<p>No wristwatch during Plebe summer, made the mistake of getting a new sports watch before I day, it didn't see light again until August!</p>
<p>As for the computer my son is perfectly happy with the system the Academy provided, memory is good, video card could be better but not too shabby all the same. He has been advised that upgrades are a hassle; you want to stay on really good terms with the IT guys so when you need them you don't want to have a reputation. Also if you choose to upgrade items on your own, you need to restore the system back to its original state before IT sees it. As he was told the last thing you need is to have it crash and then you forget to change out your video card before you take it down to IT. IT also monitors your Internet usage, don't be doing anything you shouldn't be because they will turn your connection off and then you have to go ask for forgiveness to get it turned back on. </p>
<p>My plebes company allows plebes to play video games on Friday nights and Saturdays - I bought him two games for his birthday with his squad leader standing in front of us in the Mid Store so I know he wasn't pulling a fast one on me! No music or movies though.</p>
<p>Again, to clarify, major modifications ARE NOT ALLOWED to be made, to include replacing of almost any type of card (video, network interface - NIC, etc). </p>
<p>Only those modifications approved by ITSD or MCRC are allowed.</p>
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To clarify, internet IS NOT based on your company. Everyone is guaranteed that unless you do something you aren't suppose to be doing.
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<p>while every mid will be given access to the internet, companies can- and do-turn off that access for many reasons.....Profmom is right on this one....our son lost his after trying to upgrade something on his....apparently enough of his company did the same thing as half of them lost their access for over a week! And they all had to "ask for forgiveness"....although I think the word our son used was "beg to have it turned back on and promised them my first born!" ;)</p>
<p>sorry to say his company does not allow video games...then again, one less distraction is a "good thing!" :)</p>
<p>That makes sense, but it is ITSD, not the company, who turned off the ports for those who tried to put an unapproved devices on the network. There is a big difference in who regulates the internet/intranet. Bottom line is if you put something on the network that you aren't suppose to, ITSD will take care of you.</p>
<p>Profmom You said: </p>
<p>"My plebes company allows plebes to play video games on Friday nights and Saturdays - I bought him two games for his birthday with his squad leader standing in front of us in the Mid Store so I know he wasn't pulling a fast one on me! No music or movies though."</p>
<p>Well your Plebe is one lucky Plebe. 24 Company has no such priveleges and while they are called 'the rock stars' the Firsties in this company are anything but laid back. My Plebe is yet again doing things like extra PE and more loss of her already few priveleges, simply because others screw up. Ahhhh, the life of a USNA Plebe.....</p>
<p>My dd reports that standards vary widely by Company...this is one glaring one that sometimes wears Plebes down - this mental disparity -- but it IS all part of USNA training and how one deals with this challenge prepares one for the real world, and a warrior's world - so neither she nor this mom is complaining except to each other. And I still tell her she's the most wonderful person on the planet no matter what!!! ( doesn't every mom of all our Plebes feel this way? :-) )</p>
<p>Makes plebe year more memorable...</p>
<p>VADM James B. Stockdale attributed his courage in Vietnam, as a POW, to plebe year. </p>
<p>I wouldn't say plebe year is along those lines anymore, but I think most MIDN/officers look back it as a time of learning/developing....harder = challenge = discipline</p>
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[quote]
That makes sense, but it is ITSD, not the company, who turned off the ports for those who tried to put an unapproved devices on the network.
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</p>
<p>jadler- thanks for the clarification!</p>
<p>apparently something went around (????) about downloading something on their computer, and when several of them did their computers shut down....but if i understand correctly, it was something they were instructed to download just recently....?????</p>
<p>anyway, apparently the company commander got things straightened out the next morning for them, and everyone is back up and running.....</p>
<p>Thats good to hear...I might know what the complication was....how long ago?</p>
<p>^^^ you know, not really sure....want to say it was at the middle of last week???? just recently.... i think before the army-navy game.... i just remember because he couldn't get to his chem assignment and he had a lab to get in, and a paper, and was dead in the water......</p>
<p>I believe it got resolved sometime the next day, towards late afternoon..... but again, if I understood him correctly, it was something they were supposed to download on their computer and several of them in their company did, and so they were all stuck......
does this make sense?</p>
<p>
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yes, the computers are yours....trust me, you will pay for them, each and every month with your "funny money"....
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<p>
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major modifications ARE NOT ALLOWED to be made, to include replacing of almost any type of card
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</p>
<p>Like GreatAmerican said in the "Significant Others" thread. . .</p>
<p>If the Navy wanted mids to have upgrades, they'd issue them with the seabag.:)</p>