"But I’ve only ever used Microsoft Windows™!"
We understand that many of our students come to CSU having never used an operating system other than Windows, though some come with experience in MacOS. For that reason, use of the Sun Ray thin clients can be both intimidating and frustrating.
Why? Because the Sun Ray thin clients provide a UNIX desktop initially and expect the student to be saavy enough to pick the proper operating system for the task at hand. Even the use of Windows in the Sun Ray environment is server-based and is not the same experience as using Windows on a standalone computer.
Don’t panic and don’t "give up" on the Sun Rays. Read up on how to use the thin clients and take advantage of Sun Ray seminars. Here’s a secret: you could use only Windows while you’re at CSU. But you’ll be poorly prepared for the rich environment of professional engineering if you don’t get comfortable in a multi-operating system environment.