Next message: Ken James: "Re: lv-ab: Advice on computers aboard"
Roger Rippy wrote:
> I have been informed by the Admiral that it is high time to get a laptop
> computer aboard Tin Cup.
We have used the following computers in the past years ... Thinkpads
600, T20, T22, T30 and a T40 .. and a Shuttle small form factor. Used
with all of the units was a NEC 15" LCD monitor and an Logitech RF
wireless keyboard and mouse. Power has been supplied by 12 volt adapters
and a PowerBright APS-300-12 pure sine wave inverter. Self powered
external speakers were also used. All units had internal/external
DVD/CD-RW capability and the Shuttle had a DVD writer. The Thinkpads
ranged from 4 (600) to 5.5 (T40) amps power draw at 12 volts, the
Shuttle was 7.6 amps. The screen took 1.3 amp. I would recommend a
wireless keyboard/mouse and CD or DVD writer for backups... aside from
that all of the units provided sufficient cpu power (600 was marginal
for movies) for navigation software (Fugawi and Captn) and whatever
software you need unless you are a power gamer or into high end
graphics. Always buy 2 batteries if you go laptop and a car power
adapter. Most new laptops don't have a serial port so get a USB to
Serial/Parallel port adapter. There are some converters around that say
they are USB to Serial but are simply USB wired into a serial connector
and do not work with serial port GPS units. Aside from that most units
are well configured with the possible exception of a diskette drive
which you don't want to use in any case.
--
Brian Stewart
Pilgrim
Whitby 42 #304
VB8320 VA3PIL
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