[Patrick]

My Pismo running OS X (10.4.7) started to act up while on our boat. First the USB mouse froze, then the BU-353 GPS stop receiving signals and finally GPXNavX froze. I thought this was a USB fault, power issue or maybe a corrupt program. Took Pismo into get checked and the tech thinks it's the harddrive. Sure I know harddrives fail, but know I'm thinking could it have been damaged during a rough run in the boat. I checked on the internet about shock proof hard drives, some are available, however has anyone done something to their iBook/Powerbook to help shock proof their unit? When my Pismo is working again I'd like to help prevent this from happening again, as best as possible. Any thoughts?

Thanks all.

Patrick

[adjuvantjfoster]

Let's face it. The last G3 PowerBook (Pismo) was announced on February 16, 2000. So you are looking at a six year old PowerBook. Look on eBay or Craig's list and you will find the going prices for such a laptop have fallen to less than 10% of what you paid back in 2000.

You might consider giving up on it for a number of reasons. One reason you perhaps have not explored is that in salt air environments, electronics motherboards do not last as long as they do in your home. This may or may not be part of your issue.

One of the simplest thing for you to try to sort out the possibilities is to buy an external Firewire drive, or better yet a USB drive and keep running Pismo on that external drive. Even if you end up scrapping the Pismo, the USB drive will be useful for your next MacBook....(grin)....

The newer MacBooks have head protection circuitry that protects the drive from damage when the laptop is knocked onto the floor. There is no reasonable ( ie cheap and convenient to use) shockproofing that protects the drive from the accelerations you get from crashing along as your boat falls off heavy swells.

Somehow the Stan Honey class of Volvo 70 navigators of the world keep their computers going in spite of such violence of the seas to the boat, so be hopeful.

[Patrick]

Thanks for your advice. Ok sure getting a new Macbook or Pro would be great, but like most boaters my money tree is very low. My Pismo is still a viable option as I've set it up on a docking station with a 15" Dell LCD monitor in the boat so it doesn't stay on board. It also has not been confirmed that the problem is my hard drive. Latest up date is a failing processor. I'd be even more into a new Macbook it you could even get a docking station for it. I just asked the question so if any other boaters out there have tried to reduce possible shock related problems, if that's my problem at all with the Pismo.
I'll pass on your advice to the 1st mate, maybe she'll give me the ok to spend another $1000.00 + for more toys for the boat. Remember what B.O.A.T. stands for: BRING ON ANOTHER THOUSAND!

Take care,

Patrick