We have a glass cockpit style bridge and yes the laptop is time limited on the battery but it maybe long enough to get things going again or at least get out of a potentially dangerous situation. We also have an emergency generator so wouldnt take that long to bring everything back on line.

As Cathy says also allows for emails, weather, fax, etc with G3 card. My plotter on the laptop runs from my little Etrex GPS.

Oh and have you tried taking a set of dividers or compasses though airline security lately... the GPS often raises enough suspicion!

W.

Back to the Admiralty Leisure PC plotter. I have been using it to plan some voyages and have used just about every facility that it has to offer and I'm still impressed. By the way you can use it full screen easily by picking 'chart 'display 'full screen. To bring back the menu click on the chevron by the close programme X in the top right. I like it simply because it doesn't try and do everything for you, its like using manual charts with a little assistance. The big advantage of having a 15" monitor is that you can have your plan, the tidal diamond and the tide graph all on-screen and still see your route clearly. Printing isn't very good but I always hit PrintScrn and use other software to print the image with my notes written over the top. I must stress that this is for planning only, in marina or office or a quiet anchorage. I encapsulate the prints and use them at sea, with notes hand written using a marker pen. I have every beautifully drawn Admiralty chart for the south-west coast and NW France/Channel Isles all bang up to date (I've checked them) for £90 delivered. Thats a good purchase!