Hi Tom: Absolutely a great piece. And I agree with you on almost every point. I suspect that we'll have this visibility thing worked out pretty soon but you're right about this and I as have said, this is still a big problem. But maybe even this has a silver lining of sorts. The ambient light visibility issue for LCD screens forces us to keep those paper charts handy and open to the right spot. There's nothing worse for me, than trying to squint at a chart detail on a glared out computer screen when I'm in a shoal area and want to keep my head up and looking out. The new Panasonic laptops that we sell for some navigation uses are very ruggedized. We throw them, running, off the bow of our boat onto the dock, to get everyone's attention. And we wash them off afterwards with a hose... still running. But they are expensive and even their bright active matrix video systems can't compete with sunlight. Not yet at least. They work great for sailboats and open bridge applications. You didn't mention navigating at night. If you want an ecstatic experience, use your computer for a night passage. With Visual Navigation Suite switched to "night" illumination and a darkened pilot house charts are clear and bright. Now that's really neat. No fumbling for charts, chart lights, trying to estimate bearings to lights. It's great! Joe & Debbie Engel Marine Computer Service, Inc. MV "Freda Fly" 40' Tollycraft Tri-Cabin Portland, OR > -----Original Message----- > From: T Lichty [SMTP:TLichty@AOL.COM] > Sent: Sunday, May 03, 1998 7:16 AM > To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com > Subject: Computers vs chartplotters > > The Chartplotter & the Computer Go Cruising