In a message dated 13-01-99 21:40:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, karenandglen@erols.com writes: <<Joe said <snip>1 - Buy a modern, business class machine <snip> Plan on something in the $2,500.00 range and up.>> <Glen said: What is a reasonable life expectancy for one of these machines when used in the salt air environment of a boat cabin?.> I don't plan on a computer right now, but there are $500 desk top PC's now that seem to seem to have all the goodies of the $2000+ lap tops and on a trawler a place could probably be found to fit one. When it becomes salt air kaput in a few years make a fish haven out of it, and buy the next generation (probably much better) desk top to replace it. Chuck Monroe, 34' MT DC, Ebb Tide, Ft. Belvoir, VA