I have been using a laptop for about 8 years with Captn SW and have not found the hardware/laptop to be an issue. However I have had more than my share of driver issues with the GPS interface. Enough that I would never consider it my primary navigation tool. Love the large screen and multi-purpose functionality but the "GPS not found" problem is a pain and can pop up without any warning. Works when I test it the day before I go out but bombs the next day type of problems, it is about 95 percent reliable. Have tried two different GPS interfaces PCMCIA and USB each has had their issues. My Furuno chart plotter has never had an issue and always works as does all of my other stand alone equipment.
Even with the problems I do like the laptop a lot, just not reliable enough to replace the stand alone systems.
I cannot envision having all my navigation (sonar, chartploter, radar, GPS) being handled by a laptop or networked device as a single point of failure.
Big fan of redundancy for nav equipment, I have two chart plotters (PC and Furuno, two VHF radios (ICOM handheld and ICOM fixed), three batteries, five GPS systems plus paper charts. The only non-redundant systems I have is the radar and sonar.
stevej
Even with the problems I do like the laptop a lot, just not reliable enough to replace the stand alone systems.
I cannot envision having all my navigation (sonar, chartploter, radar, GPS) being handled by a laptop or networked device as a single point of failure.
Big fan of redundancy for nav equipment, I have two chart plotters (PC and Furuno, two VHF radios (ICOM handheld and ICOM fixed), three batteries, five GPS systems plus paper charts. The only non-redundant systems I have is the radar and sonar.
stevej