Onboard Computer

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oldvarnish

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I'm thinking of installing an onboard computer - probably a Mac Mini.
I was wondering if others had computers on board (not laptops) and what kinds of display you were using, and how were you mounting them?
 
What do you want to do with it ?

Alot depends on what you want to do with it . Is it just for watching movies . Have you got free bulkhead space . You can by a Tv that will except the input from a pc . You can by a Euro Bracket which has four bolt holes which can then be fitted to the back of some screens and mounted on a wall . These let you adjust angles etc .
 
I have been looking at these for a while;

http://www.digitalyacht.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=11645

Seem good value with integrated AIS, GPS, NMEA2000 Gateway etc

Ignore any prices you see I will send a pm.

I am not too great with the computer gizmos but would you not be limiting yourself a lot getting a mac with regard to free nav software etc. Dont know anything about macs so please dont shoot me down in flames:)
 
onboard computer

If you want to use a computer for navigation then I don't think you will find any software that will run on it. All nav programs run on Windows.

I love my onboard laptop. I use Seapro nav software with integrated NASA AIS engine. It's brilliant. Far better than using a chartplotter, which I've got two of.
I just bought a cheap secondhand laptop off ebay. When I became pretty reliant on it I bought a second identical model as backup. Total cost was about £400 for the two.
 
ste7ve said:
If you want to use a computer for navigation then I don't think you will find any software that will run on it. All nav programs run on windows
Click to expand...

Not quite true. I've got lots of Mac navigation software, but I'm open minded and the above mentioned kit sounds interesting. But my original post referred to displays.
 
ste7ve said:
If you want to use a computer for navigation then I don't think you will find any software that will run on it. All nav programs run on Windows.
Click to expand...

If you google navigation software for mac you will find several options.

Having said that, if you prefer one of the Microsoft only applications, I would recommend running VM on your mac mini. It enables you to run windows software and the mac mini is a better computer than any other small computer I know.
 
That is interesting I didn't know you could have an emulator and run windows software on a mac.
With regard to displays I have a combined pc monitor and tv which is hinged on my interior grab handle so that it can be rotated and viewed inside the saloon or out in the cockpit depending on the weather, I can also use it as a chart plotter out in the cockpit with the sliding main hatch closed to protect it from the elements.
 
oldvarnish said:
I'm thinking of installing an onboard computer - probably a Mac Mini.
I was wondering if others had computers on board (not laptops) and what kinds of display you were using, and how were you mounting them?
Click to expand...

I would have thought a Mac Mini mounted somewhere dry & out of the way with a wireless mouse & keyboard would be good solution.

Trouble is that monitors are getting larger (15" seems to be in short supply, mostly touchscreen & expensive now) which makes a separate monitor harder to place at the chart-table - at least on my boat - 17" might be just do-able for me but the ubiquitous 19" is just too large (& power hungry probably).
 
I've got a mac mini in my sailboat. I have a small (8" I believe) 12 V touchscreen display. Works great.

DSC00013.jpg


I run only OS X and iOS software. I'm windoze allergic.
 
Buy the new Mac mini with HDMI output and then use any modern TV. Use eyeTV and have the added benefit of recordable TV. I use VMware fusion and run windows 7 with ChartNavigator Pro, OpenCNP and OziExplorer with no problems.
 
I think its the difficulty with the displays thats the main problem with on board computers. The current ones are too big - for my boat anyway - or too expensive; or too power hungry.

All in all it seems to me the best display is one attached to a computer as a laptop......

And the least power hungry of these are the netbooks, long battery life (4-8hrs), low cost (from £225 new), reasonable size screen (10-12inches); windoze OS (XP home or Starter 7) etc...
 
BAtoo said:
I think its the difficulty with the displays thats the main problem with on board computers. The current ones are too big - for my boat anyway - or too expensive; or too power hungry.

All in all it seems to me the best display is one attached to a computer as a laptop......

And the least power hungry of these are the netbooks, long battery life (4-8hrs), low cost (from £225 new), reasonable size screen (10-12inches); windoze OS (XP home or Starter 7) etc...
Click to expand...

Why would you even contemplate Windows on a low-spec machine?
 
Monitors

I haven't bought one yet, but ENOX on amazon look worth a try.

24w for 18.5 inch screen with DTV as well
 
If you are in the mood for spending money you could consider these.

We have one on board and it serves well as a TV, DVD player, PC monitor and repeater screen for a plotter. Excellent quality and picture.
 
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