On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:46:59 -0700, "Bill McKee"
wrote:

Wondering if one of the tablet PC's would be a better choice than some of
the new expensive GPS units. A lot cheaper than paying for the same NOAA
maps in propriatary format.

It is now possible to buy a brand new laptop for well under $500, some
with a built in GPS. With free software and charts it really doesn't
get much better than that. I did several Newport-Bermuda sailboat
races a few years back with a laptop wrapped in Saran wrap. It
worked just fine.