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Computers That Thrive in Salty, Humid Environments?

Posted by Cliff on from the arr-thar-she-blows-sea-going-PCs-matey dept.

Ever seen one of today's garden variety computers running on sea-going vessels? How about in other places where water, or salt water is a large part of the environment? Today's Ask Slashdot deals with 3 questions surrounding the construction of computer systems that can survive in such a harsh environment. What does it take to harden a PC to survive in such a place, and how much more expensive will it cost to make one? Are there other issues to worry about aside from the salt and the humidity?

To start us out, frostman asks: "A friend of mine is living on a sailboat, and would like to set up a nifty computer system. It doesn't need to be too powerful, but it should be small, rugged, fairly quiet, and cheap. He has a standard PII/400 mid-tower system he can gut for parts (400Mhz would probably be enough). He wants to do normal internet stuff, watch DVD's, listen to MP3's (with good speakers)... and he needs it to run on 12 volts when he's sailing. Any suggestions from the hardware gurus on Slashdot?"

websensei continues with this query: "I am about to become a full-time live-aboard on my sailboat. I'm in the process of selling all my machines and plan to spend about $2000 on a new laptop for the boat. I'll use it for work and play (movies, gaming, TV via USB TV tuner?) etc. Please share any advice/experiences relating to computing on boats or other harsh/damp environs."

And last, but not least, Alioth asks about fishes, not boats: "How about computers in fish factories? Not only do we have to contend with the room being jetwashed, but the atmosphere is very salty. I've been looking at stainless steel enclosures - what's their salt water resistance like, not just the stainless parts, but the parts that fasten the stainless parts together, not to mention being able to keep the computer cool as well (meaning it's got to vent somewhere)?"

24 of 422 comments (clear)

  1. umm.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    any laptop, maybe?

    Whoa, that was a tough ask slashdot.

  2. Finally! by flewp · · Score: 1, Funny

    A computer that can reside in my crotch!

    --
    WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
    1. Re:Finally! by bigjocker · · Score: 3, Funny

      A computer that can reside in my crotch!

      Are you referring to the "keep the computer cool" part?

      If so, then yes, we have a winner ...

      --
      Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
  3. Isn't obvious what this is for? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The only people who want to compute in a saltwater environment are pirates.

    1. Re:Isn't obvious what this is for? by Loligo · · Score: 5, Funny

      >The only people who want to compute in a
      >saltwater environment are pirates.

      Well, he mentioned wanting to watch DVD's, so I guess he's looking for booty.

      -l

    2. Re:Isn't obvious what this is for? by UpperClassTwit · · Score: 5, Funny

      yep ... it's all documented in aaaarrrrrFC 1337.

  4. Time after time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ... how much more expensive will it cost to make one? ...

    Should we even go there?

  5. fish factories? by tps12 · · Score: 3, Funny

    They make fish in factories now?

    Every time I think we've reached the end of human progress, someone comes up with something new.

    --

    Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
    1. Re:fish factories? by bigjocker · · Score: 5, Funny

      They make fish in factories now?

      I believe they mean factories ran by fish ...

      --
      Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
    2. Re:fish factories? by sharkey · · Score: 3, Funny

      factories ran by fish ...

      Actually, I think they're Japanese factories run by workers wearing fish costumes.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    3. Re:fish factories? by PaxTech · · Score: 3, Funny
      Yes, and they sing a happy little song while they do it.

      "Knife goes in, guts come out, that's what Osaka seafood concern is all about.."

      --
      All movements for social change begin as missions, evolve into businesses, and end up as rackets.
  6. Obviously... by HungWeiLo · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think for most geeks, their computing environments are always a bit more moist and salty than the average

    --
    There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
  7. It'll cost you. by stealie72 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hmm. I bet you take a normal computer, put the word "marine" in front of it, and charge 4x the normal price.

    (note: this also works with the word "aviation").

    --
    I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem
    1. Re:It'll cost you. by shogun · · Score: 4, Funny

      Dont forget space rated, same as the above but 1000x cost and will be delivered 5 years after you need it.

  8. Ask Katz to talk to Junis by FortKnox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Remember, Junis (from Afghanastan) was able to bury a Commodore in sand for years (and you know how the heat is out there), dig it up, run it, get on the internet, and download movies with it!

    I bet he'd have GREAT advice for anyone that required running a computer in hot, humid environments (although he's more into the "desert" environment than the "water" environment).

    --
    Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
  9. The Other Issues... by motardo · · Score: 2, Funny
    Are there other issues to worry about aside from the salt and the humidity?

    SINKING maybe ;)

  10. Mineral oil by MongooseCN · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does anyone remember the story a while back about the computer that was cooled by submersing the whole thing in mineral oil, then running the oil over air conditioner coils? Maybe something like that would work. With the whole system in mineral oil, there's no way water or salt could touch the system. The only problem is, how would you cool the mineral oil? Maybe drop a bucket of the stuff behind the boat in the cold ocean water. Then swap that with the stuff covering the computer when it starts to get too warm.

    Someone must have a link to the old /. posting.

    --


    Outdoor digital photography, mostly in New Engl
  11. Re:my suggestion by maxwell+demon · · Score: 1, Funny

    Well, for example, if he sees a storm coming up, he can send an email to st.peter@heaven.org, Subject: Stop this storm, please.

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  12. One possible concern. by jsonmez · · Score: 2, Funny

    One possible concern I can think of is Sharks. But I believe some guy in Thailand wrote some software to repel bugs and vermin, I'm sure you could modify it for the pupose of getting rid of sharks.

  13. Re:And I was such a high seas pirate! With compute by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Just so happened to have a pirate flag handy?
    Hmmmmmmmm

  14. Re:Mineral oil doesn't work by Cuchullain · · Score: 2, Funny

    Try Gasoline.

    That should solve the problem of only having it work great initially.

    Cuchullain

    --
    "If sharing a thing in no way diminishes it, it is not rightly owned if it is not shared." -St. Augustine
  15. Obligatory 16 year old bouy humor ... by techstar25 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "I would go for one of those nipple things ..."

    Actually, if you are going to be on a boat for a long period of time you might want to bring a pair of those nipple things.

  16. I live in Houston...humid and hot... by wynlyndd · · Score: 3, Funny

    Normal computers work for me...

    --
    "Dogs and cats, living together...it's mass hysteria!"
  17. The solution: by Wolfier · · Score: 2, Funny

    HERE