Micro PC vs laptop?

[Sea Change]

Our laptop is on the verge of death (it's done well, bought as a refurb in 2016 and still going. Kind of).

I was aboard a friend's boat the other day and he had a really impressive setup. Micro PC, two screens, wireless keyboard and mouse. The whole thing was relatively cheap and seems to have far more power, memory etc than you would get with a laptop on the same budget.

Being a cheapskate, I'm quite tempted by the idea. Running OpenCPN, and Predictwind on such a setup looks great.
We've already got a monitor, so we'll just need the keyboard and mouse.

Anybody on here doing similar? Any advice?

 

[Laser310]

I really like the ability to use my laptop to prepare in the comfort of home or the local cafe.., and then get on the boat ready to go without having to sync files or whatever with a boat PC.

 

[Sea Change]

I really like the ability to use my laptop to prepare in the comfort of home or the local cafe.., and then get on the boat ready to go without having to sync files or whatever with a boat PC.

That's a fair point, but I live on the boat so it doesn't really apply!

 

[William_H]

The micro PC like RasperrryPi might seem like a good system being low on power usage and cheap. However you still need a screen that runs efficiently on 12v. Now I am not really up to date on these things so I lool forward to being educateed. As is often with this forum. ol'will

 

[Sea Change]

The micro PC like RasperrryPi might seem like a good system being low on power usage and cheap. However you still need a screen that runs efficiently on 12v. Now I am not really up to date on these things so I lool forward to being educateed. As is often with this forum. ol'will

I'm not too worried about power usage, we have 1350w of solar and have oodles of power... we don't even turn the inverter and Starlink off at night any more!

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

The micro PC like RasperrryPi might seem like a good system being low on power usage and cheap. However you still need a screen that runs efficiently on 12v. Now I am not really up to date on these things so I lool forward to being educateed. As is often with this forum. ol'will

I wouldn't say "All" but I think that most monitors run on 12volts, possibly even the micro's. the standard UK plug adaptor just transforms and rectifies
( by whatever means)the 230 v. supply. You can always use a DC-DC convertor to give the correct stable voltage.
Edit:- My micro runs on 19v DC. Monitor 12v DC.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Our laptop is on the verge of death (it's done well, bought as a refurb in 2016 and still going. Kind of).

I was aboard a friend's boat the other day and he had a really impressive setup. Micro PC, two screens, wireless keyboard and mouse. The whole thing was relatively cheap and seems to have far more power, memory etc than you would get with a laptop on the same budget.

Being a cheapskate, I'm quite tempted by the idea. Running OpenCPN, and Predictwind on such a setup looks great.
We've already got a monitor, so we'll just need the keyboard and mouse.

Anybody on here doing similar? Any advice?

I used to have a laptop, connected to a TV (as the monitor) by an HDMI cable, with a wireless keyboard and mouse. I changed from a laptop to a mini (not micro, if there is a difference) PC a few months ago, more power, more memory etc than an equivalently priced laptop and less space. It's connected to a 40" TV by HDMI as well as a soundbar, plus the wireless keyboard and mouse. Does everything you can do on a laptop (obviously), OpenCPN for passage planning, USB GPS so could be used for navigation. Connected to the boats N2K network for all nav data, connected to the Victron stuff to monitor power etc. Box sets and movies can be downloaded and watched at your leisure etc etc etc

 

[PaulRainbow]

I'm not too worried about power usage, we have 1350w of solar and have oodles of power... we don't even turn the inverter and Starlink off at night any more!

Our inverter is never off, so the TV is on AC, as is the PC, although the PC can run from DC if we wanted to.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have a micro PC on board mainly used for OpenCPN and internet it runs on 12 Vdc I also have a 12Vdc monitor that can also be used as a video monitor from Sat TV

All good and serve all my needs

I have a laptop used at home mainly or my holiday home

 

[dunedin]

That's a fair point, but I live on the boat so it doesn't really apply!

I think that is the key point.
Most of us like a laptop as can take it around with us - currently mine is in my backpack as i head from the boat to a train. Also can use in multiple places on boat - at chart table, at di ing table, in cockpit.
BUT as you note your requirements are different, so I understand why a micro PC is of interest. Unfortunately can't offer any direct experience, other than laptop - where change from HDD to SDD transformed things.

 

[Laser310]

That's a fair point, but I live on the boat so it doesn't really apply!

i am sure you know your habits and needs, so i won't try to change your mind.

but when cruising, don't you ever like to go ,in the morning to the local cafe; have a coffee.., people watch a bit.., study the weather and plan your route.., and enjoy the local ambiance before departing?

It's one of my chief entertainments!

Also, the internet is often better than at the boat. If you have starlink, it's probably not better than at the boat, and may be worse, but I would do it anyway.

 

[Sea Change]

i am sure you know your habits and needs, so i won't try to change your mind.

but when cruising, don't you ever like to go ,in the morning to the local cafe; have a coffee.., people watch a bit.., study the weather and plan your route.., and enjoy the local ambiance before departing?

It's one of my chief entertainments!

Also, the internet is often better than at the boat. If you have starlink, it's probably not better than at the boat, and may be worse, but I would do it anyway.

Everybody does this differently
But, in short, no. Maybe a product of living most of my life in rural places where popping out to a cafe is a 20 mile round trip? Or maybe I'm just a tight git.

I do all my planning on the boat where I have all my charts and pilots and reliable fast internet.

 

[Sea Change]

So it looks like the correct term is Mini rather than Micro, PC.

I'm trying to find one that's bundled with MS Office... SWMBO is doing an OU course and she's not finding Open Office to be completely reliable.

I quite like the idea of using our existing USB-C monitor as a permanently mounted display at the chart table, and running a second monitor via HDMI for watching films etc.

We will probably get a laptop as well but it will be a fairly cheap refurb (worked well last time!) and the mini PC would be the main storage for all our films, photos etc. Hopefully there's a way of setting up a little network between them that even a luddite like me can understand.

 

[earlybird]

I've never seen a mini pc bundled with any software, except Windows of course. Wasn't Open Office discontinued some time ago? Libre Office is seen as a very good, free alternative to MS Office.

 

[geem]

I really like the ability to use my laptop to prepare in the comfort of home or the local cafe.., and then get on the boat ready to go without having to sync files or whatever with a boat PC.

I bought a micro PC for the boat. More powerful than my top of the range Samsung tablet and a fraction of the cost. I am installing a 16" flat screen on the bulkhead in the nav station on industrial velcro. We have a wireless keyboard and mouse. The solid state drive is going in the adjacent locker. The only cable on the nav station will be for the screen. We have open CPN loaded already. The whole cost was £250. It's a better solution than our laptop and it is directly powered from the boat electrics.

 

[Sea Change]

I've never seen a mini pc bundled with any software, except Windows of course. Wasn't Open Office discontinued some time ago? Libre Office is seen as a very good, free alternative to MS Office.

I'm still running Open Office, it's possible that Libre would work better.
I haven't seen any deals with MS Office included either.

 

[lustyd]

Microsoft office is now a subscription which she will get very cheap while doing the course, should be less than £20/year. If you know someone who works at MS they can get it for you at £13/year or give you a company store login.
Definitely better in every way than the free ones, aside from price, but the free ones are better than they were.

 

[Sea Change]

Microsoft office is now a subscription which she will get very cheap while doing the course, should be less than £20/year. If you know someone who works at MS they can get it for you at £13/year or give you a company store login.
Definitely better in every way than the free ones, aside from price, but the free ones are better than they were.

She's actually got free access to an online version of MS Office for the duration of the course, but for whatever reason this hasn't been working very well. Likely the antique laptop that we're using.

 

[lustyd]

She's actually got free access to an online version of MS Office for the duration of the course, but for whatever reason this hasn't been working very well. Likely the antique laptop that we're using.

She will be entitled to a student licence as well. She may even be using one, and could possibly install from portal.office.com although that would depend on the licence she currently has.
All students are entitled to the discount copy though.

 

[PaulRainbow]

So it looks like the correct term is Mini rather than Micro, PC.

I'm trying to find one that's bundled with MS Office... SWMBO is doing an OU course and she's not finding Open Office to be completely reliable.

I quite like the idea of using our existing USB-C monitor as a permanently mounted display at the chart table, and running a second monitor via HDMI for watching films etc.

We will probably get a laptop as well but it will be a fairly cheap refurb (worked well last time!) and the mini PC would be the main storage for all our films, photos etc. Hopefully there's a way of setting up a little network between them that even a luddite like me can understand.

I went for a high end model Amazon.co.uk

Probably more than you want to spend, but the brand do some much cheaper models, scroll the page above to see. Very please with the one i bought, performed flawlessly since i fitted it.