There is one other point cropping up over XP OS laptops. Many yachtsmen like to interface their laptops with the NMEA interface of their GPS. It means those with CMaps and other charting programs can show their position on the laptop chart in use.
Often modern laptops have no serial port. The answer is to buy a USB/Serial interface that should cost no more than €8. These are just plug in units, so, easy to install and come invariably with software that works well. You can get the usual MS SP2 nonsense about some of it not being ' certificated' by Microsoft. Usually you can choose the Kit software driver since MS have no viable alternative.
A major problem that can crop up is the ships position, after connection, behaving like a mouse. The solution is to turn on (boot) the computer with your new USB Kit already connected to your GPS. (Our GPS is an old Garmin 65, but works fine.) XP then understands how it should function. You can also buy a mouse sized GPS over the Internet for about €48. Useful as a spare. Just plug in via a USB port direct to your laptop.
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