$799.95; www.digitalyacht.co.uk
Connecting ports include dual NMEA 0183 interfaces, four USB ports, and audio in and out. The compact design left out a DVD drive, but the USB ports allow for simple connection of an external drive.
The Aqua 50 comes preloaded with Open CPN, a popular electronic charting system that works with raster and vector charts, and shows waypoints and route planning as well as AIS overlays. It offers real-time navigation showing GPS and instrument displays.
The Aqua 50 Marine PC from Digital Yacht offers a Linux operating system in a compact hardware package. The unit’s solid-state 64-gigabyte hard drive is designed to work without a fan for silent operation and functions on a range of DC input from 8 to 19 volts. An Intel processor uses little power (consumption is about 1 amp) while delivering fast performance.
This article originally appeared in the February 2013 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
