Tablet recommendation for on the boat

[matt1]

Ok you techy types, what tablet (upto £200) would you recommend for on the boat. Clearly within the budget I’m not looking for the “best” or latest! This will just be used to link to the B&G plotter, run Sailgrigwr app and a few other sailing apps so cameras and graphics aren’t so important. I do want it to have the ability to act as redundancy for a chart plotter, so I guess it needs to have its own GPS. Grib files will come from sat device or when connected via WiFi, so I don’t need 3G/4G. GF has a Samsung a10 (which seemed to be in favour here a while back) although it did crash spectacularly and needed some googling to find a magic reset (which would not have been possible at sea!)

Thoughts? Recommendations? Thanks all

 

[Pirx]

I have just purchased a Samsung A 8in tablet for the huge price of £119. It's absolutely fine for everything you want to do. If an 8in screen isn't large enough I'd suggest looking at the other Samsung 'A' tablets.

I worried a bit about a few internet reviews that said 'slow' and 'screen text a bit jagged' - I suspect they were written by Apple groupies: complete nonsense.

 

[EugeneR]

Another vote for Samsung A8. The graphics on the A is not as high resolution or as fast as more expensive models - it does not have a 2nd processor - but is has an extensive range of good location technologies.

Going for Samsung also means your software is more likely to be compatible e.g. Navionics, than with some other brands.

Ironically, it is on special on Amazon today... As an ex-geek having probably 20+ tabs and phones, I was considering the LTE version purely to stay current with Android versions etc. LTE allows you a backup connectivity option for extra £20 or so.

 

[owen]

Lenovo 10inch tablets are very good and have excellent battery life. You can add a memory card which is v useful.

 

[matt1]

Thanks - I must admit I wanna as wondering about the A8. I’ll check it out

 

[matt1]

Thanks - I must admit I wanna as wondering about the A8. I’ll check it out

Wow £109 at John Lewis - can’t go wrong

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Have a look at the Lenovo M10 Plus, 128GB internal memory with 4GB ram,; in Argos for £230 is a good value tablet. I have been looking at this one to buy myself.

 

[mjcoon]

Another vote for Samsung A8. The graphics on the A is not as high resolution or as fast as more expensive models - it does not have a 2nd processor - but is has an extensive range of good location technologies.

I'm happy with my Samsung A8 too. It claims to have a quad-core processor. It is missing the attitude sensors that make my phone better for displaying "Sky Map", but that is not going to matter for 2D navigation!

I've received a fold-over safety case for it for Christmas, and already have a waterproof pouch.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Have a look at the Lenovo M10 Plus, 128GB internal memory with 4GB ram,; in Argos for £230 is a good value tablet. I have been looking at this one to buy myself.

or £199 from John Lewis

 

[PhillM]

Id been waiting for the sales and have taken the excellent forum advice to pick up a Samsung A8 from John Lewis. So, a question for current users, which case and stand / mounting do you use and what are the pro's and con's?

 

[matt1]

This for the bulkhead above the chart table (self adhesive so can remove when tablet is end of life)

Dockem Koala Tablet Wall Mount: Universal Damage-free Adhesive Wall Dock for iPads, iPad Airs, Galaxy Tabs and other Tablets [black] https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009NS1X7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_Ef35FbMRDBQYE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I’s still haven’t decided which suction cup mount for by the companionway, or a ruggedised case yet. Will probably spend £109 on mounts

 

[Solent sailer]

had a couple of Samsung's over the years no complaints seem well made and reasonably priced for what you get.

 

[mjcoon]

had a couple of Samsung's over the years no complaints seem well made and reasonably priced for what you get.

I did have a slight problem with mine, in that it did not come with a manual. It did contain a link to an on-line HTML manual, but I was not always going to be on-line (though maybe not far off-shore!)... So I askwd Samsun and eventually they said they would send me a paper manual. Not ideal either, but an extension to what I had. When it arrived it was for a Samsung washing machine slightly different from my model, so not much of an extension. Eventually I did get shown a PDF manual I could download, but it was not as smooth or instant as I had expected!

 

[escapism]

My Hudl 2 has run various editions of Navionics since 2014 and also acts as the boats entertainment hub. I guess whatever you buy, take care of it and consistently underestimate its degree of waterproofing.

 

[Solent sailer]

I did have a slight problem with mine, in that it did not come with a manual. It did contain a link to an on-line HTML manual, but I was not always going to be on-line (though maybe not far off-shore!)... So I askwd Samsun and eventually they said they would send me a paper manual. Not ideal either, but an extension to what I had. When it arrived it was for a Samsung washing machine slightly different from my model, so not much of an extension. Eventually I did get shown a PDF manual I could download, but it was not as smooth or instant as I had expected!

Does anything electronic come with a manual, I cant remember the last computer, phone, tablet that had a phisical manual, even the wireless phone charger I got for Christmas only had a few safety warnings and a web site.
A manual for the tablet isn't all that much use as you are usually using apps and need the instructions for the app rather than the tablet.

 

[bluerm166]

Samsung Tab A 10.1 s are now down to £150 ish so go for the 10".
Check that whichever screen you get is 1920 x 1200 or higher - if you're optically challenged and you want to read the depths.

 

[KompetentKrew]

Samsung Tab A 10.1 s are now down to £150 ish so go for the 10".
Check that whichever screen you get is 1920 x 1200 or higher - if you're optically challenged and you want to read the depths.

I second this suggestion - the extra couple of inches will make all the difference, compared to the screensize of the A8.

 

[Thresher]

Don't laugh but....
I bought one of these last year.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084L17JKF/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_image_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
£86.
All I wanted was to run Navionics offshore and it did that.
I couldn't get my sim card to work with it but with wifi it does all the other things that you would expect a tablet to do.

 

[matt1]

Well I bought the A8 in the end....shame I cant get it to download SailgribWR!!!! The play store will not let me pay for the App "Transaction not completed" Arghh!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Don't laugh but....
I bought one of these last year.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084L17JKF/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_image_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
£86.
All I wanted was to run Navionics offshore and it did that.
I couldn't get my sim card to work with it but with wifi it does all the other things that you would expect a tablet to do.

I have one of these for the boat; it's brilliant and as good as my very expensive Samsung 10" tablet.