<p>My class (1991) was only the second class to receive computers during Plebe issue. Huge, desk-hogging 8088's with 16-color CGA monitors and two 5 1/4-inch floppy drives. True dinosaurs. Oh, and if you wanted a printer, go buy it yourself.</p>
<p>Obviously, computers have come a long way since then, especially in the areas of multimedia, games, etc. Music on computers back then was painfully primitive, but the games were a hoot. Even as a plebe, I had Jet, Falcon, and Gunship to pass the hours on liberty away on.</p>
<p>I've read here and in the Midshipman Rates that Plebes are no longer allowed to have music, movies, or games on their computers. We can argue the value of that policy in another thread, but I'm curious as to how such restrictions are enforced? Is a browse through your hard drive part of room inspection?</p>
<p>Also, while such obvious things as surfing porn sites on the web are obviously verbotten (government network, and all that) are any other restrictions placed upon Plebes or anyone else concerning computer use?</p>
<p>I can only imagine enforcement would be a near nightmare...</p>
<p>Being a current plebe, the computer policy is sketchy. We are allowed to have games, but we can only play them on liberty. Also, we are not allowed to have music or movies, however these privaledges have been granted to us for short periods of time. In either case, as all midshipmen know, plebes still listen to music, play games during the week, and watch movies when no one's around. It just how things work.</p>
<p>On my CVW I was surprised by how many people listen to music, watch cartoons, and play games on their computers whenever they have time. I even saw a of couple plebes who had subwoofers under their desks. I have to say I was disappointed by the blatant disregard for rules.</p>
<p>ward hall monitors your every key stroke and if they see something they don't like such as downloading porn or shared music, then they will shut down your internet port, which is a hassle to get turned back on.</p>
<p>most room inspections do not include a search of your hard drive, but there are an occasional "health and wellness" inspection. these consist of the upperclass digging through everything you own, looking around in your cieling, and searching your computer for contraband such as alcohol, civvies, and porn or music on your computer. also, if someone comes into your room and sees an inappropriate background on your screen you can get in trouble for that.</p>
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I even saw a of couple plebes who had subwoofers under their desks.
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<p>Nothing like a little attention to detail there, eh, upperclassmen? :rolleyes:</p>
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ward hall monitors your every key stroke and if they see something they don't like such as downloading porn or shared music, then they will shut down your internet port, which is a hassle to get turned back on.
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<p>Wow.</p>
<p>
[quote]
most room inspections do not include a search of your hard drive, but there are an occasional "health and wellness" inspection. these consist of the upperclass digging through everything you own, looking around in your cieling, and searching your computer for contraband such as alcohol, civvies, and porn or music on your computer.
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<p>"Health and Wellness", eh? TOO funny!</p>
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also, if someone comes into your room and sees an inappropriate background on your screen you can get in trouble for that.
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<p>Aside from nudity and anything pro-Army, what would be considered "innapropriate"?</p>
<p>I have a Battlestar Galactica wallpaper up on my Mac right now, and NO, neither Six nor Boomer are on it (more's the pity). :D</p>
<p>"I have to say I was disappointed by the blatant disregard for rules."</p>
<p>i hate to break it to you, but zaphod is right. you rate what you skate, and if you're disappointed that plebes are breaking the rules, you are in for quite the shock your plebe year. there is NO WAY you're going to, or going to want to, follow all the rules.</p>
<p>I saw where the Class of 2010 will be issued Dell Precision Workstation 370's. Not a real computer nerd, but the "add ons" sound impressive.</p>
<p>I'm like Zaphod, my first computer in college had a 20 meg hard drive and distinctly recall my buddy telling me I'd NEVER fill it up! Go Wordstar & DOS!</p>
<p>Wheelah44, are you folks able to use AOL and real time chats? I'm not there yet but I know it seems my son and daughter "live" there.</p>
<p>USNA's IT department is far more worried about the network integrity than "illegal or indecent stuff". With that being said, IT IS possible to see who's doing what. But, USNA does not search for illegal activity or indecent stuff without having a just reason to do so....</p>
<p>Think about it, there are 4000+ Mids (and computers) and I can garauntee that many (ok, a lot) look or do things they are not suppose to. When I say a lot, I am talking about a few hundred. They are not going to fry everyone for looking at indecent stuff, but something that may be illegal in the civilian side of the world (such as downloading illegal music) is taken a little more seriously. </p>
<p>With that being said, I am not justifying it is "ok" to do these things (and I don't), but rather answering Zap's question.</p>
<p>The only chat software that I know of that is not allowed is Yahoo! Messenger. DoD has put a block on their port. AOL/AIM/MSN is. Some company's DO NOT allow plebes to use these chatting services (usually just 1st semester or 1st 6/12 weeks -- i.e. based on academic grades). As wheelah44 has mentioned, this rule is commonly broken by plebes.</p>
<p>Word of advice, if you are going to attempt to break this rule (if applicable to your company), do not post your IM name on the facebook site. A smart company took all the plebes IM names, added them as friends, and then asked who had been on (obviously they could tell)...all I can say was big trouble!</p>
<p>Here we are fighting a global unconventional war, and perhaps on the verge of a CONVENTIONAL war in the future, and THIS is what they're wasting time on? </p>
<p>"On my CVW I was surprised by how many people listen to music, watch cartoons, and play games on their computers whenever they have time. I even saw a of couple plebes who had subwoofers under their desks. I have to say I was disappointed by the blatant disregard for rules."</p>
<p>Looks like we have at least one reg-**** in the making.</p>
<p>definitely agree with wheeler....plebes will break this rule...i did as a plebe...just dont be like open about it..dont go downloading itunes to your desktop or something dumb like that...a plebe in my company actually made his itunes sign in name, as his alpha code which starts with the numbers 09 indicated class...obviously he got caught so yeah...just be smart...</p>
<p>I highly doubt it. First off, you won't need it, and therefore it will be immediately suspicious to upperclassmen. Secondly, you won't be able to hook it into the network.</p>
<p>Wow that kind of sucks. I'm a computer geek and my setup is absolutely amazing. I have a 21" widescreen LCD Monitor worth around $700 (but I put it on my discount at Best Buy) and that'd be awesome if I could use any of this at USNA, even if in the upper-class years. But if not, I'll survive (barely).:)</p>