helps you stay grounded a bit. It's a good thing to have to work at getting it. We have a small Acer computer that we can bring ashore when we need to and a long range antenna to pick up singles from the local bar or hotel when we can. We use sailmail at other times. The thought of staying "plugged in " all the time makes my head hurt. I've been stuck here on the computer all day getting this new computer loaded up with all the crap so we can "unplug". That's kind of funny. I mean all day long. Sail Mail, printer, scanner, Long range antenna, and I'm still going... None of it is going liker it should. I even had to call tech support to get the virus program to work. Oh well, six more weeks and it's out of here!