Student FAQs - Macintosh Tips

The Macintosh computers and the PCs in the Public Computing locations at CUMC have many of the same software programs. On the Macs this includes Microsoft's Word, Excel and PowerPoint, SAS, SPSS, Adobe Acrobat, Internet Explorer and Safari. Both the Macs and the PCs are protected by Symantec's Norton AntiVirus program. If you are normally a PC user, don't hesitate to sit down at an available Mac. The FAQs below will give you basic information about using a Mac, please contact the Information Commons help desk on the 2nd floor of the library if you have further questions.

How do I log on to the Macs at the Library?

There is no password to log on to the Macs, just use the default log on name that appears and hit enter.

How do I access programs on the Macs?

If you do not see a program's icon in the "dock" at the bottom of the computer screen, select "Go" and then "Applications" from the top of the screen.

How do I access the CD drive?

Press the "Eject" button on the keyboard to open the CD tray. To remove a CD, press the same button or use the mouse to click and hold on the CD icon on the desktop, then drag it to the trash can icon on the dock. None of the files on the CD will be deleted by dragging the CD to the trash.

How do I save files to a CD?

1. Insert a writable CD into the CD drive (hit the eject button on the keyboard to open the drive).
2. The CD will show up on the desktop. Drag any files you'd like to save on the CD to the CD icon.
3. Choose File - Burn Disc when you are done dragging all the files you'd like to save to the CD.
4. Drag the CD to the Trash on the dock or hit the Eject key on the keyboard to remove the disk.

After you have finished saving files to the CD be sure to open at least few of them to make sure they have copied properly!
Files saved on a Mac CD can normally be read on a PC and vice versa, as long as there is a compatible program to open the file.

Should I buy a Mac or a PC to use while I'm a student at CUMC?

Both types of systems have their pros and cons. It's best to check with the individual program you're enrolled in at CUMC to find out if there is required software you'll be using that aren't compatible with either systems.
Most standard programs (word processing, spreadsheet, network connection, email and Internet browsing) are cross compatible on this campus. Our computer use population is about 20% Macintosh and 80% PC.
Please see our Computer Purchasing page for recommendations and discounts available on a variety of computing resources for Columbia University Medical Center Students.

Are there Columbia licensed software programs for Macs?

The Columbia Medical Center has licensed, Mac compatible versions of Microsoft Office, Endnote and Symantec's Norton AntiVirus programs. Please see our Software Downloads page for a complete list of available programs. Please note that not all CUMC departments have paid into the Microsoft Office license, however students currently enrolled in a CUMC program are covered under the site license.

What about using Apple's Boot Camp on the Intel based Macs to run Windows compatible programs?

At this point in time CUbhis has not finished testing Mac systems using Boot Camp and Windows XP for compatibility with the CUMC networks and applications, and we do not currently support Macs running Windows XP.