Question.  Can I use a Mathematica version earlier than the current version, 7, in this course?  I already have it on my computer.

Answer.  Either Version 6 or Version 7 is OK, athough I strongly recommend Version 7 due to its improved user interface.

An earlier version such as 5.2 is not OK! Technology moves relentlessly onward: Mathematica Versions 6–7 represent a drastic and magnificent overhaul of Mathematica. They include many functions that were simply not available in earlier versions, or had different names or different syntax in earlier versions.

Earlier versions will often not be able to properly open notebooks created in Versions 6 or 7.

If you already an earlier edition of the Mathematica for Students Student Version, you may be able to get a special price to uprgrade to the current Version 7.  Contact Wolfram Research directly.

In fact, the best thing is to use the current version that OIT has in its labs. As I write, this is version 6.0.3 (or possibly 7 by now).