laptop......what do I need?
- Thread starter r. gallagher
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Why? It's a blinkin' word processor.
I just need it to type and spell check, not publish a 24 point, parallel column, healdined, indexed newspaper. The "newer" (post turn-of-the-century) versions make it hard to find, oh my gosh, the basic MENU function. Ah, but the "grahnd visuals" are oh so appealing...
WordPerfect was sooo much better.
If you use this marine software......here are the minimum specs for a laptop.
http://rosepointnav.com/CoastalExplorer2011/Specifications.htm
Whatever marine software you use check the minmum specs
paulj :troll:
http://rosepointnav.com/CoastalExplorer2011/Specifications.htm
Whatever marine software you use check the minmum specs
paulj :troll:
I used the laptop docking station zip tied to the vertical bulkhead (hull) under the nav station. wired it to the TV/CD player the is on a movable arm at the nav station and separate keyboard and mouse. The monitor does double duty as it can swing 170 degrees to face the salon and also the nav station seat. A couple of pieces of Velcro to keep the keyboard and mouse in place when lifting the nav station desk top and your golden. also keeps the laptop out of harms way and dry.
When you leave the boat just undock it and walk away
When you leave the boat just undock it and walk away
I prefer nano for all my just word processing activities. came free with Linux. Has those "pre 21st century" features like "next word", next line, next para, find, save.......just about every navigation and editing function I've ever needed as (gasp, the horror) key board shortcuts. you really don't even need a mouse.
The newer versions are also 1000x more secure against mal-ware, viruses, and all other types of undesirable things floating around the internet.Why? It's a blinkin' word processor.
The "newer" (post turn-of-the-century) versions make it hard to find, oh my gosh, the basic MENU function. Ah, but the "grahnd visuals" are oh so appealing...
WordPerfect was sooo much better.
On one hand, by using something SO old, the mal-ware may actually not be backwards compatible with all the old security problems your computer has. But if I were a betting man, I would say you still get popup ads, have at least one or two tool bars installed in IE, and probably loan out your internet connection and cpu to some 18 yr old kid in eastern Europe to send Viagra email, and have no idea it's going on.
Btw, keeping companies computer systems stable, operational, and secure is what I do for a living, so yes I do know a thing or two about what I am talking about...
I know the title of the thread is "laptop....what do I need", but maybe thing something other than a laptop? I'm always looking for ways to decrease the electrical demands in the boat as that means less running the engine or not as much solar and feel this is really important for someone that is on the boat for more than the weekend.
I made a 12 volt computer....
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/Compter-Nav-index.html
...but you can also buy them. There are many advantages to this approach:
1. The main one is less current draw. Ours averages about 2 amps for the computer and monitor (also a 12 volt) and under 3 amps with the true long distance WiFi running (Bullet 2HP radio).
2. Pick the monitor size you want. I use a 16 inch that was under $80.
3. Pick a wireless mouse/keyboard that fits your needs.
4. You have RS232 Com ports for your navigation software/hardware and don't need to use add-on USB to Serial adapters.
5. Pick a hard disk of the size you need. I run a 320 gig as then I have everything I have on the computer. You could run solid drives, but I don't.
6. DVD drive and tons of USB ports and other ports.
I take the computer to the boat and then back home at the end of our trip. At home I run it on a 110 to 12 volt powersuppy.
This way all of my files for our web site and other info is current and up to date (I backup to an external USB drive often). I don't have to worry about one version of data being overwritten by an older one.
On the road I use a Gateway netbook and Ruth does also and we have our charts and OpenCPN and SeaClear on those also as backup for the boat. At home and on the boat Ruth uses a Dell laptop with a DC to DC converter but isn't on the computer near as much as I am. At home she uses the same laptop with a wireless mouse/keyboard and a 23 inch monitor. The laptop is more like a desktop or tower as it sit off to the side of her work area. There again she has the same data at home and on the boat.
When we return home I'll make a newer computer with this....
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/dn2800mt
...motherboard as it has a good 12 volt powersupply built into the motherboard and I'll buy an addon sub-board for more serial ports.
I love this combination for us. Wouldn't use it for weekend sailing but it is hard to beat for longer trips,
Sum
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]
Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links
I made a 12 volt computer....
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/Compter-Nav-index.html
...but you can also buy them. There are many advantages to this approach:
1. The main one is less current draw. Ours averages about 2 amps for the computer and monitor (also a 12 volt) and under 3 amps with the true long distance WiFi running (Bullet 2HP radio).
2. Pick the monitor size you want. I use a 16 inch that was under $80.
3. Pick a wireless mouse/keyboard that fits your needs.
4. You have RS232 Com ports for your navigation software/hardware and don't need to use add-on USB to Serial adapters.
5. Pick a hard disk of the size you need. I run a 320 gig as then I have everything I have on the computer. You could run solid drives, but I don't.
6. DVD drive and tons of USB ports and other ports.
I take the computer to the boat and then back home at the end of our trip. At home I run it on a 110 to 12 volt powersuppy.
This way all of my files for our web site and other info is current and up to date (I backup to an external USB drive often). I don't have to worry about one version of data being overwritten by an older one.
On the road I use a Gateway netbook and Ruth does also and we have our charts and OpenCPN and SeaClear on those also as backup for the boat. At home and on the boat Ruth uses a Dell laptop with a DC to DC converter but isn't on the computer near as much as I am. At home she uses the same laptop with a wireless mouse/keyboard and a 23 inch monitor. The laptop is more like a desktop or tower as it sit off to the side of her work area. There again she has the same data at home and on the boat.
When we return home I'll make a newer computer with this....
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/dn2800mt
...motherboard as it has a good 12 volt powersupply built into the motherboard and I'll buy an addon sub-board for more serial ports.
I love this combination for us. Wouldn't use it for weekend sailing but it is hard to beat for longer trips,
Sum
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]
Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links
I agree, and to go further back still, I liked PFS: Professional Write even better. Didn't do much, but somehow it didn't seem like it had to. I also didn't have to field phone calls every week from my FIL starting with, "How do I . . . ". I even talked him through setting up a Professional File database for maintenance records on his trawler. There's something to be said for keeping it simple.
Here's all I'm gonna say about a new boat computer. I didn't. Took my old Dell 1200 with XP and REFORMATTED the hard drive and re-installed XP. Scary to start but easy to finish. Fires up faster than the house computer. Loaded on Firefox, AVG free and OpenCpn with a $40 gps puck on a usb dongle. It's a dedicated boat laptop but I bring it home so I can use it and cycle the battery. Yeah, left it on the boat for 6 months and the battery wouldn't take a charge. Oh,yeah, bought a 12v to 19V adapter for use while underway. Runs about 2amps unless the battery is charging then it's closer to 5amps.
Actually the idea of an older laptop with a solid state drive makes a lot of sense. The smaller drives are around $100 for a good sized one. Also not a bad idea to have an external drive for backup (once a week or so).
Open Office and a few other bits and pieces you will probably be good (if you don't already own the software). Personally I like a portable keyboard so I can kick back and lounge while I read articles or send emails (blue tooth with take care of that).
Interesting thing about Win8, is that it has not been well accepted. There is a company that is advertising on the radio around here that they will REMOVE 8 and install Win7. That does not speak well for the product.
Open Office and a few other bits and pieces you will probably be good (if you don't already own the software). Personally I like a portable keyboard so I can kick back and lounge while I read articles or send emails (blue tooth with take care of that).
Interesting thing about Win8, is that it has not been well accepted. There is a company that is advertising on the radio around here that they will REMOVE 8 and install Win7. That does not speak well for the product.
Do not install XP on a solid state drive, it doesn't support the TRIM command, and will cause the SSD to prematurely fail.
Determine your use for the computer and size it according to your needs. I myself do find a laptop to be the most convenient setup for a boat. I have dedicated electronics for boat navigation and other functions. My computing needs are met by an old HP laptop with a 15" screen running windows XP. I mostly use it for E-Mails, to download photos and to download books to a tablet reader. It has a much better keyboard than the tablet. For Music I have a radio/cd player and for movies an HDTV with a DVD player. Definitely no need for large memory, ultra fast processors nor humogous hard drives. I keep it dry inside the cabin but since it is fully depreaciated if it were to get damaged it would not be a big deal. I have another one laying around the house somewhere.
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