Do you take or use a PC or Mac on your boat?

[Go Aweigh2452]

Have 2 Vostro 1500 laptops that will be on board when we are on board. They are "n draft" compatible so they are extremely fast... suppose to get 100 mbps but currently tuned at home at 130 mbps. Not bad for wifi... Now if we can find faster than "b/g" out there, we'll be set...

 

[Ryan]

I use a tablet PC that I carry with me all the time, so when we go to the boat for the weekend it always comes. I mainly use my blackberry for emails, but use the tablet for many other things. I also use it to create / edit / transfer routes to the Sea Ray Navigator.

I use a Motion Computing tablet, it is a slate style so no keyboard, but I have a keyboard if I need it.

 

[Warren]

I generally take a rugged notebook on the boat if we are aboard a week or more. I keep a maintenance log + fuel, travel, hrs., etc. in separate Excel worksheets and back it up regularly onto a portable hard disk which I carry in the bag.

It is also used for storing photos and photo editing if time permits. Internet, email, navigation are generally not an interest, although I sometimes do carry electronic charts for route planning and electronic cruise guides on a longer holiday.

Warren

 

[Skeetobite]

I have one of these in the salon as a FANTASTIC multi use machine: (note that it has a super powerful internal WiFi antenna)

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/desktops/IQ775_series/rts/4/computer_store/GN583AA%23ABA

I had to upgrade to an RF keyboard and mouse, but other than that, it's been perfect. I have the kids PS3 attached to it too.

I also carry my laptop so I can get some work done if needed.

 

[Dave M.]

If I am gone for overnight or more, normally I carry my desktop along. It is mostly for checking out the trip photos and the like, I don't have connectivity on the boat. It is a bit clunky to haul around, but I really don't like laptops. I want a real keyboard, monitor, and my trackball mouse.

I have a new HP desktop that is very quiet, and seems to use little power when not in use. The new linux kernel 'tickless timer' plus the new cpu may be allowing it to go into a very low power consumption state when no processes need service. One the things I hope to do when I get back home is measure the power draw during idle. I will want to know how much power it draws from the inverter at idle; it may be so little it is not worth shutting down so save battery life.

 

[MAKC]

I always take my laptop with me when i go boating. I use it primarily for the internet to run weather checks in the areas i'll be boating. I always run a radar and Doppler scan before departing to see if any sort of weather is happening. I also like the fact the we'll be able to get sea condition data from certain buoys in the Long Island Sound. My laptop can also be a backup for my GPS.

My laptop is also used for DVD's for the kids (or adults) to watch movies.

Its never used for work or email when im underway. If people need me, they can call my cell.

Mike

 

[fc3]

Uh huh... You'll have to explain to me then why you carry around a Raymarine upgrade kit and were able to geek out all over my bridge:

Gary, you have to stop down when photographing a brightly backlit subject. Gamma, contrast, and saturation adjusted.

PC. It makes a great anchor.

No, it makes a lousy anchor, too.

I have one of these in the salon as a FANTASTIC multi use machine: (note that it has a super powerful internal WiFi antenna)

Holy Crap!
It's looks like it's 1963 all over again! Fugly doesn't begin to cover it.

 

[Skeetobite]

Holy Crap!
It's looks like it's 1963 all over again! Fugly doesn't begin to cover it.

Shhhhh.....! You're going to hurt its feelings! Actually, it fits perfectly on top of our icemaker cabinet so all that shows is the screen. No different than anyone elses mounted 21" flat panel, except this offers a touch screen with integrated speakers.

oops... I almost got defensive on this.... but it's functional, fits what we use it for and looks fine on our boat.

 

[Daniel P Thomas]

Laptop on board every weekend. Have cable in marina, same as at office, so I carry my Wireless Cable Gateway with me to hi-jack internet.
Use laptop for weather updates, doppler, internet cruising, e-mails and loading pictures taken while out.
Have just started a maintenance log as well as equipment and supply log on excel spread sheets.

 

[billandamy]

Who still uses a windoze product? :huh:

We wont be taking the laptops out with us, but we are day trippers. No need to.

If we did stay out for more than an overnight, I'd more than likely bring it, as there is ALWAYS something to do wether it be work, writing, or play.

 

[Jack380AC]

I don't take it because I'm trying not to work but NOT because I don't like "geek" toys. Your phraseology limited the usefulness of the the survey. If you want good survey, resist the urge to be clever.

 

[Four Suns]

Well... I guess you caught me.

 

[Turtlesboat]

Survey Fight.

where's my coffee.

 

[Still LauCo]

PC and wireless card most of the time...
I only use it to surf when the kids are watching a movie before bed, or to check the weather...

Or for work:smt021

 

[Bigshugs]

Nope
Kids want to ski, we have moutains to climb (were on Loch Lomond), weekend camps to pitch, Beer and vittles to haul, there's too much hilarity on our boat. A PC or Laptop cuts into conversation . We should be enjoying that we are away from real life
Soon as they make one you can waterski on or one that takes you up mountains or pitches a camp Ill consider it

Bigshugs

 

[Bigshugs]

I don't take it because I'm trying not to work but NOT because I don't like "geek" toys. Your phraseology limited the usefulness of the the survey. If you want good survey, resist the urge to be clever.

Good Point , well made. The survey isnt sound

Bigshugs

 

[Presentation]

We are a laptop family.

I don’t like it when others use my laptop’s.

I have two. So far I only bring one onboard. My wife often brings hers onboard so that’s two onboard.

Our 11 year old and 7 year old each have their own laptops. Normally they don’t bring them along. If they need to use them they can use my wife’s laptop.

Our 4 year old does not have one yet. She does have a DVD player and brings it.

OK, so what do we do with these laptops?

Me: #1) Work emails #2) Online work #3) News / weather #4) surf / online forums like this one. That is the order. Normally I dont get past #3 while onboard.

Wife: #1) email #2) General surf

Daughter #1) Webkins #2) Limited surfing

Son #1) Webkins #2) Other online learning sites.

Why do I bring the laptop onboard? So I can be onboard more. Its not my goal to ‘get away from it all’ instead its my goal to ‘get away often.’

 

[jg300da]

We are a laptop family.

Is that some new kind of classification?

Nothing isolates a family more from each other than a laptop. Kind of counterproductive on a boat.

 

[Presentation]

Is that some new kind of classification?

“We are a family that uses laptops” Is that better for you?

Nothing isolates a family more from each other than a laptop.

We will need to agree to disagree.

These are the things that isolate a family:
Drugs, Non-responsible use of alcohol, Abuse, Divorce, etc.

Kind of counterproductive on a boat.

We are not on the laptops constantly. Again, its my goal to be on the boat with the family often. Bringing the laptop plus……..ohhhhhhh, I forgot mention, plus EVDO (allows internet access away from the dock, like Wi-Fi but its not local) allows me to spend MORE time with the family, not less.

If I had a different job it may not be necessary. My job requires I be in touch.

 

[jg300da]

Keeping in touch with work is NOT recreating, it is working. Staring at your laptop is NOT spending time with your family, it is spending time with your laptop.

Somehow we've developed this mentality that the world would shut down without our input, that there is no phone call that we can afford to miss or no news flash that we can do without. The notion of self-import is laughable.

Not targeting you here Doug. It seems more and more people are doing the same thing. In my opinion that's too bad...