<p>My dad wants to give me a laptop computer for graduation, but I told him I thought that all midshipmen were provided with computers after plebe summer. Could someone please clarify this for me?</p>
<p>That is correct and you may not substitute a personal computer for the designated equipment. However, your dad, should he be so inclined may provide the $2500 or so that will be your computing fee. While I’m unaware what the report packet instructs on this, last year this figure was included as part of the student loan. In previous years, it was a stand-alone fee to be paid in advance of I Day. What does your packet tell you this year? </p>
<p>btw, I think he could buy you a laptop and I know relatively few Mids use these. But I also understand that Mids are no longer permitted to transfer information back and forth. I’m sure others can expand, edify specifics on this.</p>
<p>Congrats on your appointment.</p>
<p>Ace loan will be about $8500. No down payment required, it all comes from our paychecks now.</p>
<p>My son has his laptop at the academy with him. As he’s been in his plebe year, he left it with his sponsor family. He’s been able to use it on his downtime and during travels. The computer from the Academy is a PC, not a laptop. While you can certainly do just fine without a laptop, I know that my son has really been glad to have his with him. </p>
<p>Another idea, also that has to be left at the sponsor’s house along with ipods during most of plebe year, is a Kindle. My son has turned many other mids green with envy as he has wireless access to any books he wants.</p>
<p>It really is a matter of personal preference…</p>
<p>Congrats!</p>
<p>Ours too uses his laptop for time spent away from the academy, especially for sports. While the athletic center has a small number of laptops you can sign out, having one of your own can save you the hassle.</p>
<p>As mentioned, you cannot tap into the internet lines from your laptop on the academy, although you can use a flash drive (or email) to get info from one to the other.</p>
<p>It is not necessary to have a laptop- most don’t- so if you have other monetary needs, consider those first.</p>
<p>This is all really helpful. Thank you for the info.</p>
<p>are on a team/club/eca that travels,
you can afford the internet access fee’s via wireless provider (or know how to use a pringles can to build a directed WIFI antennae, and have line of site to DTA to tap into the free wifi spots provided by local business)</p>
<p>as posted earlier privledges vary by company, so leave the laptop at the sponsors til you have earned it. </p>
<p>but it is a good thing to have around…if…</p>
<p>Can anyone give updated information on whether ITSD allows thumb drives on the USNA Network?</p>
<p>USNA is considered “seperate” on a lot of terms from a traditional “Navy Network,” but Navy-wide there is a ban on using thumb drives on any network. So if thumb drives are banned at USNA, you cannot transfer files from laptop to USNA Network via this method. </p>
<p>3.5 Floppy, CD, and Email would be acceptable.</p>
<p>There are definitely no thumb drives (or other plug-in devices) allowed on the USNA network. It is still considered Department of Defense; all plugs ins are expressly banned. If you need anything specific from your personal computer, you can put it on a CD. Or e-mail it once you have your account established. It is a pain, but we are learning to live with it!</p>
<p>The new class gets a Dell suite, which includes a desktop and a laptop ([USNA</a> Class of 2013 Information Technology Suite](<a href=“http://candidatedata.usna.edu/computerspecs.asp]USNA”>http://candidatedata.usna.edu/computerspecs.asp)). Leave all of your stuff at home, they give you everything here. Just worry about I-Day.</p>