T&T: Laptop choice

[Elliott Bray]

Glen,

I use an old desktop as my full-time navigation machine. It is connected to
my autopilot and does most of the 'driving'. I also have a Dell Laptop and a
newer desktop down in the lower helm I use for backup and planning (as well
as general use).
We have done full-time cruising for 30 of the last 36 months.

I use an LCD monitor mounted on the upper helm (enclosed) and a Delorme
Earthmate GPS.
I also have a Northstar GPS/Chartplotter. I say all this as a basis for a
suggested alternative to what I read your plans are.

I have found all the difference in the world between seeing charts in color
on a 17" screen (computer) and on a 7" screen in B/W (chartplotter). The
Northstar is now the backup machine to the computer rather than the other
way around.


In any event---
I have a difficult time seeing the laptop screen in many conditions. I have
never seen a loptop that works very well in bright sun. I will configure
mine to output to the monitor if I have to use it.

http://tinyurl.com/p2uqt will take you to the Dell Outlet store. The
Latitude is their 'industrial strength' machine and the D620 and D820's are
current. The Latitude has a Serial port. They are going fast. Last week I
saw 150 machines, today 30.

Any of the D620's would do what you want and in the $750-850 range.

My suggested alternatitive is to use the computer as your primary while
running the GPS as your backup. I would mount a $200 LCD monitor (there are
mounts that let you easily remove the panel) on the upper helm.
Use a cheap inverter to power the monitor.

I have just finished building a new box that I will take back to the boat in
the spring, altho I'm not sure I saved any money nor got a lot faster box
than the refurbed Dells.  But it was more fun!!
It does use the low power CPU that the laptops use and fits in a small form
factor case. I am pondering how to use a DC-DC car computer power supply to
power the computer (altho I have inverter AC already there).

 HTH
****************
Elliott Bray
  wintering in Austin
M/V Letitia - Gulfstar 44 MC
  lounging in heated storage in Michigan
*************


Date: Sat, 04 Nov 2006 17:48:25 -0400

BlankHi All,          I've been searching the archives and the net in
general for a suitable laptop/notebook. I want it to run  only  navigation
software , with XP as the OS.  I would be sometimes  carrying it ashore for
route planning and using it at the lower helm only, where I will be
uploading routes to the ship's GPS, and then using the laptop, with its own
GPS, as a back-up at the navigator's station.  The system demands will
obviously be very light, except that the display must be bright enough to be

readable in an area where the ambient lighting can be very bright, as you
know.  I would appreciate hearing from any of you, on list or off, who can
suggest a make and model that you have, or have not, found to be suitable
and bright enough for this purpose. Price is a consideration. Thanks in
advance.
Glen Zwicker
M/V Perseverance
Glen-L Yukon36
Lahave, NS