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From: Rosalie B. (no email)
Date: Tue Aug 17 2004 - 21:12:33 EDT
On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 16:00:55 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:
>I have been informed by the Admiral that it is high time to get a laptop computer aboard Tin Cup. Not that the walks to the local library are not interesting and good for a little exercise. I have surfed the net and also checked a few stores and there is a wide range of computers and features out there for sale. What I would really like to know from you that have used them aboard your boat for a period of time is what is important and what is not. We would keep some personal records, do a little word processing, do email (and winlink if I ever get busy and buy the gear), surf the internet, and simple work like that. We would be concerned about product reliability in a salt air environment, tech support, and service contracts. This past winter the marina we were at in Florida had free Wi-Fi which was great; we are now up north and that is nearly as common.
>
>How many of the bells and whistles are really worth it for the purposes that I have outlined? Any thoughts and recommendations, either off-line or thru this site, would be greatly appreciated. Norm shared a few thoughts with us a couple of years ago, but prices and features have changed some since then and we are taking another serious look at what has come to be common place aboard many boats.
>
The most important things are as crash proof and operating system as
you can get that will still work with the software that you want to
use, serial port, a USB port, a non-removable read-write CD drive, the
ability to run off 12V without another inverter, and as much memory as
you can afford to get.
When I got an XP operating system computer, I had to upgrade my
navigation software which was on Windows ME. I find this annoying.
The serial port is often left off of new laptops because everyone's
gone to USB ports, but it you ever want to attach a GPS to the
computer it's way easier with a serial port. I think our WeFax also
comes in through the serial port.
A removable CD read write drive is too delicate (IMHO) to live on the
boat. Or actually if you plan to move the laptop around at all. I've
had to replace mine once. You need the RW drive to back up everything
to CDs. I also would like a floppy drive as I still have some data on
floppies but I find files are too big for floppies to do the complete
job anymore.
We have not felt the need for a DVD drive, but we absolutely never
watch movies nor do we use the computer for music. YMMV
I have a wireless modem on my newest computer and I love it especially
when I am in a marina that has free usage of their net and even better
if I can do it at the boat.. But it is not really necessary.
I don't know what software or hardware you need to run for Winlink. I
surf the interenet either through a land line connection or through a
wireless network, neither one of which requires much in the way of
advanced hardware.
grandma Rosalie
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