The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Will I be able to sort out my Zetoc access and library stuff during Freshers Fair? I like to be well prepared. Much appreciated!

Another random questions- Will I need to buy microsoft word for work?

Another random questions- Will I need to buy microsoft word for work?

Get Open Office if you can stand it. However Microsoft do this scheme called the Ultimate Steal, which means you can get Office 2007 really cheap, when it starts back up again.

I use Open Office and it suits me fine. You can open .docs and save your files as .docs and it's pretty damn similar to Word anyway, so using it instead won't really hurt.

I have no idea what Zetoc is I'm afraid. If it's some kind of database that requires a Durham username and password, then you'll get that during Freshers' Week when you get your campus card, which will also let you into the library (there's a swipe card system). From memory you could do this from registration day, which I think was Tuesday, until Wednesday. Freshers' Fair was on both of these days.

The queues for campus cards were horrendous during the day last year, but I went at 7:30 at night and there was no queue whatsoever, so I'd recommend going late (if you can wait a whole 6 extra hours for your Facebook access ) to avoid having to stand in a line for 3 hours or so.

I have it on my EEE, but it really is not as good as MS 2007. The amount of tools you get with it makes it well worth the £40, and some of the stuff I need Open Office simply doesn't do (e.g the formulae feature doesn't work properly, and the automatic referencing isn't as easy to use). That said if you had a choice between the earlier MS offices and Open Office, I would go for the latter.

Ahh, I've never had the 2007 version. I suppose people who are buying new computers with Vista (urgh) would probably be getting it though.

Is there a HSBC or Citibank in Durham? And what bank do most people use in general?

Does anyone know of any societies that produce their own newspapers and the such? Just interested in taking part if any society I'm interested in does this.

I would imagine a few of the socieities would produce their own newspapers/newsletters.

*sighs* I'm too out of touch...