[gentoo-user] Nautical Gentoo hardware suggestions?

[gentoo-user] Nautical Gentoo hardware suggestions?

[James]

Hello,

We'll it's time to take Gentoo on the boating excursions.
sci-geosciences/opencpn is in portage and I'm going to the
the Fl. Keys for a couple of weeks. [1]

However, much of the time, the Gentoo_nav_hadware will be
on a 17 foot boat (damp and salty if not wet) in search for 
those most treasured of crustaceans (lobster). So I'm looking 
for marine grade hardware onto which installation of Gentoo is 
reasonably straightforward.

Otherwise, I can use something like my PandaBoard (Rev A1)
if I could find at least a 6" screen that works in 
very bright sunlight?

Any hardware input suggestions would be keenly anticipated.
I've got about a month to prepare something. Garmin marine
gear is just too pricey. PS, I can coat most electronics with
a conformal coating. [2].

[1] http://opencpn.org
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformal_coating


Let's get wet with ideas!

Capn James

Re: [gentoo-user] Nautical Gentoo hardware suggestions?

[Stroller]

On 26 April 2013, at 16:16, James wrote:
> … sci-geosciences/opencpn is in portage [1]

That looks like awesome software!

> However, much of the time, the Gentoo_nav_hadware will be
> on a 17 foot boat (damp and salty if not wet) … So I'm looking 
> for marine grade hardware onto which installation of Gentoo is 
> reasonably straightforward.

I don't know, but I think I'd start by looking at Android tablets.

I'm sure there's an ARM version of Debian or Ubuntu that has been released for mobile devices. 

Based on the build quality of iMacs and MacBooks, I would have thought that the ideal physical platform would be that of the iPad - machined aluminium body, glass touchscreen, probably fairly tightly sealed at the seams.

Of course Linux support on the iPad will probably be poor, at best, but looking at Android tablet devices, they seem at least superficially similar. I would look devices like a Nexus 7 or 10 for a start with. Perhaps with some waterproof bags, duck tape &/or rubber sealant you could get a very waterproof platform for not much money.

Stroller.

[gentoo-user] Re: Nautical Gentoo hardware suggestions?

[James]

Stroller <stroller <at> stellar.eclipse.co.uk> writes:


> > … sci-geosciences/opencpn is in portage [1]

> > However, much of the time, the Gentoo_nav_hadware will be
> > on a 17 foot boat (damp and salty if not wet) … So I'm looking 
> > for marine grade hardware onto which installation of Gentoo is 
> > reasonably straightforward.

> I don't know, but I think I'd start by looking at Android tablets. 

Here is what I've decided on: ChromeOS Arm-15 lappy:

Samsung Arm Chromebook:

http://dev.chromium.org/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices/samsung-arm-chromebook

It pretty much runs Gentoo now, according to Vapier....

http://dev.chromium.org/


> I'm sure there's an ARM version of Debian or Ubuntu that has been 
> released for mobile devices. 

Better than that, there are linux distros for with a
Nautical focus:

http://marinux.pk973.org/


> with some waterproof bags, duck tape &/or rubber sealant you could get a >
very waterproof platform for not much money.

Better idea: Disassemble the lappy and spray down the boards
with a conformal coating:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformal_coating


thanks,
James