new computers for class of 2013

Plebe year I rushed out of the library 15 min before lights out and left mine still in the computer with my final western civ paper on it...thankfully it was still there the next morning. Never want to go through that again...

LOL. I've had the same issues with major presentations. Some things never change. :biggrin:
 
The youtube and facebook is a joke - seriously! My Mid laughed when saw that line of thought! quote "they could care less - really"

I was told this by midshipmen.

Maybe they were wrong - I don't know. I was just asking because I find it quite puzzling since ALL universities make the internet widely available, yet, the Naval Academy does not. Is it the same at USAFA and USMA? No wireless? Do you know?

The point was if a mid took his laptop/netbook to the classroom, and there was a wireless signal available, that they would waste time on the internet with non-academic pursuits. I just used Facebook and YouTube as an example.

David Emerling '79
 
Why they can do it and the Navy can't is not because of technology or content: It's about POLICY.

And when a policy like that is implemented (at least in part) because the ivory-tower professors at USNA think they know what's better for the Mids than the Mids themselves do, well, that's just nannyism at it's USNA finest.

I wandered over to the USMA forum and asked if the cadets have access to a wireless signal. The answer was - Yes! In fact, the Superintendent (of USMA) recently announced that they plan to make the signal available throughout the entire campus.

Apparently, they do not have a problem with it.

I think you're right - it has nothing to do with any kind of DoD mandate. It seems to be a uniquely Naval Academy policy. I hope they change that. What - are the mids going to share nuclear secrets with Al Queda?

David Emerling '79
 
Memphis9489;65100What - are the mids going to share nuclear secrets with Al Queda?[/QUOTE said:
They wouldn't need to. After all, Obama (may his name be praised) just blessed Iran's nuclear program, and they've hardly bothered anyone since 1979, right? :rolleyes:

Maybe Navy is worried the Mids will leake the Navy offensive line composition to Army...? :confused:
 
Memphis - It's a good question. As a Grad and Dad, I volunteer you to find the answer!
The disparity does appear to be real.

At some, if not all classes, cadets at West Point are required to bring their laptops to class. They are an integral part of the curriculum and everyday life.
 
Memphis - It's a good question. As a Grad and Dad, I volunteer you to find the answer!
The disparity does appear to be real.

At some, if not all classes, cadets at West Point are required to bring their laptops to class. They are an integral part of the curriculum and everyday life.

I'm confused, Just_A_Mom - are you actually a DAD???:eek::smile:
 
I actually disagree with bringing laptops to classes, for the most part. I concur with the professors and think it would be more of a distraction than help.

First, students don't get the benefit of "writing" notes. This is important for becoming an officer -- you don't always have a computer available and you must resort to taking notes.

Second, you can't draw picture/diagrams as well (it would take longer to draw on the computer).

Third, writing things down actually aids in remembering what you took notes on. I am sure that typing it would not be as effective.

Four, why lug a laptop around in the morning and afternoon, when it really isn't necessary.

Five, powerpoint presentations could be put on the intranet or a share-drive, making those notes available when accessing your computer or downloading it another time.

Six, in regards to connecting a non-Navy network device to a Navy network device increases the odds that the network could be susceptible to attack. CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, and TOP SECRET information is not the issue, rather a Denial of Service (DOS) attack. Bringing down the USNA network from an "insider" is a lot easier than trying to attack from the outside. Just like it would be easier for someone to strap an explosive device to the undercarriage of someone's car and have them drive on base. [In regards to using the computer on and off the network]

My two cents.
 
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Memphis is a grad and a dad - I was volunteering him to find the answer! sorry for the confusion.
I should have said:
"Since you are a grad and dad....."

Jadler - Cadets don't take notes on the lap top necessarily. I talked to some who did and some who didn't. It is used in other ways than notetaking.

The vast majority of communication at West Point is online - everything is communicated by email. If you were to never check it during the day you might be lost.
As far as security - you don't explain why West Point can do it but Navy can't.
 
I actually disagree with bringing laptops to classes, for the most part.

<Snip>

Oh, on THAT I will agree TOTALLY. Computers make LOUSY note-taking devices. Unless they issue a touchpad-style computer that's easy to use (something that continues to elude designers from all I've seen), good old pencil and paper beats a keyboard any day.

Six, in regards to connecting a non-Navy network device to a Navy network device increases the odds that the network could be susceptible to attack. CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, and TOP SECRET information is not the issue, rather a Denial of Service (DOS) attack.

I'm not IT guru, but I know that a well-run network isn't nearly as susceptible to that sort of thing as the policy implies. Here at work we don't have such a policy, and we rarely if ever have network issues caused by security. Our guys catch them very early when they do show up.
 
Again, USMA Cadets are NOT required to bring them to class so they can take notes on them!!

That said - the technology exists. One of my kids has a tablet laptop where the screen flips around and lays flat. With a stylus and One Note she can take notes (handwritten) and store them on her laptop as if it were a notebook. Drawings as well.
 
FYI - The Air Force Academy issues tablet laptops. They fuction just like a laptop with a 12 inch screen, but the screen can also be swiveled to lay flat for hand writing notes or drawing diagrams on it with the issued stylus. When they are back in their rooms, they have a docking station which is usually connected to a larger monitor (19-22" is the norm) and their printer. Most classes require you to bring your laptop to class, and the entire campus is covered by wireless service. The USAFA cadets are under the same restrictions as everyone else regarding external media being plugged into their laptops (not allowed).

Stealth_81
 
I am not against laptops. I just don't see a reason to bring a laptop to class and provide wireless during classes -- MIDN will surf the internet.

Just a Mom, does USMA allow their cadets to connect to other networks?
You don't need a laptop to check mail every few hours. There is plenty of emails at USNA and you check it a few times a day. This was the case when I was there.

I am not sure what USMA is doing for security, so I can't comment on the differences in policies. I do know it only takes one computer to be able to send a virus throughout the network.

First, I live by a laptop and a blackberry. I am lost without them as are most of my colleagues in my office. It is the way the world is going and I do not see it changing. Having just made untold number of visits to many college campuses, I cannot tell you how many of them A) require you to purchase either their laptop or one that meets certain requirements and B) How many of them require students to utilize and bring them to classes. I also want to point that many university’s are also research institutions…..they manage to protect their secured networks just fine.

tgp,

I have worked with Info Tech for the last five years. I have nothing against furthering technology or using it. However, we cannot make an assumption, especially in the military, that technology is always working. If we rely on this option, then when we have failures, no one will be able to revert to the "old school" methods. The Navy is a bigger target with many different types of hackers trying to break-in.



Second, I can remember when we first started using laptops in the fleet in our HMMWV’s. On my last deployment I had a laptop that was connected via GIS that would allow me to look at all the various layers of the battlefield on a Map. I could coordinate attacks with units that I literally could not see.
It would be better to start training our future officers to utilize such technology now while they are in school then while fighting a War in the Field….(Which I have seen and makes it even more exciting)

Concur. This is something that isn't taught at USNA, rather it is done out in the Fleet. Those applications/software are CLASSIFIED. USNA, in my opinion, does not prepare officers to join their communities, rather they provide ENS/2nd Lts that have the skills/tools/resources to lead; thus, every community, with the exception of SWO, sends their newly commissioned officers to school/training. Hopefully SWOS will be coming back....hopefully.


I agree there needs to be a balance. I just fail to see a reason why it is critical for USNA to have this technology (I'd be supportive of having a wireless connection within Nimitz) -- especially with the current money allocated to the Fleet.
 
Normally any term dealing with a classification or security is capitalized (i.e. SECRET, TOP SECRET, CLASSIFIED, CONFIDENTIAL, COMSEC) ....you didn't say anything or I wasn't implying any emphasis to the word.

Some lingo etiquette....

When talking about a unit....you normally capitalize it (i.e. USS NIMITZ not uss nimitz). Additionally, you normally don't use the word "the" before a unit's name (one exception is USS THE SULLIVANS). For example:

Incorrect use: "I went aboard the USS NIMITZ today."
Correct use: "I went aboard USS NIMITZ today."

Incorrect use: "NIMITZ is part of the NIMITZ STRIKE GROUP."
Correct use: "NIMITZ is part of NIMITZ STRIKE GROUP."

Sailors and Marines are always a capital "S" or "M".
 
Memphis - It's a good question. As a Grad and Dad, I volunteer you to find the answer!
The disparity does appear to be real.

At some, if not all classes, cadets at West Point are required to bring their laptops to class. They are an integral part of the curriculum and everyday life.

Well, I was the current Commandant's first set Plebe Summer squad leader (summer of '78). So, do you think I could just order him to give the mids wireless access?

I don't think airline pilots have much pull over a Rear Admiral selectee.

Somehow, I don't think so. :smile:
 
I am in agreement with jadler03. There is no need for MIDN to bring laptops/notebooks to class. In the real fleet, as jadler03 has mentioned, you aren't going to be lugging your laptop/notebook with you. You will have your "wheel book" (aka green notebook). You will not be able to hook up your laptop to the network on the ship, you'll have a work computer to do your "business" related stuff. Even if you had a PDA or Crackberry you wouldn't be able to take it with you into Combat or other areas of the ship, so again you revert back to good 'ol pen/pencil and paper.

The fleet has a lot of high tech gadgets and tools out there that you will become familiar with according to your job requirements. These MIDN have grown up in the tech age and aren't going to be computer illiterate when they enter the fleet, they will know how to use a laptop and desktop as well as other hand held devices.

E-mails aren't how you run a ship, a division, or a department. It's a good medium to pass information but if you think that you are going to be tied to the computer waiting for the newest e-mail from the boss to come in then you are failing at being a Division Officer. You need to be out on the Deck Plate/Ground with your Sailors or Marines. If it's that important, trust me someone will come and relay the information to you.

I agree that having a wireless connection within Nimitz is a good idea and possibly in some lab rooms, as I remember spending many a nights working on some projects in Rickover. That brings me to another point - those of us who choose/chose an Engineering Major find our schedules very packed and that means less trips back to the hall. The last thing I want to have to do is carry around with me a notebook on top of all my other books (I also lived on 8-4, basically the furthest back corner of Mother B, besides 5-4).

Wireless networks do bring into consideration many security concerns, despite what some might think. As jadler03 has outlined, there are issues of denial of service over anything else.
 
When talking about a unit....you normally capitalize it (i.e. USS NIMITZ not uss nimitz). Additionally, you normally don't use the word "the" before a unit's name (one exception is USS THE SULLIVANS). For example:

Incorrect use: "I went aboard the USS NIMITZ today."
Correct use: "I went aboard USS NIMITZ today."

Incorrect use: "NIMITZ is part of the NIMITZ STRIKE GROUP."
Correct use: "NIMITZ is part of NIMITZ STRIKE GROUP."

This is not true when using AP format it would be USS Nimitz (it's always a battle w/ the ship PAOs when doing someone's retirement booklet or something b/c they want to change it to AP format)
 
The last thing I want to have to do is carry around with me a notebook on top of all my other books (I also lived on 8-4, basically the furthest back corner of Mother B, besides 5-4).

But don't forget that the Class of 2013 was not issued laptops - they were issued netbooks. These are much smaller and lighter and are very portable.
 
USNA02,

That is exactly why I used "normally" for capitalizing -- specifically for that reason.

As a PAO, I have head to write a handful of articles for NNS and SG PAO.
 
I always brought a crossword puzzle to class to pass the time. Most classes were pretty mundane anyways. Usually the prof didn't mind that.
 
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