Computers & AFA

james r hoffa

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2011
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17
I'm just wondering about the logistics of Cadets' computers at the Academy.

I know, obviously no Cadet is allowed a computer during basic training. I'm a senior in HS, and three of my buddies (who are all frosh at West Point now) have their computers.

Is each Cadet, even 4th class/freshmen Cadets, allowed a computer?

Also, a little hypothetical, but would a desktop with six monitors be disallowed? I'm assuming? :D



Thanks for your help ya'll.
 
You'll be issued a computer

You'll be issued a computer towards the end of BCT..about 5 days before classes start. Our son has a large monitor (24 inches?) and I gather most other cadets do as well. (The monitor is from home. Best Buy makes a killing around parents weekend as well.)
 
...
Is each Cadet, even 4th class/freshmen Cadets, allowed a computer?

Also, a little hypothetical, but would a desktop with six monitors be disallowed? I'm assuming? :D



Thanks for your help ya'll.

Yes, the Academy operates in the 21st century... No, you can not have six monitors.
 
yeah, 4 degrees can't watch movies, *technically* listen to music, youtube, or anything like that. Everyone in the class is given the same computer. This year we have Fujitsu Lifebooks with the swivel screen and stylus pen. You can't bring your own computer or have it send to you. I know a few people who have 2 extra monitors, but not six..
 
I was in an, uh, discussion with a buddy about AFA/civilian colleges and computers. He seemed to think six would not be possible at an academey. I said it would, but I actually agreed with him behind my mouth. Even though its no technical violation, I can't imagine the people who ban music for frosh/4ths would allow a Gordon Gekko computer.

I'm disappointed about the laptops, that is just me though. The 12" i5 government computers are not something I would want to spend four years of my life with.

Besides being overly critical:p:D:eek:, they actually are nice equipment to work with. My desktop has a pair of 1080p monitors. I would hate to be a jackass and bring both at the end of BCD, but the productivity level of those laptop screens is annoyingly small. The only downside to the issued laptops is (and I don't know if this is true, someone fill me in) if they run XP. I would have a very big distaste for that.:unhappy:

Just curious what ya'll think of your AFA issued laptops? Hopefully I didn't tick anyone off who has one. Thank God they issue well operating laptops!
 
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The computers are not that bad actually, and you can have a different computer if you want. You just have to pay for the internet (either wireless card or comcast), since you cant connect it to the government network.
 
I've been using Mac computers all my life. I have only used a PC on a very few number of occasions. Anyone know if the transition from a Mac to a PC will be difficult?
 
if you're that focused and worried about isued laptops then don't come.

The laptops are fine and work well what homework and things cadets need.
We have microsoft office, vista, the older classes have windows 7.

Transition from Mac to PC will prolly be very annoying and take time to get used to but really, PC is soo simple. you can do it =)

Like i said, come here to serve your country... not to pick out computers.
 
computers can be hit or miss. My class (2010) was issued Gateway Tablets. If you look at some of the Comp Sci department charts in the halls, it was the first and only dip in computer performance. haha. Ours were miserable computers. A big mistake. S*** happens.

One extra screen is nice and helps productivity. I have a hard time believing you would need 2 extra, much less 6.

I gave up a nice computer for 4 years. I recently built myself a nice desktop now that I have a safer computer environment, my own internet, and the time. If you're really that concerned about a computer, or if that's such a priority, maybe State U would be a better choice...
 
if you're that focused and worried about isued laptops then don't come.

The laptops are fine and work well what homework and things cadets need.
We have microsoft office, vista, the older classes have windows 7.

Transition from Mac to PC will prolly be very annoying and take time to get used to but really, PC is soo simple. you can do it =)

Like i said, come here to serve your country... not to pick out computers.

I agree, and didnt mean to provoke. I'm unfamiliar with computer policy, and based off of some peers' expirence with government issued computers, I thought it might be a headache.

If the upper classes have Win7 (relatively new... newer than when the class of 2011 came in) and 2014 has Vista, are students reissued a computer every year or something? :confused: Are upperclassmen issued "better" computers? I simply don't know, that's why I'm asking.
 
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computers can be hit or miss. My class (2010) was issued Gateway Tablets. If you look at some of the Comp Sci department charts in the halls, it was the first and only dip in computer performance. haha. Ours were miserable computers. A big mistake. S*** happens.

One extra screen is nice and helps productivity. I have a hard time believing you would need 2 extra, much less 6.

I gave up a nice computer for 4 years. I recently built myself a nice desktop now that I have a safer computer environment, my own internet, and the time. If you're really that concerned about a computer, or if that's such a priority, maybe State U would be a better choice...

I suppose to a certain extent this thread is moot, since there really is no changing issued equipment. All I know of how the Academies go about computers are through my three peers who are at West Point as 2014. I also don't think six monitors is necessary for people besides Gordon Gekko, or possible without some serious desktop-based hardware. Obviously running two inexpensive 1080 monitors (what I currently use on my desktop) from a laptop would allow for three including the laptop. On the other hand, a screen hardly larger than a netbook is not allot during intensive work/study, so having an external or two would really be ideal, IMO. Sorry if any current 4th class cadets are 'offended'... I'll be in the same boat come fall time. I'm constantly using both screens during writing, reading and peer editing (I do allot of all three :redface: )

Also forgot to mention, thanks to all for filling me in:cool:
 
The laptops are fine and work well what homework and things cadets need.
We have microsoft office, vista, the older classes have windows 7.

:confused::confused::confused:

2014 has Windows 7. 2011-13 has XP, though we can take them into the computer repair shop to have them reimage the computer and load Windows 7. Much nicer than XP.
 
I suppose to a certain extent this thread is moot, since there really is no changing issued equipment. All I know of how the Academies go about computers are through my three peers who are at West Point as 2014. I also don't think six monitors is necessary for people besides Gordon Gekko, or possible without some serious desktop-based hardware. Obviously running two inexpensive 1080 monitors (what I currently use on my desktop) from a laptop would allow for three including the laptop. On the other hand, a screen hardly larger than a netbook is not allot during intensive work/study, so having an external or two would really be ideal, IMO. Sorry if any current 4th class cadets are 'offended'... I'll be in the same boat come fall time. I'm constantly using both screens during writing, reading and peer editing (I do allot of all three :redface: )

Also forgot to mention, thanks to all for filling me in:cool:

I might mention the graphics card won't support connecting 2 more monitors, only one. Much less, I doubt there's more than one port (well, maybe a VGA and maybe an HDMI).

Also the computers are quite a bit better than netbooks! I have one of those too lol. I basically have three now, my core i7 desktop at home, core i7 laptop for RAND, and my little core duo netbook at home).
 
I might mention the graphics card won't support connecting 2 more monitors, only one. Much less, I doubt there's more than one port (well, maybe a VGA and maybe an HDMI).

Also the computers are quite a bit better than netbooks! I have one of those too lol. I basically have three now, my core i7 desktop at home, core i7 laptop for RAND, and my little core duo netbook at home).

Good to know about the netbook part; the screen size (zero issue when using a laptop on the go) at 12" is small, close to a netbook's 10" or 11"... that was the only comparasion I was drawing. I took a quick look at the issued computers on the net, they seem fine. I think I may of used one when an AFROTC recruiter came to my home and had me take a test on his laptop. The size was similar, and it was a tablet. It also seemed to have allot of government paraphernalia on it, such as a plastic-ID password reader thing. (idk!:p) I don't mean to slam netbooks - I actually bought a non-refurbished one at Costco for an unbelievable $249. So longs as you don't try to open anything besides solitare, a net browser and maybe a MS Word window, it works quite nicely (quick, fast, zero lag). The moment you try to do anything resource heavy, it, uh, vomits. Very useful for hammering through the net when I need to repair my desktop... then again that has happened only a couple of times that I recall.

Anyways about the two monitors; it is possible to do it, even if only one vga post is available (most do as I recall) on the laptop. I have seen advertisements in various PC mags for small external hardware devices that turn one VGA port into two DVI's, however I believe the popular method today for getting around the single-VGA port bottleneck is a USB-to-DVi adapter. Effectively a cheap external video card, it frees up a second display port: {Link Removed}
Also, a nice US-based company "Village Instruments" makes a clever setup for running several monitors on a laptop:

{Link Removed}

The device connects via a laptop ExpressCard or PCCard, and effectively gives you a PCI-express slot. I believe six port video cards are available now, so (no reference to the O.P.:biggrin: ) you could run a Gordon Gekko setup if you'd like. BTW, is anyone getting that reference? Wall Street II? Wall Street II? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?...


Later
 
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For what it's worth...

CSP Table 3.1
Limit: 5 speaker components per room. One cabinet authorized per room for component storage. Additional computer/video monitor connected to
computer; 1 per occupant not to exceed 24” screen and must fit on desktop.
Fourth class privilege at AFCW/CC discretion.
 
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