Which Tablet Computer/

[Robert Wilson]

I wholeheartedly agree with you on that score, BUT:- PC World, Inverness 72 miles / John Lewis, Edinburgh 230 miles.
I only want to look/play before deciding.
I may be lucky and get out within 2 hours!

Used the money you save by not doing that to get an iPad mail order.

Well, I went, cost me £20 in diesel, and spent a tiresome hour in PCWorld.
Three sales staff gave "advice", two didn't seem to know what Nexus/Samsung/"laptop" could do for me - having quite clearly explained I wanted a small device, chargeable by cigaretter lighter socket, has a USB socket, could either take a GPS dongle or have GPS and load Navionics. Oh, and hopefully not cost more than £200 - £250.

After third salesman took me round the £500 laptops and suggested I go to Maplins to buy a 12V/240v converter I sort of lost interest!

It appears I can't find a tablet which will provide "handy-sized" GPS and "borescope-by-USB" capabilities; and the laptop solution doesn't sound practical for sailing. I realise I can get a tablet to provide all but the borescope, which I would infrequently use (internal mast, back-of-engine, rope-on-prop inspections etc).
Sounds like the Hudl or Nexus - from Tesco/John Lewis.

Hey ho.

Incidentally, the Maplins salesman was very helpful, very knowledgable and very realistic in his advice. Which was, buy a cheap laptop and try to keep it dry!

 

[alahol2]

It appears I can't find a tablet which will provide "handy-sized" GPS and "borescope-by-USB" capabilities; and the laptop solution doesn't sound practical for sailing. I realise I can get a tablet to provide all but the borescope, which I would infrequently use (internal mast, back-of-engine, rope-on-prop inspections etc).
Sounds like the Hudl or Nexus - from Tesco/John Lewis.

If you google "tablet borescope" it comes up with a couple of android options so it should be possible.

 

[Burnham Bob]

My nexus 7 has a bigger screen than my chart plotter! The 2013 version is great.

 

[lustyd]

My nexus 7 has a bigger screen than my chart plotter! The 2013 version is great.

My chart plotter is waterproof and natively outputs NMEA to my VHF

 

[Robert Wilson]

If you google "tablet borescope" it comes up with a couple of android options so it should be possible.

Thanks for that. I tried your suggestion, then reversed it. Then tried "Tablet with USB", which led me to the Nokia Lumia 2520. That seems to tick all the boxes, but £400 (ouch)and a poor review about Windows RT.
Any thoughts on Windows RT?

 

[ffiill]

Robert-I have a Hudl-cost me all of £10 for the case with Tesco exchange.Both my daughter and partner who can affor top of the range Apple Mac i pads i phones etc were very impressed-absolutely no problem with 7 inch screen and a memory expandable from 18 gb up to 50gb.It costs about £110 without any deals-its camera isnt the best but other than this with a variety of apps loaded and the beginnings of a big photo colection its using about 7% of its storage capacity.The dedicated Google Chrome works far quicker than on my 2.5 ghz Dell laptop as does the e mail accounts.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Robert-I have a Hudl-cost me all of £10 for the case with Tesco exchange.Both my daughter and partner who can affor top of the range Apple Mac i pads i phones etc were very impressed-absolutely no problem with 7 inch screen and a memory expandable from 18 gb up to 50gb.It costs about £110 without any deals-its camera isnt the best but other than this with a variety of apps loaded and the beginnings of a big photo colection its using about 7% of its storage capacity.The dedicated Google Chrome works far quicker than on my 2.5 ghz Dell laptop as does the e mail accounts.

That's a good review. But does it have a USB port for plugging-in/operating the borescope which I recently purchased from Amazon.
I have downloaded (onto my old desktop) the Windows Movie Maker programme which works well, but don't fancy carting half a ton of ancient desk-top onto the boat!!

 

[robmcg]

Also have a Hudl and have found that Internet browsing is waaaaay quicker on it than on partners I pad 2. On balance, I much prefer the Android OS to iOS. Hudl is also a very good price considering the spec. We too managed to secure a hefty discount with club card vouchers and a £20 off electricals voucher. It's cheap enough that you can't go wrong!

 

[robmcg]

That's a good review. But does it have a USB port for plugging-in/operating the borescope which I recently purchased from Amazon.
I have downloaded (onto my old desktop) the Windows Movie Maker programme which works well, but don't fancy carting half a ton of ancient desk-top onto the boat!!

Buy a micro USB to USB converter - about £4 on eBay and you should be good to go! Most tablets have adopted the micro USB format due to its size.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Buy a micro USB to USB converter - about £4 on eBay and you should be good to go! Most tablets have adopted the micro USB format due to its size.

Well that's interesting. PCWorld "helper" said tablets don't have USB ports of any sort!

So if a HUDL (or Nexus) has a micro USB port, presumably with an adapter I'm home-and-dry.ish?

 

[robmcg]

Well that's interesting. PCWorld "helper" said tablets don't have USB ports of any sort!

So if a HUDL (or Nexus) has a micro USB port, presumably with an adapter I'm home-and-dry.ish?

Cobblers. Loads of them use micro USB as the primary means of charging and transferring data between tablet and a PC. I would imagine the only limiting factor would be whatever hardware you want to plug in via a USB converter has a driver or software that works on the Android operating software.

Micro USB to USB converter can be found here for example

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/StarTech-...pter-M-F-/181137667034?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

 

[Robert Wilson]

Cobblers. Loads of them use micro USB as the primary means of charging and transferring data between tablet and a PC. I would imagine the only limiting factor would be whatever hardware you want to plug in via a USB converter has a driver or software that works on the Android operating software.

Micro USB to USB converter can be found here for example

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/StarTech-...pter-M-F-/181137667034?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

Ah. Does an Android support Windows programmes? That may be the stumbling block.

Thank you, and all, for tech advice to one who left the computer age a few decades ago!

 

[robmcg]

Ah. Does an Android support Windows programmes? That may be the stumbling block.

Thank you, and all, for tech advice to one who left the computer age a few decades ago!

No, different operating software. You could see if someone has developed an app for Android that allows your hardware to operate.

 

[Alfie168]

Ah. Does an Android support Windows programmes?

As a rule the answer is no, but an App like 'Documents to Go' which I have on my Android Tablet will open Word documents and spreadsheets so its not a completely closed book. Lookee here. PDFs are no problem as well.

I'd just say that before downloading an App, even from Google Play Store, you must read the reviews and do a bit of research as some make great claims that stand scrutiny and others make claims that do not seem to be entirely justified. Also be aware that most Apps update automatically and that whilst this mostly improves functionality, occasionally the reverse happens.

https://www.dataviz.com/DTG_home.html

Tim

 

[NickRobinson]

Cobblers. Loads of them use micro USB as the primary means of charging and transferring data between tablet and a PC. I would imagine the only limiting factor would be whatever hardware you want to plug in via a USB converter has a driver or software that works on the Android operating software.

Micro USB to USB converter can be found here for example



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/StarTech-...pter-M-F-/181137667034?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

Tablets are usb devices not hosts? You need an OTG On the go? Lead which turns the usb 'round'

Software could still be the stumbler

N

 

[Storyline]

Tablets are usb devices not hosts? You need an OTG On the go? Lead which turns the usb 'round'

Software could still be the stumbler

N

Yes. This is what you need

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Micro-Cable...638183&sr=1-1&keywords=otg+cable+nexus+7+2013

I am by no means an expert but it depends what type of video your borescope outputs. There are a wide range of Android media players available for free and I would hazard a guess that you could get it to work (assuming it is not driven by a windows program when you plug it in).

I think your two best choices are the Nexus 7 or Hudl. I have a Hudl and really like it but the Nexus 7 has better graphics and a nicer form factor. The only downside to the Nexus is that it does not have a micro SD card slot so if you were taking a lot of video with your borescope you would have to download it to a laptop whereas with a Hudl you could carry as much storage as you wanted in the form of SD cards.

Edit: thinking about it, you could get round the storage problem on the Nexus by using a card reader and the above mentioned otg cable so the choice between the two 7" tablets is just down to how much money you want to spend. Feeling flush, then the Nexus is better, want to feel good by saving money then the Hudl is unbeatable.

 

[Richard10002]

Thanks for that. I tried your suggestion, then reversed it. Then tried "Tablet with USB", which led me to the Nokia Lumia 2520. That seems to tick all the boxes, but £400 (ouch)and a poor review about Windows RT.
Any thoughts on Windows RT?

I searched Play Store for Borescope and came up with a few apps that work with wifi borescopes. You shouldn't need to buy a limited tablet for £400!

 

[DipperToo]

I was going to buy an Android tablet, but the new Asus T100 looks an interesting Windows convertible. £329 and it comes with the full version of Windows 8.1, detachable keyboard and has USB on the tablet portion as well as full size USB on the detachable keyboard. The price also includes Office 2013 (Home version). Only downside is that it does not have GPS built-in but then I have heard that many tablets with GPS on-board are not brilliant 'below decks' anyway. As this is NOT Windows RT, no reason why USB GPS receivers will not work with a USB to micro USB adapter.

Reason for considering this route is that I have a licence for PC Plotter and the ASUS looks an interesting proposition (this one also has the newest Atom 3740 processor whereas most still have the older and slower 27xx series.) 11 hours claimed battery life....

Anyone actually used one of these yet?

 

[Robert Wilson]

I was going to buy an Android tablet, but the new Asus T100 looks an interesting Windows convertible. £329 and it comes with the full version of Windows 8.1, detachable keyboard and has USB on the tablet portion as well as full size USB on the detachable keyboard. The price also includes Office 2013 (Home version). Only downside is that it does not have GPS built-in but then I have heard that many tablets with GPS on-board are not brilliant 'below decks' anyway. As this is NOT Windows RT, no reason why USB GPS receivers will not work with a USB to micro USB adapter.

Reason for considering this route is that I have a licence for PC Plotter and the ASUS looks an interesting proposition (this one also has the newest Atom 3740 processor whereas most still have the older and slower 27xx series.) 11 hours claimed battery life....

Anyone actually used one of these yet?

It looks as though we're getting somewhere now.
I had seen the Asus advertised but my aged desktop baulked at downloading the spec ( for some odd reason).

I'll investigate further, but in the meantime if anyone has any further info/persoanl usage reports, I, like others probably, would be most interested to hear. Thanks

 

[GHA]

I have considered the Sony Xperia Z but have been unable to find anyone able to run Navionics on it.

If anyone has I would be delighted to know as I would quite like one.

I have a Xperia z10, navionics works just fine. Lovely machine, have hardly touched a laptop for over half a year huge help living o
Trouble is that after using a 10" fast tablet the Nexus 7 just isn't enough any more....