[Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)

[John Lawrence]

I'm a return veteran contester with lots of wins using the old pencil log with a dupe sheet.
 
I've tried various new programs attempting to gain a level of comfort so I might consider a serious entry into some contesting again. You should appreciate that I'd hate to feel the pain of getting part way into the contest and be delayed or loose my logs due to a computer freeze, lock out or reboot.

For the past year I've been soliciting "contest guru" opinions and come away with conclusions based on inputs of the long term contersters from my past more active years. My conclusion has nothing to do with the suitability of the wonderful K3 as a radio for CW or SSB contesting.

I'd use a basic mission critical PC with a 386/486 processor, DOS and CT to run the logging process without connection to the Internet during the contest. CT runs with the K3. The more recent contesting software might be ok but Windows is buggy and may crash during the event. 

Lets hope System 7 can be configured to offer mission critical reliability in the new PC platforms.
 
Lastly, I find this to be mostly an off Elecraft topic.

Happy New Year

73,
John, W1QS
K3 s/n 2274, K2 s/n 4204 

mission critical = power supply with extra wattage, two hard drives with less than 10,000 hrs, shadow write utility and clean fan/filter