Hardware for onboard

[The H]

Well, not to long til I need to get things ready for Phase2, looking at all the hardware required.

Currently I own a Sony Vaio laptop that is quite old, 17" screen, very heavy.

So I am considering getting a little netbook to take with me, this a good idea? I'l have my external HDD with me too.

Also, need a digital camera to take pictures for MNTB TRB, anyone got a recommendations as I have never owned one, do they have a recharge facility from the laptop, via USB, I don't really want to spend on batteries.

So..

1) Is getting a netbook a good idea?
2) What digital camera should I get that I can charge from the netbook?
3) Am I going to have any problems with power surges onboard?

[alistairuk]

Re: Hardware for onboard

1) Is getting a netbook a good idea?
2) What digital camera should I get that I can charge from the netbook?
3) Am I going to have any problems with power surges onboard?

1) No comment

2) It depends if you like photography or not - I like being a budding photographer so I got a fairly expensive one - but any cheap one would do! Most can charge over USB - but not all - always worth checking before hand if you plan to use that.

3) These occur - how often I think depends on how good your engineers are and age of ship etc. - I have yet to have a problem with them destroying equipment in my cabin. Although I tend to unplug my stuff when i'm not in the cabin, just incase. - I am sure chiefy can give a better opinion.

[The H]

Re: Hardware for onboard

1) No comment

Haha I already know your views on this, but unfortunately current finances do not allow for any apple goodies..

[Steve]

Re: Hardware for onboard

3) I have never knowingly encountered or heard of problems resulting from onboard power. My equipment has always survived, as has all the ship's equipment. Perhaps this is a folk-tale from the dim and distant past.

But you're the lecky!

[Chiefy]

Re: Hardware for onboard

Big power surges tend not to happen, as if things are that bad you would hope and expect the switchboard to look after it self and either blackout OR brown out (shedding non essential load etc) while the computers sort out the load ballance.

That and most domestic use equipment (lappys etc) are quite robust on the power side, so long as you avoid the "Cult of Jobs"

[Steve]

Re: Hardware for onboard

I just remembered one power related problem. The external power supplies for the plasma TVs on one ship had a habit of failing after blackout recovery. Probably just a particuliarly sensitive model.

[Chiefy]

Re: Hardware for onboard

Possibley, without seeing them etc, we have had computers fail to reboot and found fried power boxes (internally) but when you look into it you tend to find htey are the older ones and probabley where tired anyway.

Not the norm though, normally most stuff recovers well enough if in doubt switch it off when leaving your cabin...to be sure to be sure

[pappa_lazzaroo]

Re: Hardware for onboard

Would you be likely to get an interweb allowance on board an LNG '02 year tanker through Inmarsat or the like?

[Chiefy]

Re: Hardware for onboard

an LNG '02 on an plate you say?
Hmmmmm Dunno a bit old mate :0

TBH age of ship means nothing, it'll depend on the company and if they have updated/ upgraded thier kit and then wether they are paying the bill or not. Maersk just added it to ALL thier box boats some of which are mucho older than '02

So the honest helpful answer (it's here somewhere)
It Depends

[Lewis]

Re: Hardware for onboard

Why not just buy an extension cord with surge protection?

[Steve]

Re: Hardware for onboard

ISTR that surge protectors are forbidden on RFAs. One caught fire or something somewhere and the usual kneejerk took hold. No idea if there's a more technical reason not to allow them though, since I'm not a lecky.

[Steve]

Re: Hardware for onboard

1) For weight they're pretty sound, but they have small screens/speakers and don't play dvd's - incase you want to play dvd's/games.

External DVD-RW drive for about ?50 IIRC. Speakers on my netbooks are about as good as my laptops, i.e. both are pretty crap. Headphones or external speakers if you plan on anything more than the most casual listening/watching.

[The H]

Re: Hardware for onboard

Thanks for the info regarding the surge protectors.

I will most probably get myself a netbook, as they are lighter than laptops, and can be used more easily. (Screen size is not an issue as I can get a 10.1 inch netbook.

Any advice on a digital camera would be great however.

[MopofOliver]

Re: Hardware for onboard

As a current geek, you looking at Linux/Unix netbooks or MS Windows ones?

[dawg]

Re: Hardware for onboard

I've heard that vibrations can be an issue for laptops on some ships, and have heard reports of people using styrofoam mouldings to wedge the laptop into to mitigate this problem.