Windows or iOS?

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Pauly

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I am in a position where I need to update my ageing tech hardware. Due to another issue, Android won't be in the running. So I was wondering if anyone has any advice as to which operating system would be more suitable.

I find I don't have much use for a laptop nowadays, so I'm aiming at a tablet or similar. And apart from some frivolous use at home (emails, web browsing, YouTube, Netflix etc) I would like to press said item into service as a nav aid on board the old tub.

I have seen an iPad used to good effect for airborne navigation, but never seen Windows used for the same.
 
You are going to get partisan replies. FWIW I used the excuse of using Navionics on my boat for buying an iPad and am very happy with it. Make sure that you buy a model that takes a SIM card though.
 
I run Opencpn on a Windows tablet (Linx 1010). Works like a laptop (get the model with detachable keyboard) or tablet, Two USB ports (for charts?), WiFi, Bluetooth and can run full office suite if required. Also priced without Apple tax, so when you drop it you won't cry!!

Also have an Android phone as backup and to run apps (typically not available on Windows). But if you want a single device and use a lot of apps then Apple might be the better option.
 
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Pauly said:
I am in a position where I need to update my ageing tech hardware. Due to another issue, Android won't be in the running. So I was wondering if anyone has any advice as to which operating system would be more suitable.

I find I don't have much use for a laptop nowadays, so I'm aiming at a tablet or similar. And apart from some frivolous use at home (emails, web browsing, YouTube, Netflix etc) I would like to press said item into service as a nav aid on board the old tub.

I have seen an iPad used to good effect for airborne navigation, but never seen Windows used for the same.
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The wunderkind say that Apple stuff just works! They should say it just works for a while. this mini Ipad I am typing on now, continually crashes, it's getting on a bit, must be 4 years old? It's a memory thing and I am convinced the continual updates screw it! It's just like using Win 311 in the bad old days. The wunderkind airily dismiss it with oh do this or do that missing the point that it is just supposed to work!
 
It's easy for iPads and iPhones to "just work" - they don't do very much and what they do do is only because Apple says that they can do it.
 
I did have a Samsung Tab that died suddenly without so much as a by your leave. When I confronted the knob in the Oxford street Samsung store he told me it wasn't worth fixing. So that eventually found its way to the bin.
I must admit, I was angling towards an iPad, but I'm put off by the cost and the seemingly short service life which seems limited by planned obsolescence.
Neither am I a fan of windows, having suffered with an XP laptop for more years than I deserve. However, the example offered by Muddy Boat will definitely get a look into.
I am intrigued to know why a sim card would be important? I have Android phones should I require network access and would have thought Wi-Fi and blue tooth would be sufficient in a tab.
 
Pauly said:
I am intrigued to know why a sim card would be important? I have Android phones should I require network access and would have thought Wi-Fi and blue tooth would be sufficient in a tab.
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Wifi only ipads don't ( or certainly didn't) have GPS on them hence the advice. You don't need to pay for an ongoing contract - just pop in a PAYG SIM and top it up if you ever need to.

That said - plenty of dongles you can use but if you want a truly independent back up nav system then Ipad with GPS is a strong contender.
 
You don't need a sim card in the iPad for the gps to work. Its just that Apple in their infinite wisdom designed things so that the network bit of the iPad also houses the gps chips, so to get simple gps positioning you need the cellular version of the iPad. Bonus is if you want it you can fit a sim to give you a direct data connection. Or buy a separate gps dongle - but that works out at about the same as the price differential between a wifi and cellular iPad.
 
My old iPad2 suddenly decided that it needed to be activated, even though I had used it for years. Re-activating from the server would not work, and seemingly from the searching I did this is a common problem. The only answer is to use iTunes to re-activate it but I was in Spain at the time and only have iTunes at home on the desktop set. Fortunately I was brought a Samsung, which I like a lot.

I was not happy with it anyway due to the absence of file management options but I understand this may be better now on newer machines. Also the gps seems to have given up.
 
Belt and two lots of braces for me I guess, I still have my old RC530 installed but since installing an AIS transponder I now have an 11" screen Dell Venue tablet with WIN 10, OpenCPN and a full suite of charts from visitmyharbour.com onboard. Buying the charts gets you two copies so I also have a Samsung Galaxy note tablet with the Marine Navigator AP that I use generally for email etc while away sailing leaving the Dell 'clean'.
I bought and used 10 iPads in my now sold business and subsequently sold them all on ebay after replacing with Samsung, I believe it's a personal choice but for the non-IT person an iPad may be better if you're happy with being jerked on a string by Apple needing iTunes, your money, your children etc and all that nonsense. The Samsung's for me were half the price with a far more accessible OS and workings but I understand the attraction of iPads.
The Dell and OpenCPN are brilliant and the whole lot with charts cost under £200, a fair bit cheaper than a large screen plotter methinks...
 
Scala said:
Started already... :) Hey ho.
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:)

OK, seriously, Apple products do tend to be more reliable than either Windows or Android, but that comes at a price - lock-in. Windows and Android are far more open than Apple products - you often have a wider choice of both hardware and software to run with your Windows or Android tablet, PC or phone. How much that matters to you depends entirely on your pattern of usage. Personally, I want the freedom to be able to run a wide range of applications and develop my own using a wide range of technologies.
 
I've used MX Mariner on Android which worked quite well on the smaller screen of a smart phone, but suffered a resolution crisis when I tried it on a 10' Samsung tablet.
I'm definitely swinging towards a windows tablet at the moment.
 
JohnGC said:
Which do you prefer?
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I suppose it depends on what I am analysing. The operating systems and hardware no preference. As for apps I can only talk about the ones I have. Ios Navionics used to be king and is still great for planning at hone with the tides etc. But you can also get it on Android. Tides, I have used the Imray app for years and love it, another point for IOS. AIS I have used open cpn but I can see that some might find loading the charts a bit of a faff. The other one I use is iboating. Charts are easily loaded and unlike Navionics it supports AIS so this is the one I use at sea. A point for Android. I believe there is a IOS equivalent though. All in all I think they are 6 of one and half a dozen of the other and I use both equally.
 
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