Ipad - Full size or mini

Ipad mini or full size for cockpit use

  • Ipad Air 2

    Votes: 53 67.1%

  • Ipad Mini 3

    Votes: 26 32.9%
  • Total voters
    79
I have a mini in a Lifeproof waterproof case.

I think that for sailing-related uses, i.e. WX, navigation etc. it is the perfect size

I actually have the non-retina mini 1, and although I am about to upgrade to a new one with a retina display, I would say that for most sailing-related uses, ultra high resolution is not necessary.

Now, if your needs extend beyond sailing to looking at photos, watching films etc., then a bigger size or higher resolution may be better for you. For me those are secondary uses, and don't cause me to want a bigger ipad.

Consider also that if you plan to use it on a boat, you might end up with a waterproof case, which will increase the overall size, making whichever ipad you buy a bit clunkier.

The Lifeproof mini case is fantastic. With the case on, it is barely bigger at all. The Lifeproof case for the regular ipad is not quite so svelte.

I strongly recommend some sort of waterproof case, not just for water, but also for the inevitable bumps that will occur while sailing.
 
Laser310 said:
I have a mini in a Lifeproof waterproof case.

I think that for sailing-related uses, i.e. WX, navigation etc. it is the perfect size

I actually have the non-retina mini 1, and although I am about to upgrade to a new one with a retina display, I would say that for most sailing-related uses, ultra high resolution is not necessary.

Now, if your needs extend beyond sailing to looking at photos, watching films etc., then a bigger size or higher resolution may be better for you. For me those are secondary uses, and don't cause me to want a bigger ipad.

Consider also that if you plan to use it on a boat, you might end up with a waterproof case, which will increase the overall size, making whichever ipad you buy a bit clunkier.

The Lifeproof mini case is fantastic. With the case on, it is barely bigger at all. The Lifeproof case for the regular ipad is not quite so svelte.

I strongly recommend some sort of waterproof case, not just for water, but also for the inevitable bumps that will occur while sailing.
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Is it the fre or the nuud case???

I think the fre has a screen cover which seems sensible in case it is dropped??
 
I have the Fre.

I guess I don't really trust the Nud, but also I just like having a screen cover.

I mostly race, and the environment on the boats is a bit harsh to say the least.

I should mention that I dropped my ipad on my garage floor from about 3 or 4 feet, causing the case to crack. Lifeproof sent me a new case immediately.
 
Laser310 said:
I have the Fre.

I guess I don't really trust the Nud, but also I just like having a screen cover.

I mostly race, and the environment on the boats is a bit harsh to say the least.

I should mention that I dropped my ipad on my garage floor from about 3 or 4 feet, causing the case to crack. Lifeproof sent me a new case immediately.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. I think that is the way I will go. Its interesting that the vote is 2 to 1 full size but the most constructive comments are for the mini!
 
One sailing use where a bigger screen might be useful, is if you do a lot of remote desktop viewing of a computer running navigation software.

I do a fair bit of this, and the programs aren't typically designed to be viewed on this size screen - typically, the resolution of the laptop gets bumped down, so that you can still see the entire screen without panning, but sometimes the text in menus is a bit small and fuzzy, as are buttons.

I am wondering if the retina mini will be better at this.

In any case, for me, this is still not reason enough to prefer a bigger ipad.

The convenience of the smaller size is just too great. It's especially important for moving around the boat safely and easily. I definitely think that a larger ipad would be more difficult - particularly in a racing application.
 
I find the mini screen too small. Similarly smartphones are no good for me either. I know a lot of people use phones and iPad minis as portable personal computers, but the 10" iPad screen is about as small a workspace as I feel comfortable with. I had a. Similar problem with early chart plotters. I need a bigger screen to give me the right perspective at an appropriate scale.
 
Mini. Just the right size for everything. The Air is bigger but not big enough to be different for its various uses. If they brought out an A4 sized one I might get one as well but for the boat and everything else this Mini (typing on it at the moment), is the biz.
 
Get a 10" Android tablet. I use a Ram Mount to bolt mine to the helm. I have just upgraded the ancient Raymarine and am looking forwards to having the Raymarine at the helm via the built in wireless. Before that used Splashscreen to see the computer OpenCpn with AIS. Navionics is great. Bigger is better.

TudorSailor
 
Neither get a Hudl 2.......with my vouchers I paid only £29. and with Navionics it works brilliantly....however it also does so so much more. Why blow a load of cash on an ipad ???
 
Garry & June 'Friendship' said:
Neither get a Hudl 2.......with my vouchers I paid only £29. and with Navionics it works brilliantly....however it also does so so much more. Why blow a load of cash on an ipad ???
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Said in the op:

There is no ais overlay on any android app for some strange reason.

Also non boaty:

Friend in la refuses to communicate except by facetime!
Garage Band!
 
was off for a while so they could sort out some instability but back on now....works beautifully on my Hudl 2...fully functioning portable plotter for £29 + £43 total £72....well impressed !!
 
FWIW. Today I was out racing and took along a 10 inch tablet to connect by wifi to the plotter below decks. The tablet was a google nexus 10 running the simrad wifi product and also the navionics plotter. It has, according to the tech sites, a marginally better screen than the equivalent apple gadget. Admittedly it was inside a new waterproof bag but nevertheless it was next to useless. The screen wasnt really bright enough from inside the bag. The controls werent easy to access through the plastic. Operation was clumsy - where do you put 10 inches of vulnerable gadget in the cockpit of a heeling boat? I couldnt help but think that now plotters are available in the £200 region, it is way more sensible to buy a second plotter than to fart around trying to make one out of a tablet.
 
I don't know about that tablet..., but the LifeProof case is much better than a plastic bag.

Still, I have to say that I think the plotter apps are pretty bad. An average chartplotter has more and better navigational features than the Navionics app.

A good PC program is even better - but hard to use in the cockpit.
 
Laser310 said:
I don't know about that tablet..., but the LifeProof case is much better than a plastic bag.

Still, I have to say that I think the plotter apps are pretty bad. An average chartplotter has more and better navigational features than the Navionics app.

A good PC program is even better - but hard to use in the cockpit.
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All good points but chartplotters do have disadvantages. They go out of date pretty quickly, cant be used for anything else and will have to be wired in to power and the ais i want to display. Also in a tiller steered boat its hard to see where I will put it where it will be out of the way and easily visible. I think an ipad mini, lifeproof case and some super strong velcro are the way to go. Obviously the sunlight viewing is a problem.
 
I use my Ipad as a back up with Navionics.

What really improves the visibility is the Mediadevil Magigscreen protector matte clear edition.These are about £15 from Amazon(2 in the pack).I tried other screen films but this one really makes a difference.
have a look at the video on You Tube.
 
roblpm said:
All good points but chartplotters do have disadvantages. They go out of date pretty quickly, cant be used for anything else and will have to be wired in to power and the ais i want to display. Also in a tiller steered boat its hard to see where I will put it where it will be out of the way and easily visible. I think an ipad mini, lifeproof case and some super strong velcro are the way to go. Obviously the sunlight viewing is a problem.
Click to expand...

you will have to wire a tablet in for power - using gps they eat up batteries.
 
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