Computer for navigation

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by Sailor279

@coopec43: Looks like the specs state: External video support up to 1280 x 1024 at 16.7 million colors according to CF-19 MK7's specs. But would recommend you confirm this is the same model as what you have...

You are my hero!

I'm sure that is my model. I've just downloaded the manual so I 'll go through that.
I suppose people will scoff at me for trying to save a few bob but there are stacks of laptops on eBay that are being sold for parts for (say) $50 as people have obviously taken the HDD out and updated their laptop. I'll see if there is a suitable LCD monitor there

Thanks


PS I can't get that link to work?

[coopec43]

[QUOTE=thomm225;3085869]

Originally Posted by coopec43

So what do computer techs know about being on a sailboat?

Btw, I'm an electronics tech/computer tech also

I remember our first 80 mb drives were the size of small dishwashers in the 80's

I'm not sure what you are getting at
As I said in an earlier comment the computer technician fixes the computers for all the local fishermen.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by coopec43

But I am wanting a computer more than just for navigation so I (rightly or wrongly) have gone for the Toughbook.

We have a variety of laptops at work, but the toughbooks are kept back for those travelling abroad. I really don't want calls from overseas at 8am saying there is a meeting in a few minutes and the lappy has crashed.

You might buy an external SSD hard drive and back up stuff up on a regular basis. I wouldn't bother with the operating system, but any 3rd party software, charts and documents would be good.

The link above downloads a PDF of the spec, check your downloads folder.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by Pete7

The link above downloads a PDF of the spec, check your downloads folder.

Pete

Thanks for that (I got it X5 times)
Yes! 1280 x 1024 at 16.7 million colors

[Reefmagnet]

I think I've posted before about my ToughBook. The wife put it on the salon floor as we were beating upwind in some gnarly weather as she didn't want it to launch off the nav station table. Unfortunately, our emergency jerry of water managed to slide against the salon table which caused it's tap to turn on which caused it to dump it's water over the floor. This soon mixed with a bit of splashing sea water and it all pooled exactly in the area where the laptop was sitting to a depth of about 2 inches. Now ToughBooks are water proof and this is fine.... but I had a flapper door open for a wireless mouse dongle and the thing got soaked. So much so It took three days of drying in the sun before I could get it to fire up again. The battery was discharged and never charged again. A new battery discharged and never charged again. Other than that, it worked fine.

Fast forward about 4 years and I decided to strip it down and repair it. The motherboard was the most corroded piece of junk I've ever seen that was still operational. I soon discovered why the battery wasn't charging when a SMD in the battery charge circuit literally crumbled off the board. Anyway, about $50 later, a new used board installed and all going well. I still keep that CF-19 on board, but purely for sentimental reasons and as a backup to a backup these days as I have a much more high-tech setup now. One thing I should note about the CF-19's is that the inbuilt speaker can be turned off in BIOS. BUT only by a windows application that Panasonic have. Take it from me, do not turn the speaker off using this application then load up with Linux. You'll be cursed without sound from the speaker forever!

[coopec43]

Reefmagnet

You are being unrealistic. Show me where Panasonic claims they are "waterproof".

" Is Panasonic Toughbook waterproof?

There is no such thing as a waterproof laptop.
Panasonic Toughbooks are among the most water-resistant laptops in the world today, and that's nothing to scoff at, but they aren't waterproof.May 26, 2015"

https://www.bobjohnson.com/blog/are-...ks-waterproof/


If you leave them submerged in water you are asking for trouble.

[coopec43]

After reading the comments above I think the sensible way to go is keep the Toughbook for the cockpit (and backup) and and get a used Dell 14 in. laptop (with 256gb SSD) for the chart table (down below) for $A159. (USD104)

Sure I can get a used monitor off eBay and fit it (but that takes time) and then I still need a backup computer.

As DeValency says "you’ll improvise to save maybe $300?? - and I agree you can get a well working solution, even if you consider your time at a zero $value... does it really worth it?"

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by coopec43

Reefmagnet

You are being unrealistic. Show me where Panasonic claims they are "waterproof".

" Is Panasonic Toughbook waterproof?

There is no such thing as a waterproof laptop.
Panasonic Toughbooks are among the most water-resistant laptops in the world today, and that's nothing to scoff at, but they aren't waterproof.May 26, 2015"

https://www.bobjohnson.com/blog/are-...ks-waterproof/


If you leave them submerged in water you are asking for trouble.

I asked for trouble alright, and I got it!



Technically they're IP 65 rated, which is ok for splashing water. I'd replace the standard keyboard with a membrane one for cockpit use though.

[Marathon1150]

We have used a variety of laptops on board (and for work) over the years. I was strongly addicted to Toshiba which stood up well in tropical conditions. But a new employer had bulk purchasing options with Lenovo so I have had one of those. I've had several Dells and a couple of Asus. They are all ok and they have all survived being on a boat but I would rank the Lenovo last for a variety of reasons and keep Toshiba at the top of the list. My last Toshiba is 15 years old and still works flawlessly except that it is still running XP which is no longer supported. I recognize that everybody has a personal preference.

Three years ago we bought this Toughbook:

Toughbook Semi Rugged CF53:
4XUSB posts;
8G RAM:
500g SSD;
Bright Touchscreen optional;
with integrated DVD drive;
Windows 7 64bit;
RS232 Serial Port.

The 4 USB's and the RS232 make hanging devices off the machine really easy. The RS232 allows me to use a Pactor IIe modem without having to convert to USB (one less thing to fail/make life difficult).

The Toughbook is not just bullet proof it is bomb proof. Worth every penny.

Downside: it is BIG and HEAVY. The old terminology "luggable" applies in this situation. Windows 7 ceased to be supported on 15 January 2020. I much prefer it to Windows 10 which I run on two Asus computers.

[Moo]

All amused at the way these arguments against W10 come down to forced updates. Sure you can't disable everything from polling the net looking to updates etc.. But you can totally stop it affecting your satellite connection with the built in firewall..

If you dont want to learn windows firewall download Tinywall and turn everything off... Simple job done.

Or use Airmail and Sailmail for your email which is designed to work in exclusive mode over Iridium. You'll be surprised how quick your iridium connection becomes.

[ilenart]

Originally Posted by thomm225

You can buy 3 NEW Raspberry pi 4 computers for that amount and then get a couple extra 32 gb sd cards $15 and backup all your data.

I would say you are comparing apples with oranges. coopec43 is quoting Australian $ where you are quoting US$. Remember this is an international forum.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by ilenart

I would say you are comparing apples with oranges. coopec43 is quoting Australian $ where you are quoting US$. Remember this is an international forum.

Okay.

Thanks.

I'll rephrase. You can buy one or more New Raspberry Pi Computers to handle the navigation on your boat for the same price as what you would pay for a used Toughbook.

We have a toughbook computer here for inventory I guess because techs hate to do inventory and the thing gets slammed around a lot!

[jmh2002]

I have nothing against Raspberry Pi, I already use them for other purposes, but you are still not comparing apples with apples in the case of a Toughbook.

- No screen
- No keyboard
- Not natively portable
- No Windows OS (necessary for users)
- No...
- etc, etc

Now, that may suit some users, and not others.

I get that you seem to have had a recent epiphany about these low cost devices and wish to extol their virtues, and that is ok, but it does still need to be clear that they are simply not comparable devices, either in cost or features.

Each have their place, as do other devices too.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by jmh2002

I have nothing against Raspberry Pi, I already use them for other purposes, but you are still not comparing apples with apples in the case of a Toughbook.

- No screen
- No keyboard
- Not natively portable
- No Windows OS (necessary for users)
- No...
- etc, etc

Now, that may suit some users, and not others.

I get that you seem to have had a recent epiphany about these low cost devices and wish to extol their virtues, and that is ok, but it does still need to be clear that they are simply not comparable devices, either in cost or features.

Each have their place, as do other devices too.

That's a good point, and I should have been more clear.

The thing that is enjoyable to me besides the price is that you get to play around with linux a bit.

You "get" to learn a new OS.

You "get" to for fun downlaod the openplotter file image compressed, unzip it, then transfer that image to your sd card with something like win32diskimager on your windows laptop. Then put the sd card in the raspberry pi and let it bootup

Then you have to load up your free charts from OpenCPN then connect your GPS, AIS, etc after you take it (the Raspberry PI) down to the boat

I used it to get reacquainted with computers since I have been stuck as a manager of electronics and computer techs for many years which takes you away from the actual tech stuff.

Also you get to do some things from terminal mode .......what we use to call command prompt/command line before GUI

So to me it's sort of like talking about my old boats! ......or Beach Cats!

And since making the Raspberry Pi function properly relates to making my boat's electronics better it seems fun as compared to just getting up your normal system computer, actuator, or projector like on a flight simulator or something

There of course you have computers for the control loading, visuals, cockpit I/O, graphics, and so on plus the UPS System

We are in process of updating maybe 250 computers to Windows 10........not fun

[jmh2002]

Yes, sometimes I enjoy playing with those types of things too. Other times I just want it to damn well work, out of the box...

So, most of the things you mention there can also be huge negative points for some users.

In addition, some users may be using particular software that requires a particular OS, often Windows.

Personally, depending on the size and budget of the boat, I would prefer to have multiple devices.

RPi can maybe help with some of that because of the cheap initial cost.

It all depends. There is no one right answer.