Which PC For Use Onboard?

[pabraam]

Any recommendations, suggestions or advise regarding the best computer (pc, laptop, notebook, tablet including Apple) to use on board a seagoing (sail)yacht, taking into consideration the salty air (coolingfan...) and the limited availibility of electrical power (12 volt). Computer to be used with Iridium satelite phone to get e-mail, weather etc.

[Greggegner]

If price is no issue Panasonic Tough Book.

[bobsadler]

The PC I've installed is a NEXCOM APPC 1230T with solid state hard-drive. This has a 12.1 inch, touch-screen, sun-light viewable display and operates off 12VDC.

The PC runs the navigation program "Software Onboard" by Digiboat. AIS (including GPS) data is provided to the PC by the Digital Yacht AIS unit. The PC additionally allows communication via email through the satellite phone.

This unit has a very useful number of different ports

The PC is powered via a SAMLEX IDC-100 DC-DC converter providing an output voltage of 12.5VDC from an input range of 9 - 18VDC. The keyboard with built-in touch-pad communicates wirelessly with the PC and is a KEYSONIC ACK-540RF.


APPC 1230T/1231T - Panel PC - Overview - NEXCOM

[Stu Jackson]

There is no BEST in boating, ever, it's all a compromise.

What skippers can do is share with you what worked/s for them.

I have a cheapo Compaq laptop, others have more sophisticated stuff.

Whatever you do, backup, backup, backup, just like any boat systems.