OK, so I'm giving in...

[tomg]

OK, so I\'m giving in...

...because I said I would never fit a TV in the boat, but the kids are threatening to mutiny over long sails with 'nothing to do'. Great when we get to Guernsey but 'it takes too long'. So how about a compromise of buying a laptop with a decent screen and a bunch of films on DVD to while away their boredom until we get there (I haven't told them its St. Malo this year). Do I need anything special or will any laptop with a DVD player do the business and how many films could I play per battery charge? Or is it all just a lousy idea?

 

[ccscott49]

Re: OK, so I\'m giving in...

Great idea! A laptop with dvd drive is all you need, but battery power will be a problem, you may need a car charger adaptor, to run it off the boats DOMESTIC battery, then it will be fine! I've also given in to myself! Stops me going out and getting pissed all the time!!

 

[LadyInBed]

You spoil your kids!

You spoil your kids! Mine used to have to make do with Cards and Dominoes.
I taught them to play Crib and 3's and 5's.

 

[ToMo]

Re: OK, so I\'m giving in...

Think about it! whose fault is it if the films are too old, already seen at a mates house, rubbish, etc ? Yours right!
Whose fault is it if, "there's nothing on the telly", they mean of course all the same descriptive comments as previously supplied? - So get a telly!

 

[ccscott49]

Re: OK, so I\'m giving in...

But is the telly going to work, bobbing about in the oggin? not bloody likely and its then they want it! We've had the TV antenna debate a few times methinks! You can let them choose the movies, then no probs, they can fight amongst themselves, much more entertainin' Who am I to say anyway, no kids!!

 

[MedMan]

Re: OK, so I\'m giving in...

In addition to the DVD player itself you need software such as Intervideo WinDVD or Windows Media Player to play back video DVD's. You should find one of these installed on a new Laptop, but do check.

You won't get long out of the internal laptop battery. Perhaps you meant the ship's domestic battery? Most laptops draw around 5 amps wo you can work out from that how many hours you can afford to have the family huddled around the screen.

So far, so good, but there are two potential problems: sound and vision!!! A modern laptop gives an excellent picture if you are sitting square on to it but the bigger the angle (left to right or up and down) the poorer the picture. There is a limit, therefore, to how many folk can watch a laptop screen. The sound usually comes from two built-in Micky Mouse speakers so some additional amplification through an external sound system might be required.

If you really want to find out, hire a DVD, take it down to PC World and ask them to play it on half a dozen lap-tops. You will soon find out if it is viable for you.

David

 

[seahorse]

Re: OK, so I\'m giving in...

Yeah! go 4 it.
no matter what the ages of the kidz they can have Telly Tubbies 2 XXXX!
Also fit a pair of reasonable speakers 2 enjoy musak or even music fron CD or DVD.

 

[Col]

Re: An alternative?

I have just bought a tv/video combination unit, run off 12V or mains.Special offer, £200+vat from Macro, it's even got a remote control.
The cheapest I have seen them before is £340, from a caravan shop.

 

[mtb]

Re: hang on a mo

This is a perfect opportunity to use parental control !!
Place a couple of good books ,tell em their yours and dont touch ,pick one up occasionally while reading it giggle out load.
Once they pick up a good book its sorted, because they will want to read it through. Another way is to involve them in the book buying hunt ,get them to choose .
My 16 year old son is taking a book with us when we go out next time .
They can watch the bluddy boring tele at home so why take that with you !!.
one thing ,you will soon get the bug for reading ,so that again will encourage them.
Mick

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v/cheep or swap for tug

 

[jonjo]

Re: OK, so I\'m giving in...

Suggest you preview this technology in action before spending £1200+

I work in large software team where the younger members squander their bonuses and pay raises on technology gadgets, at an alarming rate. The consensus at the moment is that DVD viewing on laptops is not no there yet. It should work in theory but often the result is a blocky picture.

 

[Guest]

Re: OK, so I\'m giving in...

I've got a laptop with DVD and can run it using a cable inverter of the 12v fag point, so no problem
with batteries.

cneighbour

 

[ccscott49]

Re: hang on a mo

What a bloody good idea, but you could also get some discovery type DVD's.

 

[tomg]

Its not all bad.

Last summer the 15 year old, in between bouts of depression over what the girlfriend may be doing at home (we're taking her with us next time), read read all of his GCSE coursework novels twice plus the appropriate York Notes and filled two A3 sketch pads with with good art (artistic like his mother). The 13 year old learned to play chess properly and dominos and read sometimes. And we all played lots of scrabble and cards and 'quick' monopoly...but during three weeks, and especially on long legs they get TV withdrawal symptons. I've decided firmly against TV but then the big-boy suggested the DVD option. I like the idea of taking a DVD disc to PC World (thanks for that) and I'm kidding myself that I will use the laptop to start that book I've always threatened to write - you have to have some reason (excuse) for spending a grand apart from indulging the kids again.

 

[Paulka]

Re: You spoil your kids!

Right, and backgammon, and Monopnly, and Scrabble, and, and ,and.
And ask them how many gulls, and dolphins each one have seen, and what the name of this bird is, etc.
What about fishing, and reading about St. Malo and its "corsaires"?

Don't give up, make them interested to what happens outside.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[rogerroger]

Re: OK, so I\'m giving in...

Works fine on my 2 year old Apple PowerBook...

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Guest]

We have a TV

that is 12V as well as 240V. also a multi-sys. We also have a video CD player which is part of the boat radio/music CD system (from Philips), so we can watch videos on a proper television. The TV, and radio/CD system was a whole lot cheaper than a laptop computer - about USD $250 for the whole system!

TV is about 14" (11"?), we've carried a TV across oceans with no problem. A great system, and when we're in port with our masthead antennae we get local news which is a great way to keep informed of what's going on outside!

I agree that the kids should probably learn other things, such as games, etc. But if you're letting them see movies at home, why would you change the rules while you're on the boat? Seems to me that they would get the idea that they were being punished.

Fair winds,
JeanneP

 

[ccscott49]

Re: We have a TV

I don't think you would get that lot in UK for £166! wish we could!!!

 

[david_e]

TV on board......

....no way. If and when we ever get our berth/bigger boat then there is no way I am having a TV on board. Have had to put parental lock on all the crap at home, will soon be cancelling the pay tv 'cause it is just garbage. Admittedly the sailing is mainly day sailing and not long journeys but if their minds are elsewhere how will they start to learn about sailing?

Instead the money will go to extra adventure holidays and activities for them.

 

[tcm]

Re: DVD, PC, TV, VHS.

Niot sure that PC's are quite there for watching DVD videos. The foldy DVDplayers are ok, but breakable and £800. TV recep notoriously bad without satellite dishes and once in France, it's french tv, itself notoriously bad. I will have to dig out the combined 12" TV/vhs combo which runs on 240 and 12v electrics sometime and put an advert up for it £140 ?? Something you can take home over winter to keep it warm, I think.

 

[robp]

Re: OK, so I\'m giving in...

I agree it's worth having something that the kids like on board. Don't see why they should be made to live a different life because you're out sailing. I also agree however with the posts suggesting that a laptop might not be the right medium. A laptop could be very useful for chartplotting etc. But screens that are good enough for multiple person viewing are very expensive. I would still go with the 10" combi that Macro are offering at the moment. Tons of tapes still around and so they can have more. A few DVD's won't last long. Plus the power draw is greater.

Must admit that my Status aerial has packed up more times that I would have liked but it works well when OK.