At last a Tablet for the boat

[grumpy_o_g]

From what I can ascertain, you can buy magnetic charger cable instead of the dock station and therefore no need to open up the usb port, something like this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ccessory-Al...23910902&sr=1-4&keywords=sony+z2+charge+cable

I think any tablet will be a problem in direct sunlight, you need to see what works best on the dashboard, I generally always keep the bimini canvas section up. In my case the tablet will compliment my marine plotter so I have a 10inch screen instead of my current 6inch marine plotter.

Thanks for owner feedback.

Yep, that charger would be perfect I reckon - wasn't aware you could get them. The one I have is like this and would be trickier to use but that one looks like the gubbins from has been put in a small case so would be great for the boat or car.

 

[julians]

Just been reading some reviews on the Sony Xperia z3 tablet, it waterproof like the z2,but has a smaller 8 inch screen, anyway, all the reviews reckon the screen is fine in direct sunlight.

So I reckon I'll give that a go, will wait until nearer to the first trip out to mallorca before I buy one in case some one else brings out something better.

 

[kcrane]

I've had a Z2 tablet since they came out and it has been a very good buy. I dropped it in the bath and it survived without any problem. Battery life is good, I can go days without charging normally, but with the screen brightness right up and wifi running to connect to an A78 it lasts half a day on the boat. You need a good charger to keep up with power use, with 2A it just keeps pace, neither charges nor runs down. Family member has the Z3 compact tablet and again, great piece of kit.

Screen brightness is just enough, but then I have glasses that go dark in bright sunlight and I don't notice it, effectively I am wearing sunglasses, if I look over the top the screen is OK.

I have a RAM mount on the dash (suction) and on the rail (clamp) which holds it very solidly.

All that said, the boat also has a C80 and an A78, so the Z2 is a useful repeater plus I use Navionics for quick & easy zoomed in tracking of drift, simpler than either plotter.

 

[gjgm]

I've had a Z2 tablet since they came out and it has been a very good buy. I dropped it in the bath and it survived without any problem. Battery life is good, I can go days without charging normally, but with the screen brightness right up and wifi running to connect to an A78 it lasts half a day on the boat. You need a good charger to keep up with power use, with 2A it just keeps pace, neither charges nor runs down. Family member has the Z3 compact tablet and again, great piece of kit.

Screen brightness is just enough, but then I have glasses that go dark in bright sunlight and I don't notice it, effectively I am wearing sunglasses, if I look over the top the screen is OK.

I have a RAM mount on the dash (suction) and on the rail (clamp) which holds it very solidly.

All that said, the boat also has a C80 and an A78, so the Z2 is a useful repeater plus I use Navionics for quick & easy zoomed in tracking of drift, simpler than either plotter.

Which boat is this on ? The V is a hardtop isn't so, so I guess the tablet location is more likely to be in some shade at least?
I'll get either the Samsung 10.5s or the Sony... doesn't really seem to be much difference.

 

[Hurricane]

Which boat is this on ? The V is a hardtop isn't so, so I guess the tablet location is more likely to be in some shade at least?
I'll get either the Samsung 10.5s or the Sony... doesn't really seem to be much difference.

I have a Samsung 10.1
I tend to get kit that has been sold in larger quantities.
It will, inevitably need to be "rooted" and the support for the mass produced models seems to be better in that area.
Also means that they are a little cheaper (because the better supported devices have been out longer).
Very pleased with my Samsung anyway - lot better than the old Asus - but thats several years older.

 

[gjgm]

I have a Samsung 10.1
I tend to get kit that has been sold in larger quantities.
It will, inevitably need to be "rooted" and the support for the mass produced models seems to be better in that area.
Also means that they are a little cheaper (because the better supported devices have been out longer).
Very pleased with my Samsung anyway - lot better than the old Asus - but thats several years older.

thanks H...there doesnt seem alot between them..after I have understood the asus upgrade you suggested,I am sure I will be a dab hand...still good to hear a samsung corner fighting back. In reality,in an open boat,if I cant solve the screen readability issue ( and I am not sure I can to any practical sense) it is abit less important what tablet I use,reNavionics.
But apart from a desire for this,in good weather,going a bit fast,off rocky coast in north Brittany...well..I don,t have a use for it anyway. swmbo rather likes the comfort of paper charts in front of her..large scale helps alot in showing its just another few centimetres my darling... cough cough...hmmm supposing she can zoom herself....I can see an issue developing here...

 

[kcrane]

Which boat is this on ? The V is a hardtop isn't so, so I guess the tablet location is more likely to be in some shade at least?
I'll get either the Samsung 10.5s or the Sony... doesn't really seem to be much difference.

I use it on both, but when on Rodman it is fastened onto the rail on the transom. In fact forgot it was there last week and set off at a lick in a chop and it got drenched by sea water at 18knts. Survived fine.

 

[will12]

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[julians]

So to follow up on my post of a month or so ago, ive ordered a sony xperia z3 tablet, and a magnetic charging cable, with the intention of using it as a lightweight chartplotter on my boat, i intend to use the navionics app.

Various reviews of the tablet say that the screen remains readable in direct sunlight,and its water resistant, so i reckon it will achieve my aims.

Ill report back when ive used it in anger in may.

 

[Corky]

Nobody has mentioned using a matte screen protector. I use one on my Galaxy phone so I can use the camera in the sunlight and it's quite effective. They're quite cheap and cut out the glare and must be worth trying? Here's a link to one on EBay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/kwmobile-...804?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d55000394

 

[julians]

The xperia z3 arrived the other day, and I wont be going to the boat until may, so wont be able to properly test it until then.

Having said that, its been a very bright a sunny day here, so I installed navionics HD and went outside, the screen is easily bright enough to be viewed in direct bright sunlight, so on that front I reckon it'll be fine.

I also put it in the bath just to confirm that its waterproof.

The magnetic charging cable is a bit of a pain because it doesnt stay 'stuck' to the tablet very well, so not sure if that'll be any good as a method of charging underway and retaining the waterproofness. Not sure if this is because of the charging cable I bought, maybe its a poor design and a different cable would be more reliable.

Anyway, with the screen on full brightness, and navionics HD running recording a track, it's looking like battery life will be around 5-6 hours.

The tablet itself is very nice, very slim, quite light, very fast and smooth.

Overall though, its looking pretty positive for a cheap chartplotting solution.