Raymarine E Series Wide touchscreen -quick review

[scubaman]

Dont worry about thread drift!

In that case, allow me a further drift What would be nice is a device that combines the robustness of a dedicated plotter (such as Raymarine) and the functionality of a pc. Two features especially: a browser and a media player. Media player for obvious reasons but having an internet browser-functionality integrated into the cartography and location information would open up host of possibilities for location based services aimed at boaters. I could easily think of a google maps -type of content so that you could easily check the restaurants and other services available at a marina just by tapping a finger on a marina icon in the chart. Booking berths on-line, etc.

Ie. having a single device that would take care of all the navigational needs reliably and allow access to content based on your location.

 

[jfm]

In that case, allow me a further drift What would be nice is a device that combines the robustness of a dedicated plotter (such as Raymarine) and the functionality of a pc. Two features especially: a browser and a media player. Media player for obvious reasons but having an internet browser-functionality integrated into the cartography and location information would open up host of possibilities for location based services aimed at boaters. I could easily think of a google maps -type of content so that you could easily check the restaurants and other services available at a marina just by tapping a finger on a marina icon in the chart. Booking berths on-line, etc.

Ie. having a single device that would take care of all the navigational needs reliably and allow access to content based on your location.

Agreed, though to some extent it already exists. With this touchscreen thing and a platinum+ chart, if you set the display to show on-land features then restaurant symbols show on the chart. Tap a restaurant and you its name and phone number. (Not its quality tho - you still need the Mich guide for that ). Ditto a port - touch it then a data window pops up with the name and number. Touch the camera symbol on the chart and an aerial picture of the port (or other spot eg anchorage) pops up, which is very handy when driving into a new port for the first time

This is of course all static info as embedded on the chart chip. It doesn't update the way the internet does

In the Med, booking berths online doesn't work becuase the ports don't want to play ball. It's a cultural thing. It has to be done personally, either by a nice phonecall or better still seeing the port controller in person

 

[BartW]

In that case, allow me a further drift What would be nice is a device that combines the robustness of a dedicated plotter (such as Raymarine) and the functionality of a pc. Two features especially: a browser and a media player. Media player for obvious reasons but having an internet browser-functionality integrated into the cartography and location information would open up host of possibilities for location based services aimed at boaters. I could easily think of a google maps -type of content so that you could easily check the restaurants and other services available at a marina just by tapping a finger on a marina icon in the chart. Booking berths on-line, etc.

Ie. having a single device that would take care of all the navigational needs reliably and allow access to content based on your location.

good idea, perhaps that will be the next level of Raymarine products.
They just need to make a interface between the display data and the touch data to a fairly standard external PC module.

 

[scubaman]

In the Med, booking berths online doesn't work becuase the ports don't want to play ball. It's a cultural thing. It has to be done personally, either by a nice phonecall or better still seeing the port controller in person

I can see the cultural issue. Maybe, in 20 years time this could be overcome by a business model that would better encourage the adoption of a new system, ie. make more money for the marinas and/or make their life easier.

Although I don't know enough of how it works now to make any kind of educated suggestion... I'm guessing that as long as there is a deficiency in moorings, the marina managers are not going to bother in doing extra.

 

[Nick_H]

I can see the cultural issue. Maybe, in 20 years time this could be overcome by a business model that would better encourage the adoption of a new system, ie. make more money for the marinas and/or make their life easier.

Although I don't know enough of how it works now to make any kind of educated suggestion... I'm guessing that as long as there is a deficiency in moorings, the marina managers are not going to bother in doing extra.

I think the "cultural issue" is mostly centred around tips. It's harder to solicit a bung over the internet.

 

[mjf]

I think the "cultural issue" is mostly centred around tips. It's harder to solicit a bung over the internet.

Ah! the old baksish raises its head........

 

[BartW]

I think the "cultural issue" is mostly centred around tips. It's harder to solicit a bung over the internet.

or a Belgium beer does a miracle every now and then,
I alway's carry some bottles in my boat for this purpose

 

[jfm]

I think the "cultural issue" is mostly centred around tips. It's harder to solicit a bung over the internet.

Exactement

 

[jfm]

or a Belgium beer does a miracle every now and then,
I alway's carry some bottles in my boat for this purpose

Yup, but a €50 note (or a €100 for a big miracle) is generally more miracle-inducing

 

[Hurricane]

In that case, allow me a further drift What would be nice is a device that combines the robustness of a dedicated plotter (such as Raymarine) and the functionality of a pc. Two features especially: a browser and a media player. Media player for obvious reasons but having an internet browser-functionality integrated into the cartography and location information would open up host of possibilities for location based services aimed at boaters. I could easily think of a google maps -type of content so that you could easily check the restaurants and other services available at a marina just by tapping a finger on a marina icon in the chart. Booking berths on-line, etc.

Ie. having a single device that would take care of all the navigational needs reliably and allow access to content based on your location.

Sorry for further thread drift but I'm a firm believer in this concept and I've taken it a stage further by integrating a PC into the Nav system.

This allows the PC to run navigation or boat specific functions whilst also being connected as an entertainment system to the TVs and HiFi etc.
And of course access to the internet.
I'm now becoming so dependant upon the PC that I've decided to have a "plug in" spare available in case of failure.
The main PC also uses a solid state hard disk which is faster and less prone to vibration or skock.

The connections to the Raymarine kit are kept very simple so that the boat's main nav systems can operate without the PC and visa versa.
The PC is fed to all the bridge/plotter displays and runs nav software that uses raster charts so two entirely separate charting systems are available at the touch of a button. The Raymarine uses Navionics vector charts and the PC uses whatever charts I've bought or scanned in.
Once you have a PC available there are loads of extra things that can be done - I've written lots of little Windows apps to do different things.

I've just bought some water resistant wireless speakers that will connect to the PC's audio output and provide sound anywhere on or around the boat.

Using this technique of connecting a PC into the boat in parallel to, and not affecting the Raymarine systems protects the integrety of the dedicated Raymarine kit and the PC can be simply unplugged if a future owner didnt want these extra facilities.

Sorry for the drift

 

[MapisM]

Thing is, I can't convince myself I really need new nav kit

If finding a good new home for your existing plotter can help you make up your mind, I'm willing to help! I might have a use for it.