Is anyone using a laptop with a transflective display in bright sunlight? Which one? How do you like it? One example seems outrageously expensive at $3800, the Panasonic Toughbook 28, but it probably has some redeeming characteristics I am overlooking. It certainly isn't a barn burner when it comes to performance. See the link below for more info.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com
Transflective Displays - Are they really that good in the su
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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John R.
Re: Transflective Displays - Are they really that good in th
Ken,
FWIW, I'm not using one but my understanding is that the transflective displays combine the advantages of both the reflective and transmissive LCD display technologies into one display affording you a bright contrasty display in sunlight or indoors. Prior to this technology you either had to choose a reflective display for outdoor use or a transmissive for indoor. Either of those looks terrible in each others enviroment.
If it were me instead of laying out $3800 for an outdoor capable PC I would invest much less in a pocket PC like the Compaq and use that outside in the cockpit or a regular chart plotter interfaced to the laptop below deck. Then the laptop PC display technology is not an issue. I don't think a laptop PC belongs in the cockpit in the first place unless it is a totally waterproof mil-spec unit and those are very costly as you know. Also I think a laptop in the cockpit would be terribly awkward to use and place in a workable location.
I'm assuming of course that is the use you have in mind. Just my opinion based on some considerations I have been thinking about also. I have a laptop for use below deck at the nav station and have been thinking about how I will eventually interface it to a workstation of sorts in the cockpit. For me it all comes down to probably a Pocket PC because it will be able to display the same charting the laptop displays.
FWIW, I'm not using one but my understanding is that the transflective displays combine the advantages of both the reflective and transmissive LCD display technologies into one display affording you a bright contrasty display in sunlight or indoors. Prior to this technology you either had to choose a reflective display for outdoor use or a transmissive for indoor. Either of those looks terrible in each others enviroment.
If it were me instead of laying out $3800 for an outdoor capable PC I would invest much less in a pocket PC like the Compaq and use that outside in the cockpit or a regular chart plotter interfaced to the laptop below deck. Then the laptop PC display technology is not an issue. I don't think a laptop PC belongs in the cockpit in the first place unless it is a totally waterproof mil-spec unit and those are very costly as you know. Also I think a laptop in the cockpit would be terribly awkward to use and place in a workable location.
I'm assuming of course that is the use you have in mind. Just my opinion based on some considerations I have been thinking about also. I have a laptop for use below deck at the nav station and have been thinking about how I will eventually interface it to a workstation of sorts in the cockpit. For me it all comes down to probably a Pocket PC because it will be able to display the same charting the laptop displays.
Ken Coit wrote: Is anyone using a laptop with a transflective display in bright sunlight? Which one? How do you like it? One example seems outrageously expensive at $3800, the Panasonic Toughbook 28, but it probably has some redeeming characteristics I am overlooking. It certainly isn't a barn burner when it comes to performance. See the link below for more info.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC
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Richard Stephens
Re: Transflective Displays - Are they really that good in th
I've not used the Toughbook, but I have used Pocket PCs extensively. I can certainly recommend any of the current generation of Pocket PCs for use outdoors in all conditions. For waterproofing, I use an Aquapac case, which is submersible. The new iPaq 3950 is the best I've seen.Ken Coit wrote: Is anyone using a laptop with a transflective display in bright sunlight? Which one? How do you like it?
For larger sizes of display, I'm not sure the technology is quite the same. For example, the Fujitsu Pencentra outdoor display can be very hard to see in bright, difuse lighting (such as a hazy or overcast day). I would definitely want to try one outdoors under realistic conditions before I shelled out that kind of money.
Regards,
Richard Stephens.
<a href=htpp://www.memory-map.com>www.memory-map.com</a>
richard@memory-map.com
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Max Treece
Re: Transflective Displays - Are they really that good in th
We use the Panasonic Toughbook 28 at Duke Energy with our meter technicians and they work well outside and in low light conditions. They are a ruggidized unit meaning that they are a sealed unit and works in all types of wet and corrosive environments. Usually with ruggidized units, they are a generation behind in technology as they have to deal with heat and other weather conditions usually not necessary on office machines. Other units to consider might be the Hammerhead from Walkabout. It is a tablet unit without a keyboard but an accessory keyboard is available.
All of the new Pocket PCs with wth PC2002 operating system are required to have the color reflective display as part of the manufacturing specs from Microsoft. All run the Arm 206 Mhz processor for pretty good speed.
It may depend on what application that you need to run outside for which unit is best. If you are planning to run e-mail using the Airmail software on the Winlink system, the software requires Windows 95 or greater to run. Airmail will not run on the Pocket PC operating system and there is no plans to make it do so.
However, if your application is just to run maps and GPS programs, then there are several out there that might utilize the Pocket PC screen to its advantage.
If you do NOT need color there there might be several alternatives using PCs with just LCD screens.
metreece@duke-energy.com
All of the new Pocket PCs with wth PC2002 operating system are required to have the color reflective display as part of the manufacturing specs from Microsoft. All run the Arm 206 Mhz processor for pretty good speed.
It may depend on what application that you need to run outside for which unit is best. If you are planning to run e-mail using the Airmail software on the Winlink system, the software requires Windows 95 or greater to run. Airmail will not run on the Pocket PC operating system and there is no plans to make it do so.
However, if your application is just to run maps and GPS programs, then there are several out there that might utilize the Pocket PC screen to its advantage.
If you do NOT need color there there might be several alternatives using PCs with just LCD screens.
Ken Coit wrote: Is anyone using a laptop with a transflective display in bright sunlight? Which one? How do you like it? One example seems outrageously expensive at $3800, the Panasonic Toughbook 28, but it probably has some redeeming characteristics I am overlooking. It certainly isn't a barn burner when it comes to performance. See the link below for more info.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC
metreece@duke-energy.com
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Ken Coit
Re: Transflective Displays - Are they really that good in th
Richard,
Thanks for the info. I have been messing about with Memory-Map and the chart of Providence Harbor this evening. Fairly impressive and fun. Is there any way to concatenate multiple routes into one or must I simply retrace the waypoints of the other routes?
I think I am going to stay simple for this round, maybe we will splurge on a new laptop with bells and whistles for other applications, but keep the nav package inexpensive to see how they and we progress.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com
Thanks for the info. I have been messing about with Memory-Map and the chart of Providence Harbor this evening. Fairly impressive and fun. Is there any way to concatenate multiple routes into one or must I simply retrace the waypoints of the other routes?
I think I am going to stay simple for this round, maybe we will splurge on a new laptop with bells and whistles for other applications, but keep the nav package inexpensive to see how they and we progress.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC
Richard Stephens wrote:I've not used the Toughbook, but I have used Pocket PCs extensively. I can certainly recommend any of the current generation of Pocket PCs for use outdoors in all conditions. For waterproofing, I use an Aquapac case, which is submersible. The new iPaq 3950 is the best I've seen.Ken Coit wrote: Is anyone using a laptop with a transflective display in bright sunlight? Which one? How do you like it?
For larger sizes of display, I'm not sure the technology is quite the same. For example, the Fujitsu Pencentra outdoor display can be very hard to see in bright, difuse lighting (such as a hazy or overcast day). I would definitely want to try one outdoors under realistic conditions before I shelled out that kind of money.
Regards,
Richard Stephens.
<a href=htpp://www.memory-map.com>www.memory-map.com</a>
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com
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Olli Wendelin
Re: Transflective Displays - Are they really that good in th
Ken,
I wouldn't recommend a laptop on the cockpit. I have used several models of the Panasonic Toughbook with mixed results. I use Dell Latitudes, but not in exposed environments.
Take a look at the Itronix GoBook if you want to take it outside. http://www.itronix.com/products/notebooks.asp
Display: 12.1” TFT SVGA Outdoor ColorVue® display with Anti Glare and Touchscreen
Keyboard: Fully waterproof NiteVue® glow-in-the-dark keyboard, constructed from phosphorescent plastic. Backlit keyboard option
Environmental Specifications:
Die-Cast Magnesium for all structural components
Operating temperature -23° – 60° C (-10° – 140° F),
26 repeated 3ft drops Meets MIL-SPEC 810E, 516.4 IV
Rain/ Water resistance at 4 in. per hour at approximately 40 psi on all 6 axes per MIL STD 810E, 506.3 III
Dust per MIL STD 810E, 510.3 I
Vibration per MIL STD 810E, 514.4 I
Cost: ~ $5000.00
Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC
wendelin@spawar.navy.mil
I wouldn't recommend a laptop on the cockpit. I have used several models of the Panasonic Toughbook with mixed results. I use Dell Latitudes, but not in exposed environments.
Take a look at the Itronix GoBook if you want to take it outside. http://www.itronix.com/products/notebooks.asp
Display: 12.1” TFT SVGA Outdoor ColorVue® display with Anti Glare and Touchscreen
Keyboard: Fully waterproof NiteVue® glow-in-the-dark keyboard, constructed from phosphorescent plastic. Backlit keyboard option
Environmental Specifications:
Die-Cast Magnesium for all structural components
Operating temperature -23° – 60° C (-10° – 140° F),
26 repeated 3ft drops Meets MIL-SPEC 810E, 516.4 IV
Rain/ Water resistance at 4 in. per hour at approximately 40 psi on all 6 axes per MIL STD 810E, 506.3 III
Dust per MIL STD 810E, 510.3 I
Vibration per MIL STD 810E, 514.4 I
Cost: ~ $5000.00
Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC
wendelin@spawar.navy.mil
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Ken Coit
Thanks Everyone
I am convinced. No laptop in the cockpit, so not much need to worry about expensive transflective displays that may or may not work as we wished. Maybe we will find some hardened displays or laptops surplused from Gov't. service before we actually need one in the cockpit or are so flush from the market recovery (is it going up today?) that price is not a consideration.
I will stick to paper and a magnifying glass in the cockpit and also try not to go anywhere I hadn't planned on ahead of time. That tug and her barges is still driving me nuts even though no damage was done.
Thanks for your insights everyone.
Keep on sailing in the deep water,
Ken
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com
I will stick to paper and a magnifying glass in the cockpit and also try not to go anywhere I hadn't planned on ahead of time. That tug and her barges is still driving me nuts even though no damage was done.
Thanks for your insights everyone.
Keep on sailing in the deep water,
Ken
Olli Wendelin wrote: Ken,
I wouldn't recommend a laptop on the cockpit. I have used several models of the Panasonic Toughbook with mixed results. I use Dell Latitudes, but not in exposed environments.
Take a look at the Itronix GoBook if you want to take it outside. http://www.itronix.com/products/notebooks.asp
Display: 12.1” TFT SVGA Outdoor ColorVue® display with Anti Glare and Touchscreen
Keyboard: Fully waterproof NiteVue® glow-in-the-dark keyboard, constructed from phosphorescent plastic. Backlit keyboard option
Environmental Specifications:
Die-Cast Magnesium for all structural components
Operating temperature -23° – 60° C (-10° – 140° F),
26 repeated 3ft drops Meets MIL-SPEC 810E, 516.4 IV
Rain/ Water resistance at 4 in. per hour at approximately 40 psi on all 6 axes per MIL STD 810E, 506.3 III
Dust per MIL STD 810E, 510.3 I
Vibration per MIL STD 810E, 514.4 I
Cost: ~ $5000.00
Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com