Just to add one more thought about laptops and GPS navigation: I fried my first laptop onboard when a rogue wave hit (and the laptop was in the salon!). So I recommend an "expendable" laptop onboard for one thing. Also have always had trouble reading the LCD screen on my laptop when I've tried using it out in the sun in the cockpit. It wasn't worth the bother, though it would have been nice to have the option. I am not very computer savy, and so never knew how to turn off the screen saver on my laptop, and that made it extremely frustrating to use with my navigation software. Every time I went to check coordinates I had to wake the computer up again, and go through several steps to get the navigation software going again. The mouse on my computer is one of those heat-sensitive pads, and with cold and wet hands from being out in the cockpit in rough weather, it was often difficult to get the laptop to recognize that I was trying to wake it up, or to run the different features on the software menu or proform other functions. When I got my Garmin chartplotter, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven for how easy it was to use in comparison.
Laptop GPS Compatibility
- Thread starter MKirk51
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not to hijack, but here are some screenshots of my NUVI around Cayo Costa State Park. I haven't tried this out on the water yet. When I do I will post. Anyone interested can PM me.
NotCook
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- Dec 29, 2008
- 805
One USP plug-in GPS I do NOT recommend is the Duplo. Seems to have a difficult time synching with Jeppesen's Nobeltec MapPro system.
For the car, it is awfully hard to do better than one of the Garmin Nuvi units. At a minimal cost, and their ease of use, touch screen map dragging, etc., they are simply too convenient, and they keep your eyes up on the road. Not sure how you would use a PC while driving (let me know when you do, so I can stay out of the way!)
With respect to the Toughbooks - I'd like something like that, but you can buy 4 new laptops for the cost of one of those. Big pill to swallow. One think to consider on any of the laptops - it seem a lot of them now come with that special high-glare screen. What is up with that? I can't imagine that screen to be an advantage in ANY situation.
For the car, it is awfully hard to do better than one of the Garmin Nuvi units. At a minimal cost, and their ease of use, touch screen map dragging, etc., they are simply too convenient, and they keep your eyes up on the road. Not sure how you would use a PC while driving (let me know when you do, so I can stay out of the way!)
With respect to the Toughbooks - I'd like something like that, but you can buy 4 new laptops for the cost of one of those. Big pill to swallow. One think to consider on any of the laptops - it seem a lot of them now come with that special high-glare screen. What is up with that? I can't imagine that screen to be an advantage in ANY situation.
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