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Old 08-01-2013, 09:20   #1
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Recommend Notebook

Hello,

I would like to purchase a notebook to use exclusively with OPencpn. I would appreciate a recommendation. Brand? Is Windows 7 all I need for a system?

Thanks,
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Old 09-01-2013, 00:36   #2
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I would recommend the Acer Aspire notebook. Had one running for 6 months without a problem on my boat. It was running XP then but I have since upgraded to Win7. It is a bit slow compared to my Acer laptops but tolerable.
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Old 09-01-2013, 09:57   #3
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Re: Recommend Notebook

I am also running an Acer Aspire netbook. It does what I want and weights way less my old laptop. The one downside is that the screen resolution cannot be adjusted and I have some educational sailing software that has to be projected to be seen.

I also access the web for weather information and email when coastal cruising. I have open office installed as well, but seldom use it.
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Old 09-01-2013, 10:05   #4
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Re: Recommend Notebook

I have a recent Toshiba L755 with Win 7. Avoid it! The keyboard is problematic and it seems to have a mind of it's own at times..... usually the worst of times. I'll be replying to a post and the damn thing will jump to another screen all on it's own. At that point the scrolling knob on the mouse will be adjusting the font size instead of scrolling and other problems. the only fix is to reboot....
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Old 09-01-2013, 10:10   #5
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Re: Recommend Notebook

..I like second-hand laptops. They often come with useful software, especially from another boater. I always sweep em with several anti-virus apps and they always need a new battery, but they can be very cheap and possibly come with the PrevOwner's goodwill and assistance.

so,as insurance against failure, Buy 2 laptops and/or an external hard-drive for backups of your stuff .
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Old 09-01-2013, 10:56   #6
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Re: Recommend Notebook

Quote:
Originally Posted by HappySeagull View Post
..I like second-hand laptops. They often come with useful software, especially from another boater. I always sweep em with several anti-virus apps and they always need a new battery, but they can be very cheap and possibly come with the PrevOwner's goodwill and assistance.

so,as insurance against failure, Buy 2 laptops and/or an external hard-drive for backups of your stuff .
A terabyte USB backup drive is as little as $99. Kept in a drawer with dessicant inside bubble wrap, it's a good cheap policy.

I like ASUS netbooks. We have three, a 10 inch and two 12.1 inch screens, with Win 7 starter and Win 7 home versions. The one with 4 gigs could run Win 8. All have OpenCPN on them plus puck-style GPS receivers. So far, so good. They are $300-$400 each.

I would consider for offshore the "transformer" form factor: a tablet with a detaching keyboard. About 200 bucks more, but incredible (15 hour) runtimes on battery.

Barring that, and acknowledging that nav programs like OpenCPN aren't really processor intensive, you could get surplus Pentium 4 based laptops for dirt-cheap and just ghost their drives and pack 'em away fully charged with conformal sprayed motherboards and contact to keep them daisy-fresh.

Netbook/notebook PCs are very reasonable these days, reasonable enough to consider them nearly expendable if you have good back up habits.
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