On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 13:50:43 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 08:46:21 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

I've been using Cap'n Mariner; do you have experience with any of the
other suites? Interestingly, ALL the hardware one needs for such an
installation is half the price of a $2500 dedicated chartplotter, plus
you get a much larger screen, a real keyboard and the ability to perform
the usual computer functions.

Any advice?
=====================================

I use Maptech Offshore Navigator with the Maptech BSB chart CDs. My
hardware varys but most often I use a small Compaq Pentium III laptop
with an external 15 inch flat panel monitor. The P3 laptops are
available used/reconditioned these days at very reasonable prices so I
don't worry too much about them getting wet. As long as you're using
an external monitor, screen size and quality on the laptop is not
important. I once took an old IBM P2 wrapped in saran wrap to Bermuda
on a sailboat. It survived just fine even with lots of spray finding
its way below decks. I use a large plastic envelope to protect the
flat panel display in stinky conditions. These are sold at W-M as
protection for chart books.

I've also used one of the small form factor PCs with good success,
coupled up with a small rubber keyboard that is waterproof (CompUSA).
In theory it would have run straight from 12V ships power but have
always ran it from a small 50 watt inverter instead (better voltage
stability).

When you say "form factor" PC, you are talking about motherboard
configurations, right?

What would be the difference between your computer and a laptop for
instance?

Later,

Tom

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 21:08:10 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:
When you say "form factor" PC, you are talking about motherboard
configurations, right?

What would be the difference between your computer and a laptop for
instance?

My "small" pc has a footprint barely larger than a CD (squared), and
is about 3 inches high. It has no built in screen, pointing device or
keyboard. Those are the primary differences. Internally it is built
as a stack with the CDROM on the bottom, hard disk in the middle and
mother board on top.

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 20:08:33 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 21:08:10 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:
When you say "form factor" PC, you are talking about motherboard
configurations, right?

What would be the difference between your computer and a laptop for
instance?

My "small" pc has a footprint barely larger than a CD (squared), and
is about 3 inches high. It has no built in screen, pointing device or
keyboard. Those are the primary differences. Internally it is built
as a stack with the CDROM on the bottom, hard disk in the middle and
mother board on top.

Kewl.

What brand is it?

Later,

Tom

On Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:34:57 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

Kewl.

What brand is it?

=================================

I'm not sure the company is still making it but I believe they were
called Wintergreen Systems or something like that. It's very similar
to the Shuttle which Harry mentioned, only not as high.

http://tinyurl.com/3uhxz

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 21:19:44 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:34:57 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

Kewl.

What brand is it?

=================================

I'm not sure the company is still making it but I believe they were
called Wintergreen Systems or something like that. It's very similar
to the Shuttle which Harry mentioned, only not as high.

http://tinyurl.com/3uhxz

Thanks for the link.

Certainly cheap enough to try out.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717