Otter
Well-Known Member
Latest iPad is better in sunlight than the old one but its still not 100% sunlight viewable. Being a wheelhouse we can solve that but if the sun is full on it you won't see the chart detail. It's not made to be sunlight viewable in the way a chartplotter is, but then it is rather more multi functional. There are also serious heat issues - if you put it in a lifeproof type case and have it on external charge constantly it will get VERY hot on a hot day and may even go into a protective shut down, I had an iPhone 4 do that. The suggested move from Apple to Windows is a funny joke for someone like me who moved to Apple from Windows to improve the user experience! Moving to Windoze would be a reverse evolutionary process.
Android is a different issue, I changed my iPhone 4s for a Note 3 and love the tweakability of the software and the screen is incredible - way better than what now seems ridiculously small on SWMBO's iPhone 4. But everything has to be set up, tweaked, altered to suit, it feels like there's 13 layers of set up menu. I got used to the Apple "it does it our way and does it perfectly, but if you don't like our way, buy something else". I miss the it-just-works nature of Apple and would never change to an Android tablet. On a phone/phablet it's different but I want the iPad to be an easy relaxing experience.
We've had a iPad as our primary plotter now for three years and it stays that way because it just works, the Navionics package has cost us the equivalent of £10 a year for charts, just updated to this years charts last week for free again.
The ipad as plotter is a real game changer, it will segment the market into small cockpit plotters of about 5" with great waterproof functionality but expensive for what they are and with very expensive chart updates. And a different segment with a waterproof cockpit display and linking to an iPad by wifi built in, charts will be by subscription and bought from a multitude of sources. A chart update for the SE coast on our Raymarine Radar/plotter is almost £150 - that is outrageous; I paid £30 3 years ago for Navionics on the iPad and so far have had the free updates for life they promised, plus as we've changed and refreshed our family iPads it's seamlessly moved from one to another. Good enough.
Android is a different issue, I changed my iPhone 4s for a Note 3 and love the tweakability of the software and the screen is incredible - way better than what now seems ridiculously small on SWMBO's iPhone 4. But everything has to be set up, tweaked, altered to suit, it feels like there's 13 layers of set up menu. I got used to the Apple "it does it our way and does it perfectly, but if you don't like our way, buy something else". I miss the it-just-works nature of Apple and would never change to an Android tablet. On a phone/phablet it's different but I want the iPad to be an easy relaxing experience.
We've had a iPad as our primary plotter now for three years and it stays that way because it just works, the Navionics package has cost us the equivalent of £10 a year for charts, just updated to this years charts last week for free again.
The ipad as plotter is a real game changer, it will segment the market into small cockpit plotters of about 5" with great waterproof functionality but expensive for what they are and with very expensive chart updates. And a different segment with a waterproof cockpit display and linking to an iPad by wifi built in, charts will be by subscription and bought from a multitude of sources. A chart update for the SE coast on our Raymarine Radar/plotter is almost £150 - that is outrageous; I paid £30 3 years ago for Navionics on the iPad and so far have had the free updates for life they promised, plus as we've changed and refreshed our family iPads it's seamlessly moved from one to another. Good enough.
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