* this particular instrument won’t go suddenly into a BSOD only because you installed an app for watching movies or playing music.*
This is why my navigation laptop does NOTHING else. It is never ever connected to any network, has no anti-virus software, no movie players, no office, nor anything else but the basic operating system and OpenCPN. Any file that goes on there goes via thumb drive or CD and is virus-scanned at the source. We have other devices and laptops for entertainment. Something to consider: If you have a GPS like mine that is a rail mount marine unit with no controls or screen, if the laptop dies you have no way to read it anymore unless you have another NMEA device someplace. My VHF can display LAT/LON from the input for the DSC, so that is one backup to get at the info. Joe Della Barba Coquina From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Marek Dziedzic Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 9:19 AM To: CnC-List@cnc-list.com Subject: Stus-List Marine systems Steve, I think that the big issue is that the dedicated device is a much better controlled environment. For recreational boaters, this may not matter that much, but if you are a commercial boat skipper, you may want to have confidence that this particular instrument won’t go suddenly into a BSOD only because you installed an app for watching movies or playing music. So it is a question of controlling the environment well. From what I have seen, I don’t think Garmin and al develop their own OSs. More than likely they get commercially developed OSs (like the Blackberry’s QNX) and modify it slightly (or more than slightly) to fit their needs. Having said all of the above, I fully agree with you. Marek
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