Which iPad?

Tam Lin

Tam Lin

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I want to buy an iPad and one of its uses would be to run navigation software. I have read lots of the threads on the subject and know the pros and cons. It will be an iPad as we are an Apple house and I want it to link in with our other devices.
So the question is in the title. Which one should I buy? iPad 2, 3, 4, Retina Display, Air or iPad Mini?
I would be pleased to hear anyone's recommendations particularly on whether to use the full size or mini screen.
Thanks.
 
If buying new, your choice is now between the air and mini.
I swapped my iPad2 for the new mini retina and am very pleased.
I find the mini is a more convenient size.
Personal choice.
 
iPad 2 is also tragically slow now in comparison to most high street Android pads. Caveat with the Apple stuff is if you want to have the built in GPS then you need the 3G version of the iPad, otherwise you have to buy more expensive hardware for it to run the Nav apps.
 
Tam Lin said:
I want to buy an iPad and one of its uses would be to run navigation software. I have read lots of the threads on the subject and know the pros and cons. It will be an iPad as we are an Apple house and I want it to link in with our other devices.
So the question is in the title. Which one should I buy? iPad 2, 3, 4, Retina Display, Air or iPad Mini?
I would be pleased to hear anyone's recommendations particularly on whether to use the full size or mini screen.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Full size, because it gets wearing trying to focus your eyes on tiny plotter screens etc.

I often wish my ipad had GPS, my next one will.

I have a lifeproof box and a big foam rubber 'lifejacket', these were expensive to buy. I would not trust the waterproofing further than I could throw Ben Nevis, just splashproof really,

BUT, having a protective, hi-viz, shock absorbing jacket allows you to use the ipad more fully. For example I was making up a brake line under the car, and I was able to casually chuck the ipad under the car mingled with all the spanners etc.
Then I could take a photo of the old brake pipe, and fling the ipad away again. You can't do that with a naked one, you are always treating it with kid gloves which cripples the utility, and gets irritating very quickly.
That's my €2 worth anyway.
 
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Retina display now very good value on eBay. Have Mini and Air, the mini is way big enough for a plotter, bigger than most small plotters but full size acts as boat TV as well.
 
I have iPad Air 32g this is an upgrade from original iPad not because there was any thing wrong with the original (Santa was good to me)
My wife has iPad mini
Both are gps
The mini is lighter than the air pad which is lighter than the original which is better if you are holding for any length of time
The newer pads are clearer faster and hold charge better although this may be age related
In answer to you question for boat use I would rate them by gps enabled screen size capacity age of course this is cost wise the worst way
Given the choice at Christmas I went for 10" 32g air pad
Capacity is the last thing people seem to consider what do your phones have?
I have 1500 songs plus navionics and imray charts 2 car gps the usual Facebook FaceTime etc about 20 books using kindle and iBooks all the house and boat instruction manuals plus some games this totals with running system 20g
All our apple units share the apps which covers the apple tax in buying

Hope this helps
 
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If you're about to buy an ipad it's worth mentioning that last week Apple replaced the old iPad 2 with the iPad 4 at the same price as the entry model for larger iPads. That's a long overdue update as the iPad 2 was quite old and slow as mentioned. The '4' is basically the 3 which had a faster processor and retina display along with the new Apple propriety lighting connector.

I mention this as if you are purchasing make sure that you are not buying an iPad 2 at the price it was last week.

Your choice between the full size and mini models depends on your preferences. Bear in mind that the effective screen resolution on both is the same - so you see the same content on both but it's simply smaller on the mini. (And less smooth on the non-retina mini). So your variables are the size of your fingers, the sharpness of your eyes and of course the size and weight that you want to be carrying around.

As mentioned you'll need either a 3G model or an external accessory like BadElf for GPS to work. Either of these is about £100 on the basic non 3G option, so I personally prefer it built in. That's less bits to kept track of and charged - plus you have the option to use 3G if you want to for data. The reason for needing the 3G is that it's the same hardware chip that provides both 3G and GPS functions. You don't have to have a SIM card or a contract.

James
 
IPad mini 3G with Navionics UK&Holland. Works a treat except when 'drifting', i.e. no wind, less then 2kts when it loses it's GPS fix for some reason. I am not sure if this a Navionics problem but suspect it is as the GPS works fine running the OS mapping software at walking pace.

I have also found the GPS eats battery life so I now plug it in when it's being a chart plotter. I also have a SH180i running but like playing with both and the ipad/Navionics combo is easy to take home an look at our plot.

Steve
 
Sophie19 said:
IPad mini 3G with Navionics UK&Holland. Works a treat except when 'drifting', i.e. no wind, less then 2kts when it loses it's GPS fix for some reason. I am not sure if this a Navionics problem but suspect it is as the GPS works fine running the OS mapping software at walking pace.

I have also found the GPS eats battery life so I now plug it in when it's being a chart plotter. I also have a SH180i running but like playing with both and the ipad/Navionics combo is easy to take home an look at our plot.

Steve
Click to expand...

It's a Navionics issue, I emailed them about it. Basically to save battery power it chats less often with the GPS chip when you're below 2knots, makes sense, at that speed it's not like you're closing on anything very quickly! It does mean that it's no good as an anchor watch.
 
Scotty_Tradewind said:
what happens to your gps offshore and no 3G signal?

S.
Click to expand...

The built-in ipad GPS is independent of phone networks, like all GPS receivers.
Devices connected to wi-fi can give quite an accurate location, eg house number, because the wifi signal has a location encoded in it for this purpose (I believe).
Devices connected to a mobile phone network do a similar thing.
 
jerrytug said:
The built-in ipad GPS is independent of phone networks, like all GPS receivers.
Devices connected to wi-fi can give quite an accurate location, eg house number, because the wifi signal has a location encoded in it for this purpose (I believe).
Devices connected to a mobile phone network do a similar thing.
Click to expand...

Yes it does. The only thing to be careful of is that you have the maps/charts needed pre-installed on the device and don't need to use an internet connection to access these. Anyway, you can easily test it at home by turning off the WIFI and 3/4G and going somewhere!
 
The wifi and cell tower ID give it a faster location find, basically it tells the GPS where it generally is.
 
I had an iPad 2 with iSailor - very hard to see in the cockpit when sunny and also the latest version doesn't run on this iPad.
I now have an iPad 4 on which the contrast is better. I have just made up a bracket to clamp it in a Lifeedge waterproof case under the sprayhood which works great. The new version of iSailor can show SOG and heading on the RHS of the screen which has quite large numbers so that even I can read it from the helming position.
Sailorbaz
 
I use a full size retina ipad with inavx. It works fine, but the screen is not sunlight readable. I have to put it in the dodger shade to read it. If I were doing it again I would look closely at the FZ-G1 ToughPad. It has a much better screen and can run all the windows nav programs (like expedition and Adrena). I know you say apple is for you, and if so fine, it will work ok . . . but if there is any wiggle room on that you should really do a screen comparison in sunlight.
 
Thanks everyone for the considered replies. It has given me lots to think about. As foeu says, I guess it all comes down to a matter of personal choice.
I am still interested in hearing people's opinions so keep them coming!
 
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