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Board » General Discussion » Windows or Mac?

l just killed my Mac, so am starting from scratch. l used it solely for web browsing, downloading movies, and Sol. What I couldn't do was use blue water or other routing software with a Mac. What do other SOLers use?

Also tablets. l have a Samsung Galaxy Notebook 10.1, but no flash and therefore no sol. What do other SOLers use?
I use Win PC (running an old OS) and all that stuff works just fine. There are some folks that use Linux distros...stoertebaeker and kropper I seem to remember.
I've actually looked at and played with a chromebook, which did sol very well as well as played netflicks and youtube stuff.
If you're into playing with your system, then a Linux setup might be the best.
If you just want something that works out of the box, Win8 or a chromebook might be best. Of course most Nav software is designed to run on Windoze, not sure how that stuff would work on the chromebook.

Just as a point of interest, how did you kill your Mac? I fried the motherboard on my previous laptop by spilling a really good IPA on it. :-p
Yes, I use linux.

I see apple software a bit like a taxi: pricey, you (almost) always get where you want to go, but you rarely have a choice in how you get there. If something goes wrong, you're scr..- you're fu..- you're not happy.

windows is more like your own car, where you can steer yourself. But the steering wheel comes loose once in a while, and occasionally you have a flat battery :)

linux more like the car that you spend your whole Sunday on to get it working again, not because it broke down, but because you want to make it better.

chromebook... I don't have much experience with that. As far as I know, it's basically a browser. More like a train, only a limited number of places you can go to, with a railway guard that watches you.

---
well that was fun :) what was the question?

If you like playing around with your computer, take a look at linux. If not, take a look at linux :) If really not, well, never mind then.

If you was happy with apple, then stay with apple. There are ways to get BWR running on apple, but I would recommend looking for other nautical software that can run on mac without much trouble. For a router: qtVlm is crossplatform, it shouldn't be too hard to get it running on mac.

If you don't have a special preference for apple, go for windows. Most programs run at least on windows, just because they form the majority of the market. Maybe look into chromebook, I'm not sure how easy (if even possible) it is to install things like routers on a chromebook.

You can install windows and linux on the same PC. Apple has trouble keeping hardware and software separate.

As for the tablet... My opinion is that it combines the disadvantages of laptop and smartphone: you can't put it in your pocket, and you can't do much with it. But that's just me.

On "no flash"-machines, people use puffin to get the SOL client running. I have no experience with that.

---
PS: if you do choose for linux, or are seriously considering it, there is a lot to choose from.
Maybe it's still possible to boot Linux on a PC. But M$ is trying to make it hard.
SSD won't boot

--- Last Edited by captjack1942 at 2014-03-05 18:01:30 ---

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Marstrand to Cowes 2025


We invite you to another race, which will kick off the third quarter of our ARCH series. We'll set off from Marstrand, Sweden, which, along with Skagen, Denmark, marks the line commonly recognised as the border separating the Baltic Sea from the North Sea. The 650nm route will take our Ripitide 50 across the North Sea and the English Channel to Cowes, England. Watch out for the fast ferries crossing the Channel from Calais to Dover 😊.
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Sinbad by Balloon 2025 - Baia de l'Oiseau to Carnarvon


How ever shall I return to report with clear report to the Sultan – asked Sinbad. It must be told this island and all its fables shall be expunged from the annals of every thousand and one night. The wind howls here, and sun be none (it’s Winter, Sin, ed.) and all days from the west, but let’s launch anyway and see if we can work our SOL Balloon north as the days pass aiming for Asthralaya, where The Mahabharata tells the ancients once tested mighty weapons, about a quarter and a million qasbah away (2500nm, ed.), perhaps one month.
Race #1885
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Tall Ships Races 2025 - Aberdeen to Kristiansand


Welcome to the third of four virtual Tall Ships Races in European waters which are concurrently being organized in-real-life by Sail Training International . This third race is from Aberdeen in Scotland east across the North Sea to Norway’s Kristiansand; circa 330nm in Sailonline’s magnificent 90m Barque.
NOTE: Starts and Finishes in tall ships racing are always offshore to avoid conflict with shipping and shipping lanes; online and real-life may not match exactly.
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Nantucket Sprint 2025


Welcome to Nantucket, from whence Herman Melville’s Cap’n Ahab sailed round The Horn into the northern Pacific Ocean to hunt the gray whale - whose migrations are celebrated elsewhere in SOL’s Q4 schedule - he never to return. And whaling too, as the 19th C progressed, like Ahab disappeared from Nantucket as the harbour silted up and mainland Massachusetts whaling stations benefited from rail connections. But beach life, yachting and nostalgia has rescued the island from oblivion, so to celebrate leisure, SOL gives you the Nantucket Sprint - 25nm in 29er_XX’s from Great Point to Muskeget & Tuckernuck Islands across the sound to a finish just inside the mouth of the harbour. Enjoy!
Race 1936
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Suursaari TIMED Race 2025

The first TIMED race of the northern hemisphere Summer takes us to the Gulf of Finland on a 165nm zig-zagging course beginning and ending in the seacoast village of Haukilahti and circling the island of Suursaari. It’s only appropriate that the boat for this race is Finland’s own Club Swan 50. This is a TIMEDrace so you may RE-REGISTER HEREto try again after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1928
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Young Island to Great Nicobar 2025

The adventure continues as we launch this fifth leg of the RWW series, racing from Young Island to Great Nicobar on the edge of the Bay of Bengal. Get ready for a chilling start as we set sail on the seventh leg of the 2025 Ocean Championship Series! A 5200nm journey of endurance, strategy, and pure sailing excitement. This leg will be pursued aboard the Super Maxi 100v2, pushing sailors to their limits. Do you have what it takes to conquer the Indian Ocean? Join us and put your skills to the ultimate test!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1929
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