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Convince me to get a Tablet PC

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 07:54:10

I have a PC at home, a lap top and a htc Inspire 4g and can't justify also having a tablet. The phone does whatever I need very nicely, Like Dave B says, a computer in your pocket. The only negative is my old eyes need the 1.25's to see it!

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 07:56:24

Mac only (others will have to recommend Android apps)
InavX is expensive for an app, but I'm onboard with Practical Sailor in saying it is the class act and worth it. The NOAA and Corp of Engineers charts for the US are free for both. On computers, Practical Sailor once suggested that buying a Mac and this program was a better approach than running any of the available Windows nav apps and cheaper since only the high end, professional programs could compete with it. The two programs meld seamlessly over a wireless Mac/Ipad/Iphone network.

For Ipad and Iphone: www.inavx.com/

For Mac computers: www.macenc.com/

If you have a box full of money lying around, get a Retina Display Macbook Pro with 16 gigs of RAM, 2.7 GH quad core processor, and a 768 gig SSD; add a 64 gig Ipad and Iphone 5 and you'll be the envy of the mega boats, all for the price of a C-25. Add Parallels, and you can also run Windows and Linux in windows on your desktop, Unix is already there.

That's a joke. don't castigate me for not being a Windows apostle. I prefer Macs, but I am not a fanboi.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 08:32:43

Dave B. Can you check if the NOAA great lakes chart includes the North shore of Lk Ontario? inavx.com looks interesting.

I didn't see a price for the app though. Also, can tracks in the tablet be exported as KML files - to google maps for instance to use on my blog?

Edited by - Prospector on 09/13/2012 09:58:23

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 10:28:32

A quick look at their site shows that you might be in district 9 (wasn't that a movie?), but it looks like that covers all of Lake Michigan, and the south shores of Superior, Erie, Ontario & Huron.

However, scrolling down further, Fugawi provides "Premium Canada" which looks like it covers all of Canada, and the charts are only $55 US, which seems like a pretty good deal to me. A bit further reading shows you might have to get two different map packs if you also want the south shores of the lakes since they're not in Canada. Seems like a funny way to split the charts since you're not really interested in the land, but the water between them.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 11:07:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 I didn't see a price for the app though...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">iTunes shows it at $49.95 (US).

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 12:43:30

PCP777 100%, yes forgot to mention that, the ipad, the kindle they all have great battery life 8-10 hours!

As for navionics:
http://www.navionics.com/mobile-pc-app
Plots stuff like this: http://www.shnool.com/images/_Capri1989/091011TripNavionics.jpg
here's a screenshot, showing an actual chart, and course I took just last night. Note the red pointer is where my truck was parked...
http://www.shnool.com/images/capri25/NavionicsLook.png

Edited by - on

CarbonSink62
Navigator

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USA
208 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 13:02:40

I have a 'dumb phone' and a small laptop. My wife bought me a tablet PC for our anniversary last year and I love it. I didn't want the data plan and small screen that comes with a smart phone nor did I want to take my netbook everywhere.

I have an Acer a100 tablet with a 7" screen that runs the Android operating system.

I use it for: music, photos, movies, documents, contacts and Angry Birds. It also has a GPS app for land navigation; I have not yet loaded an app for marine navigation.

It holds my logbook (I edit on a full sized PC and copy it over) as well as other docs for the boat, like the C25 manual in a .pdf file.

The lack of data plan has not been a problem; WiFi is everywhere (including my boat club). I can and have used it to access the net but only for things I need, it's not much fun to surf with.

While I don't see it ever being my only device - I still need a phone and a real PC - it is very handy.

Ken

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 13:10:44

Schnool - does that run on a wifi-only tablet? Do you have to have a data plan to run it while out on the water?

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 18:01:44

you tell it to download specific "regions" when you are "online." Then it will work without internet. A wifi only tablet will work, but the tablet has to have built in GPS, or you will need a bluetooth GPS (they are like $10). I think the ipad does, but I am not sure.

I am on a mountain lake so yes I have a data plan while on the water. I've turned it off though, and it works fine (just no satellite imagery which isn't necessary).

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5353 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2012 : 19:35:18

For navionics, a buddy got an app on his iPad that not only works as a chartplotter with detailed NOAA charts, but provides him turn by turn navigation around hazards like shoals and rocks at the entrances to popular harbor channels and plots courses between point A and point B. He's delighted although I decided not to go for it as the app cost something like $50.00.
My real concern is whether the devices can withstand a marine environment for prolonged exposure.
I have an XM radio boombox that failed due to high relative humidity >80% on the boat. It works fine at home but dies after a few hours on the boat. The radio module works fine but the boombox loses power, so I wonder whether even environmentally protected iPads will have a reduced useful life if subjected to salt air and perennial wetness.
I'll let you guys field test the product before I bring mine out for a sea trial.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2012 : 04:57:52

<< withstand a marine environment >>

That has always been my issue.. and I'm not even in salt water. I've tried to go with the lowest cost devices. Using a kindle for reading which has been really nice and a samsung smartphone for music, radar, weather, communication.
Using the kindle fire at home and it is nice but I'm leaning between a air, one of the samsung tablets, or just an iphone 5.

Then again.. I'd really like the tablet that plugs into a keyboard, or the laptop that the tablet pops off of... waterproof..

Waiting....

Edited by - redeye on 09/14/2012 05:04:52

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2012 : 05:59:38

Redeye - my wife'zs does that. She got the Asus Transformer Pad, and with it you can buy an external keyboard and a case that converts it into a sortof mini-laptop.

The rep at Bestbuy told us that you can mate any bluetooth qwerty keyboard to any tablet with bluetooth, although some manufacturers (like Asus and Apple) have dedicated hardware that will work better.

In my wife's case, the keyboard fits on one side of her case and the tablet on the other to form a stand that stays up and open if she wants, or lies flat, or can be folded backwards to hide the keyboard.

Since getting it, she hasn't needed the desktop PC yet (2 weeks) but now the teen's usage is up. I will never get dedicated home computer time.

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2012 : 06:47:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 Redeye - my wife'zs does that. She got the Asus Transformer Pad, and with it you can buy an external keyboard and a case that converts it into a sortof mini-laptop.

The rep at Bestbuy told us that you can mate any bluetooth qwerty keyboard to any tablet with bluetooth, although some manufacturers (like Asus and Apple) have dedicated hardware that will work better.

In my wife's case, the keyboard fits on one side of her case and the tablet on the other to form a stand that stays up and open if she wants, or lies flat, or can be folded backwards to hide the keyboard.

Since getting it, she hasn't needed the desktop PC yet (2 weeks) but now the teen's usage is up. I will never get dedicated home computer time.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My desktop sat dormant for over a couple years, but then then the neighbor gave me an old desk top, I tweaked it, upgraded the video card with one I had laying around and set it up next to my desktop and now me and my son have a blast playing Battlefield 2 on multi-player maps. If these adults and teenagers only knew that the guy that was pwning them is only five years old they would die. It's amazing how good he is at flying choppers, jets and driving tanks...

Edited by - PCP777 on 09/14/2012 06:49:54

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2012 : 09:14:29

After spending several hours of my day trying to fix my 9yo daughters ipad using iHateYouiTunes after she changed her passcode and forgot what she changed it to... I have to say, buy anything but an "iProduct."

Oh if you have to and the environment is a big deal, they make these ziplock type pouches for all of these devices, that make them waterproof (yep underwater), not just humidity proof. They are ugly, but work, and the screen still works for touch through them. Just don't puncture the big heavy duty ziplock bag, then all bets are off (they are like $30).

Edited by - shnool on 09/14/2012 09:15:21

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2012 : 09:43:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 After spending several hours of my day trying to fix my 9yo daughters ipad using iHateYouiTunes after she changed her passcode and forgot what she changed it to... I have to say, buy anything but an "iProduct."

Oh if you have to and the environment is a big deal, they make these ziplock type pouches for all of these devices, that make them waterproof (yep underwater), not just humidity proof. They are ugly, but work, and the screen still works for touch through them. Just don't puncture the big heavy duty ziplock bag, then all bets are off (they are like $30).
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You should have been able to fairly easily gotten a password reset unless you're talking about the screen lock, in which case that'd be more um... difficult. Still, if you had a reasonably recent sync, you could have hard reset it and then re-synced it.

On a different note, I'm slowly convincing myself that I "need" one of the Costco $220 Samsung Galaxy Tabs. This thread is pushing me along.

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2012 : 11:21:19

Yep, password screen lock... had all the stuff downloaded, backed up, but that USB connection is a bear when what you are synching is MOVIES! I control the iTunes password, and she'll not know it (being as it's backed my my CC).

+1 on the Galaxy Tab, great device (for a toy I might consider it). None of this iHateiTunes stuff. My RAZR phone doesn't have these problems, and I can backup to a transflash with it (and copy files to the phone directly, without this encoding, licensing garbage iHateiTunes gives me).

By the way, my daughter LOVES her iPad (in fact I just got her a case for it), as does my StepSon (who has the bluetooth keyboard case for his he loves). Again, wife loves the Kindle Fire. I purchased the iPad for my daughter on cowboom, and it was a bargain. It's what she wanted (and she's got dad wrapped...)

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2012 : 12:40:26

Well, there are ways around iTunes as well. I don't bother because I rarely listen to anything that's not Pandora, although I would if I were to go on a long trip or something I'd upload my CD library (as MP3s). However, if i had the Tab, I wouldn't need to bother, plus you can plug in flash memory to the Tab for movies or what have you. Another reason to get one. I agree it's largely a toy, but honestly it'd give me a tablet to develop on, so that'd be a good thing. Plus I'd have to learn how to use Eclipse or IntelliJ to do so, which would also be good. Right now I'm Xcode centric.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2012 : 00:19:37

So, woot.com is selling refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tabs for $170 today. If you're interested, don't dawdle their deals are only good for 24 hours or until they sell out. The deal will switch to the next deal at 10pm PDT today, Saturday.

I've ordered one.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2012 : 06:08:07

Arrrg. Woot doesn't do Canada.

We need to overthrow America. Would you guys rather be the 11th province, or the 4th territory? Then I could get these deals.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2012 : 11:55:56

I bought a Motorola Xoom a year or so ago to use on the boat for charts and such but ended up not using it much because it was easier to carry and use my Garmin GPSMAP 378 chart-plotter with XM Satelitte Weather and marine charts. The Android based Xoom also will not display certain weather programs I like to use.

Since then I've purchased a 10" Acer Windows 7 based laptop and it's the perfect size and weight to use on the boat. It will open any program I want and the screen is large enough that I can read the charts and weather displays without my magnifiers on.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2012 : 12:31:20

Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tab here.

Love it, have all the apps I need to do the work that needs done if out of the office.

Only app I'm not in love with is the droid editor, everythings works great except the editing features are so retarded compared to Ultra Edit by IDM, that program rocks for all of my editing needs. (HTML, Javascript, XML, SQL Scripting, Perl CGI type of stuff.)

But I don't plan on doing any serious development with the tablet, just minor edits, for that it works great.

I use 2X for vpn, and browser for pretty well any site so far (although I have a pet peev with any site that forces user to mobile mode when they have a 10" screen!

Paul

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2012 : 10:23:19

OK, I gave in this morning and pulled the plug. Local computer place has an Asus TF700T on hold with my name on it. Luckily, that store is just down the road from a great paddle-sports place which should have water-proof cases.

You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find a place with this machine in stock. Everyone lists them as arriving soon, and the ones who do have them in stock are selling for MSRP +$200 or so.

Anyway, I'll let you guys know what I think once I have it up and running.

Supposedly this unit has the best daylight viewable screen of the bunch - that was a big factor for me. And the fact that it has expandable memory (SSD slot) and that it will outperform the one SWMBO just got.

Now we'll have to see it in person.

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2012 : 10:52:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 Arrrg. Woot doesn't do Canada.

We need to overthrow America. Would you guys rather be the 11th province, or the 4th territory? Then I could get these deals.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We're well on our way no worries (nationalized healthcare here we come). Canadians would be wasting their time to overthrow us, pretty soon Canada would be unhappy they got the US Dollar, which incurs decent foreign debt.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2012 : 11:20:02

Hey - nonpolitical remember. Watch out or the librarian will come over and kick us out.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2012 : 11:23:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 
We're well on our way no worries (nationalized healthcare here we come). Canadians would be wasting their time to overthrow us, pretty soon Canada would be unhappy they got the US Dollar, which incurs decent foreign debt.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Who says we want your dollar? I just want free shipping and all that stuff on the infomercials so I can slice and dice, and get lint off my sofa.

Edited by - on

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