Cockpit laptop monitor

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Six years, seven summers and our three ipads have never let us down or turned off due to being left in the sun (we don't leave them in the sun). We have mesh pockets built into the sprayhood.

BUT our brand new marine grade Vesper Watchmate Vision $hit the bed only 70 hours into it's first season, and left us without an AIS transponder for three months (and it was mounted indoors). I've also dropped the ipads on several occasions with them being enclosed in the Lifeproof nuud waterproof cases. No issues, no shattered screen.

Was your tablet wearing a Lifeproof case?

I don't understand how or why you extrapolate your experience with your Sony tablet to ipads which are manufactured to what seems to be a higher standard of reliability (judging by your experience) and expect an unprotected tablet to resist being broken when dropped the same as one enclosed in a drop protection/waterproof/floating case.

It seems to me that you purchased the wrong tablet. Was the Sony much cheaper than the top end ipad? We've always purchased the best high end cellular model ipad available at the time. The Lifeproof case adds another $100.

I actually have more experience with an IPad, which I still have and use. The Sony is definitely not worse.

Yes letting the battery run down or letting the device overheat in the sun or killing it with a splash of seawater are all User Errors.

But that's not the point - you don't need to operate a true marine plotter around those weaknesses. Short of a lightning strike, practically nothing can take it out of action.

That's what I prefer. Not knocking anyone else's different preferences.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Delancey]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

For me, using consumer electronics for critical navigation functions involving the safety of the vessel is just wrong. What if you drop it? What if it crashes? What if a wave splashes inside the waterproof case just when you've cracked it to thread a cable through or something? What if you can't see it in bright sunlight just when you really need it? What if the battery runs down? Having a backup mitigates most of these, but still -- not on my boat!

You say you don't knock other people's preferences? But then you do. You do it right here. You even italicized WRONG for emphasis.

Might not be your intention but your comments make you come off as a bit of a hypocrite here.

Doubt anyone would give the issue much concern if you hadn't knocked other people's preferences in the first place. Which you clearly did even though you say you don't.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I actually have more experience with an IPad, which I still have and use. The Sony is definitely not worse.

Yes letting the battery run down or letting the device overheat in the sun or killing it with a splash of seawater are all User Errors.

But that's not the point - you don't need to operate a true marine plotter around those weaknesses. Short of a lightning strike, practically nothing can take it out of action.

That's what I prefer. Not knocking anyone else's different preferences.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

To me the biggest shortcoming of iPads, iPhones and any other non-marine nav option is you can't see it in bright light. I want something I can see at the helm in the daylight. iPads may as well be invisible in direct sun. And as noted, a daylight viewable monitor costs as much as a dedicated chart plotter so what's the point.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Delancey

You say you don't knock other people's preferences? But then you do. You do it right here. You even italicized WRONG for emphasis.
t.

You obviously missed the key words in that same sentence - "for me" and "seems". Might want to reread it.


Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Battery ran down.

People's attitudes towards this vary, of course, so to each his own.

For me, using consumer electronics for critical navigation functions involving the safety of the vessel is just wrong. What if you drop it? What if it crashes? What if a wave splashes inside the waterproof case just when you've cracked it to thread a cable through or something? What if you can't see it in bright sunlight just when you really need it? What if the battery runs down? Having a backup mitigates most of these, but still -- not on my boat!

Originally Posted by Delancey

You say you don't knock other people's preferences? But then you do. You do it right here. You even italicized WRONG for emphasis.

Might not be your intention but your comments make you come off as a bit of a hypocrite here.

Doubt anyone would give the issue much concern if you hadn't knocked other people's preferences in the first place. Which you clearly did even though you say you don't.

So......

All we did was suggest the OP explore using an iPad or tablet to view his PC from the cockpit. Why so much negativity towards tablet solutions that most cruisers actually use successfully?

Most of us don't toss ours around without protective cases or stand out in the bright sun with the things.

Embrace the future.