We've cruised with an iPad .. well, on all our cruises. Two to three weeks each time. We stow it when the weather is bad but we don't really do much sailing when the weather is bad, we have that choice being lake sailors.
I also own a helm mounted chartplotter that we got at the start of this year. I use both. But the iPad is better in a lot of ways to be honest. I like my Asus built "Google Nexus". It has built in GPS and it's 7". Like Marek says, it's a nice size for handling and they are not expensive. The only reason we use the iPad instead of it is because I cracked the screen (boat related actually, but much more to do with my carelessness than marine conditions). I think a Surface is overkill for your application. Use the voice recognition for writing emails, forget about keyboards :) Steve Suhana, C&C 32 Toronto On Tue, Nov 1, 2016 at 8:22 AM, Persuasion37 via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Before I went on my cruise to the Bahamas I researched tablets for > waterproofness. Only Sony advertised their tablet as water. I'm not > naive, I do not believe it to be truly water proof but splash proof yes. So > I mounted the Sony at the helm on a home made mount. I also carry an IPad, > laptop, and Raymarine radar/chart plotter. It's amazing how many times the > systems didn't agree on my position. > > Mike > PERSUASION > C&C 37 K/CB > Long Sault > > On Nov 1, 2016, at 5:49 AM, Dave S via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: > > Am also looking for the right tablet choice - i use two ipad airs today, > have played with a laptop, and my work machine - MS-surface pro4. > > Will respectfully and gently disagree with Marek on suitability of a > tablet - IMO depending on the application a tablet is fine. Not likely to > take Windstar 'round Cape Horn. Am part way through integrating a tablet > with my instrumentation (with some great help from folks here) and for two > seasons have used an ipad, ram mount and lifeproof case. Smashed one ipad > season 1, (it was in my backpack, which took a tumble belowdecks) bought > the case, then the mount. None of it cheap, but it's good stuff. Ram > mount means I can choose multiple locations. Under the bimini, in the > case, and on the mount, many of the tablet's shortcomings are overcome, and > it's fine and reliable for Great Lakes daysailing and cruising. I like > its portability, versatility, being able to jump between apps, tether to > my phone, etc, and can update, upgrade or replace anything relatively > inexpensively. (I have two ipads actually, and keep both onboard. Have > also downloaded the chartplotter app to my iphone.) I like that I do not > need a large pod and upgraded rail at the helm - It's crowded and costly > enough. > > Details, rambling discourses, and a few toned-down rants here: > > http://cncwindstar.blogspot.ca/2016/09/electronics-what-to-do.html > > Still issues to resolve with using the iPad. It does many things well but > does not play 100% well with other applications. Windows seems obvious > but.... I agree with Marek on the windows tablets, - if you get one, you > must get a good one. Was ready to buy and after investigation I decided > against it. (so far) I have a surface pro 4 for work, works fine with a > few maddening quirks, but it is expensive, seems fragile, and the power > connection is definitely designed for on-the-desk use.. Also agree with > Marek on the smaller tablets - handier. The ipad air especially the > MS-Surface are both very non-ergonomic in the hands, and easy to drop as > you know. The lifeproof case helps this. Whatever you get, make sure > you can also get a good case and mount. Agreed also on the BT keyboard. > IF you want a weatherproof and rugged case you will not have an attached > keyboard. > > Without a GPS receiver you can always get a dongle (fragile) or bluetooth > type. Google "Bad elf" or Garmin GLO. I have the latter and it works > fine. Windstar has 3 GPS antennae... > > By using bluetooth and possibly onboard GPS you will require more frequent > charging. Have installed a blueseas dual USB charger at my nav station > (handy) but a rugged connection to power at the helm is a resolvable > problem I have not yet resolved. > > Dave > > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2016 02:27:45 +0000 > From: Marek Dziedzic <dziedzi...@hotmail.com> > To: "cnc-list@cnc-list.com" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > Subject: Re: Stus-List Best new tablet for nav/general use > Message-ID: > <CY4PR17MB095143D6466E9E5CD9C9903CCEA10@CY4PR17MB0951.namprd > 17.prod.outlook.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > I do not believe that a tablet of any kind is a good enough navigation > instrument (I have a Garmin 720 and I trust it much more (I can see the > screen in full sunlight without problems, it is completely waterproof and I > can operate it with keys (not touch)), but I find that if you want a tablet > for anything you are much better off with a low cost ( I don't necessarily > mean cheap) tablet that you can use as disposable. I had very good success > with a Dell Venue Pro (Windows), an Acer (also Windows) and an ASUS Android > one. I also find that the 7-8 inch tablets are much less prone to > shattering > problems (they are simply much easier to handle and they have a size that > is > much better for keeping in one's hand). The cost can be as low as just > around $100 (8" Android) or around $200 for an 8" Windows. For that money > you can break 3 and buy the 4th and you just come about to the cost of the > Surface Pro or worse yet to the cost of a cheap iPad. > > None of the generally available tablets is waterproof or even hardened, so > I > would not use it in the cockpit where it might be subjected to water > damage. > > > If you want a keyboard, you can easily buy a BT keyboard for under $30. Add > 410 more an you have a complete system with a carrying case and keyboard. > > I have a Surface at work and I don't find the screen any better than 1/4 > price Dell Venue (or even 1/10 price Acer). It is only bigger. True, the > case is metal, but if you drop it a few times on the ground, the screen > will > break. > > A word of caution: If you buy a Windows tablet, spend more and get a 64 GB > version (or bigger). With 32 GB you will have a major juggling task if you > need to make a major system upgrade. This unfortunately means that the > majority of tablets that are available on sale are out. > > Marek > 2015 8" Dell Venue Pro (Win 10) > 2012 7" Asus (Android) > 2014 8" Acer Iconia (Android) > Ottawa, ON > > -----Original Message----- > From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Ryan > Doyle via CnC-List > Sent: Monday, October 31, 2016 17:40 > To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com > Cc: Ryan Doyle <ryanpdo...@gmail.com> > Subject: Stus-List Best new tablet for nav/general use > > Hi all, > > I have a Garmin GPSmap 740 chartplotter and a Garmin radar, but I am > looking > to buy a tablet computer (possibly a Microsoft surface or an iPad) to > supplement the Garmin unit as an electronic chartplotter (running navionics > and raster charts) as well as just being my general computer - for writing > emails, web browsing, and using Microsoft word. > > I was looking hard at the Microsoft surface because it comes with a > keyboard, however it does not have an internal GPS receiver. I'm sure > they > make USB GPS receivers though. > > My requirements are: a good keyboard, a touch screen, GPS (for running nav > apps) and it needs to be sturdy tough enough to hold up reasonably well on > a > boat. I have destroyed two iPads (the screens shattered) by traveling with > them and being a tad clumsy, so i don't trust myself with iPads anymore... > I'm looking for something hardier. > > Would love to hear what people out there are using on their boats. > > Thanks in advance, > Ryan > > Sent from my iPhone > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > >
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