I don't think that there should be
any "portable" electronics on a boat. In heavy weather they become
missiles
or are lost overboard. I cringe when I hear people talk about laptops that
can be used "anywhere" on the boat. They should be bolted to the chart
table, and by bolted I don't mean kept in place by a piece of shockcord.

Having weathered a few sudden storms I agree. If it's not bolted down and
designed to be used in heavy weather it really has no place being used for
something critical like navigation. Certainly not as the sole provider of
such services. As an add-on for use during fair conditions, sure, laptops,
PDAs and cell phones are great. But I'd never want to depend on using them
when conditions get difficult.