your payment. In other cases, the software will expire and become unusable after the evaluation period ends.

Downloading from a large company website is typically very easy, but there are a few general rules you should observe. First of all, before you download anything from the Web, you should make sure you have virus protection software installed on your computer and that your virus definitions are up-to-date. Read all the instructions before beginning the download process and make sure you are downloading the correct version for your specific operating system. Also, be sure to note where you save the application. When the download is complete, you will probably need to locate the file and run it in order to install the application.

Following is a list of some popular software applications available for download:

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