Thanks for the links, this is an interesting product for boaters.  I have
not seen much in the way of specs, but for it to work in this form factor it
has to be rugged, which is what we need.  I also assume that it will work
off of 12 volts because of the talk about using it in cars.  With a touch
screen you resolve one of my complaints with PC systems, which is trying to
use a pointing device while underway.

You can do all of this with a regular PC (including getting a 12 or 24V
power supply) but having an integrated package from a major manufacturer
like Samsung will be better and cheaper than a one-off solution that I could
construct.  We will have to listen for how well it works for early
adopters; if it survives the Starbucks test it should work in a trawler
cabin.  With one piece it will be more rugged than a laptop (I have lost two
due to hinge damage.)

The screen is small but my idea is to have the mini PC at the pilothouse
table wirelessly linked to a larger monitor on the console.  (You could use
a hard wire but wireless is cooler.)  If it worked it would be ideal; the
navigator could fiddle with the chart presentation up close while the pilot
keeps their eyes on the bridge screen and window.  In our current setup the
navigator blocks the view while fiddling with the controls of the
chartplotter.  This sometimes prompts a rebuke from the Admiral.

It also seems like something that you could take with you in the dink pretty
easily, depending upon how water resistant the design is.

George Rankin
Oyster Catcher

Sounds like a great product.  But so have all of Microsoft's other
products.

Let the rest of us know how it pans out!

Bob Deering
Juneau Alaska

I have a number of "Ultra-Mobile" devices from Casio, NEC, etc. that are
very similar but not really handy. Some of them purchased four or five
years ago.  Hopefully this one, or something derived from it, will be
useful.

At least the gap between functionality and the price point are getting
more reasonable, but I wouldn't rush out and drop the cash on one right
yet.

If your looking for mobile GPS and charting, look at the Garmin
handheld products, or various Pocket PC solutions.  Personally, mobile
means something I can put in my pocket or clip to my belt.  Otherwise,
when I need it it's going to be sitting on my desk, or the back seat of
my car.  The same place my laptop would be.

Dale Klahn