T&T: Aircard

[Rich Gano]

>> How many people use their laptops on their dinghy?  I don't think there
are many.

I know I sure wouldn't AND I don't use or need a cell there either (got
waterproof handheld VHF there).  In the dink, I have no time to look at a
computer screen while running at full bore (I never go slower than the speed
of light in my dink) with my hair on fire. :)  Besides, we rarely ever go
out of sight of mother CALYPSO.  I'd have to have an awfully big and
powerful "dink" before I would think I wanted to have electronic nav away
from "mother."  I didn't think I needed it when I towed a 13-foot Whaler
with a 50HP power-tilt motor; so I surely don't see the need in my 10' RHIB
shore boat powered by a 9.8 Nissan.

>> And yet, on our dinghy, we have pretty much the same capabilities as
a laptop for internet access - because it's all on our phone.  When we're
onshore and wondering if there's a change to the latest NOAA marine
forecast, a web favorite displays the current text forecast in about 15
seconds.  When we're walking around an unknown place and would like to find
out about restaurants, etc., it's all available on our phone.  Tap in an
address and TomTom will take me there by foot.  None of this is practical
with a laptop.

I guess it's a matter of your overall "geek" factor.  I admit to carting my
laptop around town in my truck on rare occasions, but I find it generally
inconvenient to be poking around in software when trying to walk and chew
bubble gum at the same time.  Heck, I even have to stop walking to dial or
talk on my cell.

Now here's the ultimate deal breaker for me - these mini-computer/phones are
too big to be a convenient cell FOR ME and WAY too small for ME to see or
operate.  If I could, I'd fit a monitor as big as a bull's a__ in the
pilothouse to run my Coastal Explorer - something that could also be used as
a searchlight :).  Here, bigger is better.

Rich Gano
CALYPSO (GB-42-295)
Southport, FL