Just to throw another thought into this discussion. Since "No Wake Zone" is still on the hard, my thoughts are not from experience, but I find this thread extremely valuable for my planning purposes. My initial plan is to go with the notebook computer, even with other "stuff" on it but using an external USB hard drive with ONLY the nav software and charts. A second backup notebook with ONLY the operating system in the event of a failure of the primary notebook. My thinking is that in the event of a failure of the primary, I could do without the other "stuff" but still maintain my nav system operation. It goes without saying that paper charts will also be on hand. Now for my new thought. Has anyone besides me considered the Tablet PC for navigation. The nav software should run on the Tablet PC just fine and it seems to me that the "touch screen" feature would be great, as well as the ability to write on the screen. What I don't know yet is if the nav software needs to be written to support the touch screen feature. I did e-mail TheCap'n but they have not responded yet. It would be fairly easy to fabricate a felt lined "U" shaped mount with the opening at the top to slide the Tablet into at the helm. Any thoughts??? Walt _________________________________________________________________ Let the advanced features & services of MSN Internet Software maximize your online time. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200363ave/direct/01/

Dear Walt, I have been keeping track of all tablet PC developments for some time now. I agree that this appears to be a great solution. But for my purposes the tablet pc's available are just too limited in their abilities (not enough processing power, memory, drive size, no built in CD or CD/DVD) to compete with the laptops here now. But I can imagine a tablet with a large 15" bright touch screen, Pentium 4 2.5 Mhz with 2 gig memory, 60 gig HD, fast 3D graphics!!! that would be heaven for me. By the way the Weems & Plath nav program did support a touch screen. Richard Kumferman Walt Kazmierczak wrote: > > Now for my new thought. Has anyone besides me considered the Tablet PC for > navigation. The nav software should run on the Tablet PC just fine and it > seems to me that the "touch screen" feature would be great, as well as the > ability to write on the screen. What I don't know yet is if the nav > software needs to be written to support the touch screen feature. > > Any thoughts??? > > > >