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Subject: TWL: Nav software ( was: Computer OS's & Stability)
From: Arild Jensen (elnav@XXX.XXX)
Date: Mon Dec 31 2001 - 20:29:05 EST
At 03:38 PM 12/31/2001 -0800, bk wrote:
bottom line is:
1) a stripped down machine is best no matter what OS,
2) Make that system the exclusive onboard system
(other stuff done on aseparate machine, etc...
Just random thoughts on my part, maybe some pros
will chime in... bk
Bob Miller commented"
>In short, keep things simple, use good components, stay up-to-date with
>software releases, and practice safe computing.
REPLY
Which brings us full circle back to the original question of having some
sort of navigation system which will not quit at the worsrt possible moment.
What do we actually need as opposed to what toys do we want in an
electronic charting system.
Maybe this list is representative of the "average" user; then again perhaps
not.
When all is said and done and you have finished playing with the trick
features; what remains as the daily working toolls that are used 90% of
the time.
I made the comment that from personal observation, the majority of users
simply create a route and only monitor that the vessel icon follows the
planned route.
I realize that some high end users do push the system to its limit and
for some people the basic features isn't enough.
However, these people are likely a minority group in the large picture of
all users.
The ultimate chart system is one which will recover from a power loss
and come back up running with the same screen display as that shown
before the power loss or crash. This recovery should take no more than
five seconds and should not require any operator intervention whatsoever,
except perhaps to press the ON button to start the process.
None of the present generation of laptop chart software does this. At
this time only the dedicated charrt plotters work like that.
WHY??
Why can we not get a software package which has that option built in.
( Please don't tell me about user configured autoexec.bat files etc.
The average boater does not have the skills and confidence to write such
subroutines and codes for their computer )
Cheers
Arild
The Electronic Navigator
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