Computer Onboard?

[Ron Laking]

I was wondering if anyone out there has found that keeping a laptop onboard the boat, that dampness has been a problem for it at all and if so what do they do about it?

[boatman61]

I keep mine in a large ziplock bag inside my computor bag... use then store straight away again... never leave it lying around if not in use...
Been serving me well ashore and afloat one Med transit, 3 Atlantic crossings and countless miles up and down W Europe for the last 7yrs...

[goboatingnow]

If you stay in generally warm weather ( 40N, 40S) I find that damp is not a problem, mine has done transatlantics, med sailing and elsewhere. With a lot of Northern European late season deliveries, I did find that the humidity and salt air dampness, corroded some of the insides, It didnt stop it though ( the flying through the air and bashing itself of the bulhead did that!).

Dave

[Mark Johnson]

Our laptop is going on 12 years old, and although the screen is now bubbling up, and it is on its last legs, it still works! The key, IMO, is that we only use it for weather fax and nav programs only, and NEVER hook it to the internet. Next time out... We will get one of the small ones for wi fi connections to the web. M.

[barnakiel]

Our laptops are on the table only when we need them. Otherwise they sit in a carry bag with some dehumidifier packets.

We have never seen any sign of humidity issues on our laptops.

b.

[Sheriff]

If you could afford it a Panasonic Toughbook is the best bet

[threeriversmari]

Originally Posted by Sheriff

If you could afford it a Panasonic Toughbook is the best bet

I second that, they are notebook versions of those indestructable phones that verizon makes. Very nice products.

[Dustymc]

Originally Posted by Sheriff

If you could afford it a Panasonic Toughbook is the best bet

It's mostly an experiment at this point, but I took the opposite tack and picked up a cheapy netbook for a couple hundred dollars. Disregarding the inconvenience of dead computers, I can kill a half-dozen of them for the price of one Toughbook.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Dustymc

It's mostly an experiment at this point, but I took the opposite tack and picked up a cheapy netbook for a couple hundred dollars. Disregarding the inconvenience of dead computers, I can kill a half-dozen of them for the price of one Toughbook.

And I would pick up two decent cheapoes, just to have the security when (not if) one of the packs up.

How much is a Toughbook anyway? How many Eees can we get for one Toughbook?

b.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

How much is a Toughbook anyway? How many Eees can we get for one Toughbook?

10 ...

At least at UK prices.

Well then.

Whatever.

barnie

[David M]

No problems here with three desktops and a laptop....for almost 20 years now. Obviously I never bring any of them outside.

[Auspicious]

I've found dust is a bigger problem than water.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

I've found dust is a bigger problem than water.

I have found dying batteries in laptops bigger problem than both water and dust.

A netbook here costs me 250 USD. A replacement battery for same ... 150 USD ... ;-(

b.

[threeriversmari]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I have found dying batteries in laptops bigger problem than both water and dust.

A netbook here costs me 250 USD. A replacement battery for same ... 150 USD ... ;-(

b.

Batteries in laptops die quicker because most people just leave their computers plugged in all the time, most batteries will lose their life alot quicker than others due to this. It has to do with the battery chargers don't realize when your computer is competely charged, so they just keep pumping voltage in because it thinks that it is still not charged the whole way. So to make your battery life last longer the best thing to do would be to wait until it says completely charged up and then unplug the charger. Same plane as a cell phone, if you constantly leave your phone on the charger overnight you realize the phone life isn't as long as it was when you first had it. I notice my first phone did that after about 4 months, and cell phone batteries, also above, laptop batteries are not cheap at all.

[SandyM]

I have a laptop I use as a chartplotter. One very rainy evening heading to Oban, crossing the tide race south of Lismore, it got wet. We took a large wave when lid (hatchcover) was open and we were heeled well over which allowed a dribble onto the keyboard. The screen started to go black. Long black lines started to form across it. When I realised what had happened I immediately unplugged it, removed the battery and dried it as best I could. Taking it home I set it on top of a radiator for a few weeks, thinking it was knackered, however when I fired it up although there were still black marks at the edges it was serviceable. I then stored the laptop adjacent the radiator when it wasn't in use and over time the black marks became blue and semi transparent.
Its still going strong after two years although it needs reminding that the battery is compatible but that could be another problem all together.