NavList:

   

Reply

Some additional thoughts...I recalled something in the 2003 Celestaire
catalogue so I looked it up when I got home.  The catalogue mentions that
the PC-1270 by Sharp which is the basis for the Celesticomp V and V Pro has
been discontinued.  The celesticomp company has only about 1000 previously
used and now reconditioned units (although the celestial ROM chip is new)
which it sells with a 2 yr guarantee vice the original one year.  

Being as the basic platform is discontinued, never an auspicious time to
buy, and the relatively high price of $259 I would agree that a current
market Palm or handheld Pocket PC is more versatile and flexible while still
getting the celestial computation capability.  Whether you chose Palm or the
Pocket PC operating system is a personal choice comparable to Mac vs.
Microsoft.  Either seems a better choice than Celesticomp.

Additionally, Celestaire the navigation equipment retailer, does have a
significant discussion on the Starpilot software from Starpath, a well
established navigation school, a version which ports to either a PC or a
TI-86 or TI-89.   

So....being as the platform is a significant part of the expense here and
believing all the software works almost as well in terms of human interface,
capability and accuracy it would be best to go with the software that fits
hardware you already own (Palm, Pocket PC, Laptop, or TI calculator)and if
you don't own any then it may be best to purchase the platform that has more
to offer you personally and use whatever celestial software is ported to
that platform.  The Celestaire catalogue has an excellent "tutorial" on
computers and navigation but doesn't discuss the Pocket Stars product (which
is what I use).

Jim Dullea
Tech Marine Business, Inc
202 675-7782
dullea@tmbhq.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Navigation Mailing List [mailto:NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM]
On Behalf Of Jared Sherman
Sent: Friday, December 13, 2002 10:23 PM
To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM
Subject: Re: Non-traditional Sight Reduction

Robert-
 I love computers best from a distance, I've spent too much time making them
work for myself and others.

But if you like the Celesticomp computer, you really owe it to yourself to
look at the Palm. Even the cheapest $100 Palm now has 20? 100? times the
brains and memory of the Celesticomp. Anything the Celesticomp can do, the
Palm can do--but it can do a WHOLE lot more. Like give you a free skymap,
that shows stars and planets according to time and position. And be very
effective for email if you find a phone line. Or keeping an inventory of all
the spares on board, and the contact numbers for the makers.

All that and it easily will run for a month or two on two AAA cells, which
can be rechargable or a LiOn battery and a 12V ships power adapter for
little more.

You need to spend a half hour with someone who HAS a Palm, let them show you
what it can do, and the half hour becomes an afternoon or an evening and
then you start shopping for one.

And unlike "computers", Palms tend to be rock stable. Fits in your pocket,
won't mess on the rug, waterproof cases and neck straps all readily
available. 1/3 to 1/5th the price of the Celesticomps, same price if you buy
a real high end Palm, and boy can any of them make the Celesticomp look like
a fossil. (A nice fossil, but a fossil.)

   

Reply