From all of this discussion I have learned that I have two choices:
Use a cheap, fixable and adptable Desk top PC with an LCD monitor to
hold power usage down, and an inverter to supply the power, or
use a laptop.
The first choice uses more epower, the second choice loses on
varsatility and fixability.

Yep that's what Ive learned as well

Maybe I can use the LCD monitor also as TV for
watching movies and therfore would get a larger monitor thatn usually
comes with a laptop.

That's another reason I was curious abt using a desktop
on a boat/ sail boat. I was thinking that one could
put a TV card in it and use it as a TV as well as
general use PC


see link for such cards and devices

http://tinyurl.com/6vdbb

In the link above there also exists a USB TV card that
I suppose one could use with a laptop as well, correct?

Just to share about my setup.

I have a used Pentium II with 256 Mb of RAM (total cost 100 $). I run
Windows 2000 for stability with most services disabled (i'm a computer
professional) to save on performance. The hard disk is partitionned in C:
and D: and the physical disk is on a drawer which mean it can be easily
removed when i'm afraid of being stolen or for reconfiguration purpose.
The hard disk is a 20 Gb and hold all marine card and 5000 MP3 that i carry
aboard. (total cost of disk + drawer 100 $).

The screen is a 12 Volt native Proview 12 inches (total cost 250 $) and
visibility is very good but i'm not in direct sunlight, i'm inside the
boat.. The computer is feeded by a 300 watt inverted and amperage while
running is about 10 A. Truly said it is a lot of Amps, when someone think
that my freezer draws only 4 A when working....

A laptop (i got 2 but not on the boat) would draw only 3 A. The 7 A of
difference between the PC and the laptop is largely overcome by an energy
management strategy (hibernate the PC when not in use and having separate
starting/auxiliaries batteries) and by the fact that it is fairly cheap,
cannot be stolen because the PC is bolted under the floor of the boat, and
could be repaired/replaced anywhere.

Have this configuration for 3 years without any problem and now with WiFi in
most marina the pleasure is just beginning.

Cheers

André
Auxiliary Coast Guard "Le Nomade"

wrote in message
...
From all of this discussion I have learned that I have two choices:
Use a cheap, fixable and adptable Desk top PC with an LCD monitor to
hold power usage down, and an inverter to supply the power, or
use a laptop.
The first choice uses more epower, the second choice loses on
varsatility and fixability.

Yep that's what Ive learned as well

Maybe I can use the LCD monitor also as TV for
watching movies and therfore would get a larger monitor thatn usually
comes with a laptop.

That's another reason I was curious abt using a desktop
on a boat/ sail boat. I was thinking that one could
put a TV card in it and use it as a TV as well as
general use PC


see link for such cards and devices

http://tinyurl.com/6vdbb

In the link above there also exists a USB TV card that
I suppose one could use with a laptop as well, correct?