Computers

<p>Can anyone tell me what exactly the Academy does for incoming Cadets and computers? I was thinking about getting one of those tablet laptops, but wanted to be able to bring it to the Academy. I know that the Academy will pay for your laptop, but will they allow others to be brought in (as in a substitute for the one they would be paying for)? I wouldn’t care if I had to hand it to them for reprogramming and all that jazz, but I was just curious if I can bring my own computer.</p>

<p>I've heard many times that you may not bring in your own computer, and you will recieve one after BCT.</p>

<p>hmmm, alright, no point to getting a new one then.</p>

<p>Yeah, My friend, whos sister is graduation this year, told me that there is a startup package that you do have to buy (so technically, its not free!) buts its only like a small amount, maybe like 1 or 2 thousand Ive heard, that gets you your comp and everything you need.</p>

<p>It would be cool at a certain time to bring your own computer as well (for the more geeky). While i wouldnt bring my full-atx 60 pound water cooled peltier negative twenty degree tempature extreme gaming rig, i would use parts from it to make a compact shuttle rig.</p>

<p>snipper, although I have absolutely no clue what you just said, it sounds DAMN cool...</p>

<p>Unless you're able to say you're playing America's Army, I don't think it'll go so well for you :)</p>

<p>was anyone gone to edodo.org? its a site ran by cadets and tends to poke all sorts of fun at the academy. Some of it down right degrades the academy but im sure only if you go there can you understand it. Heck, i laughed at alot of the stuff (possibly for the wrong reasons) and im sure a whole bunch of it i didnt get cause im not even there. But all in all its a pretty funny place and they have great humor.</p>

<p>Again, i would caution you to take it all with a grain of salt...</p>

<p>I would not recommend going there, particularly if you haven't been here a while to be able to know the difference between how it is here and how they say it is. It offera a different, yet what I consider to be skewed, perspective as some of the most cynical people here go there. And it's not run by cadets, it's run by a grad; the majority of people who go there are not cadets, while they usually have some kind of connection to USAFA.</p>

<p>The cadet I was with when I visited said that they used to let people bring their own computers, but it compromised the network's security because people were bringing in viruses and other junk.</p>

<p>You have to initally come in with a couple thousand dollars when you inprocess.</p>

<p>I will admit that I frequent the edodo...but doing it for a while I believe has given me the ability to take everything quite lightly. I can definetly see the point against visiting it, but I believe that I have gained some insight from there.</p>

<p>"You have to initally come in with a couple thousand dollars when you inprocess."</p>

<p>Did it say this in your paperwork somewhere? Although they could have changed it, my class came didn't come with any money.</p>

<p>UNcynical - that's what I thought. I've asked a couple of parents about that and they told me no deposit required. Good thing - I'm going to spend son's college fund on something frivilous.</p>

<p>Lucky for you nothemormma :)</p>

<p>Interesting, I guess I've read it for so long that you have to do that that I automatically assumed it would be the same this year. I haven't seen anything about it in the paperwork either.</p>

<p>Looked over everything I could find again and no mention of a deposit needed. Just the opportunity to buy boots at the orientation in April. </p>

<p>Full steam ahead on using that college money to pimp my ride...</p>

<p>We will be recieving more paperwork though around february.</p>

<p>WHOOO hOOOO I'm done with finals and going home tomorrow!!!</p>

<p>West, you might want to hold off on that tablet. Word on the street has it that the class of 2010 is getting tablets (for those of you who don't know, a tablet laptop has a touch-screen that you can write on.) No guarntee, but I've heard this one often enough and from different people. There might be some truth to it. </p>

<p>I'm not aware of any rule about bringing your own computer. I've never heard it and it's not in the sight picture. Putting it on the network though is an entirely different matter. Snipper, I wouldn't worry too much about not having room for your case. Our desks have a lot of room, but you have other options as well, such as beside the desk on the floor. I sold my gaming rig and regret it occaisionally. Of course, you probably know that you won't be allowed to play games for at least the first semester. </p>

<p>About the deposit, my class didn't have to make it either.</p>

<p>eDodo certianly can be cynical, it even claims to be. But a lot of it is not. For example, the records of spirit missions are great. The dodo seems to be very in touch cadet life. The comics are like any good comedian, constantly commenting on fresh material drawn from the current events at the Academy.</p>

<p>What happens if you do put it on the network?</p>

<p>And i dont remember where i read it but somewhere i remember one of the academies (MM,CC,NA,WP or AFA) brought a private network in (or planned on it) that the cadets would pay a portion of and have more access to features (AIM, games, legal music etc).</p>

<p>Is there any plans of such at the blue zoo?</p>

<p>No, we don't have a private network we can subscribe to, but you can do almost anything on the network. Legal music works fine (e.g. iTunes store, etc.) I know AIM works (if you put it on the right port). I'm not sure about games, but I think they work. I don't know what would happen if you tried to log onto the network with a computer you brought. You might not be able to sign on...if you really knew what you were doing you might be able to set it up right, maybe if you spoofed your laptop's mac address and copied all the settings...I don't much about networking though. </p>

<p>Our network is the fasest I've ever been on. Downloads are amazing. At the right time of day, I've seen a little over 7 megabytes/sec down from a fast server. It's pure joy (at least to a nerd like me) to watch a 30 or 40 megabyte download fly in at less than 10 seconds. 1-4 megs down is more common, but I almost never see less than about 900k.</p>