IPad2 or?????

Get the iPad 3GS. iPad,s are rock solid and thousand of free very useful apps. 3GS version have built in GPS and with the Navionics charts makes a great backup unit. For $50 you will get all marine and lake charts for All north america. The tide and current feature are a bonus. Also great to plan trips while not on the boat.

I have never bought the SIMM to get 3G service as only use wifi. Went for the 3GS only for the built in GPS and better resale value

/fishon
 
Ipad2 and it does have GPS

I have the Ipad2 and it does have GPS built in. If you have a iphone4 or other smart phone that can be configured to provide a WIFI hot spot then you can use cel data plan to surf etc from any where that you get cel service. Everywhere else use WIFI to minimize data use. I have one and really like it. I put movies on it for kids to watch when traveling or fishing when they get bored. I also highly recommend the Navionics charting app too.

I picked up a thing called ZAGG logitech cover and bluetooth keyboard. Works great as a keyboard and it comes in an aluminum case which also protects Ipad when not in use. Cost is $100, good value.

Eastpoint
 
I want to buy a tablet w/navionics to use in the comox valley/campbell river area.... do I have to have the 3g one???? I don't want to pay for a plan... pls let me know... thanks,
 
I currently own a first generation 3G iPad, and honestly have a hard time recommending it. The 3G iPad is the ONLY unit that has the GPS built into it, so if you are getting one to use with the Navionics apps, you'll need the 3G version and they are $800. You don't have to install a SIM card, so there are no charges to use the 3G network unless you purchase a SIM card, or transfer one from an existing service. Note that the iPad uses a smaller micro-SIM card that is not the same size as a typical cell phone (of course). You can either get a new SIM card, or if you want to share one with your existing phone, you can cut the card to the smaller size (cutters are available via Amazon for $6) -- they then come with an adapter so the card can be used in a regular phone again -- it does not impact functionality of the card (I've done it and have one of the cutters).

I find the iPad does lots of things, none of them particularly well.
- Transferring my home audio and video files to it is extremely painful (no USB or SD card slot)
- iTunes bloatwear sucks huge and is very unstable.
- The unit does not play all video and audio formats.
- The onscreen keyboard sucks, particularly if you have fat fingers so doing emails on it is next to impossible.
- Unit won't play Flash video
- OS is proprietary
- Cannot see the screen in sunlight or with polarized glasses on -- using it on the boat is very challenging

Things I like:
- Battery life is excellent
- Startup is instant
- OS is reliable and few bugs
- Navionics app is excellent

If I was to do this again -- and I just might -- I'd take a long look at the Asus EeePad Transformer. GPS built in, keyboard docking station transforms it from a tablet to laptop. It runs Android 3.x which is an open source OS with tons and tons of excellent and free apps. It has a dual core CPU with 16 hours of battery life. Plays Flash video. Has USB and SD card slots. It's HALF the price of the iPad at $399.
 
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So Bub asked whether you need to have the Navionics chip along with the Navionics app, and whether the Asus device needed a 3G SIM for the GPS to work....

For the Navionics program, all you need to order is the Navionics app from the Android store. You don't need a Navionics chip. As far as I can tell, the Navionics app is equivalent to the "Gold" level data in their chips, but significantly lower cost.

The Asus device has a GPS antenna/receiver built right into it. Apple forced users to purchase the 3G version of the iPad in order to get the GPS receiver in the device. You don't have to use the 3G capability, just had to spend the money. The Asus device does not have this limitation.

For $399, plus $20 for the Navionics app, you get yourself a very fully functioned chartplotter, plus an excellent media library. Add the docking station for $149 (didn't read that initially when I was searching) and you have a full laptop with keyboard. Much better option IMHO than the iPad.
 
I find the ipad 3g with the sim card very useable and I do use it for biz and pleasure.
Its really handy having an internet connection.
Had an engine problem that I couldnt diagnose last week at Quadra but was able to log on to thehulltruth, do a search and found someone had posted and solved the same problem.....saved me hours on my vacation and probably saved me the price of a years fees to Telus by allowing me to diagnose and fix it myself.....all done at the dock.
Reading in the direct sunlight is challenging...its not perfect but nothing is....next editions will get better.
I have been a hardcore pc (guy since owning my first pc 30 years ago) and now see the light(
 
Recently purchased the Motorola android tablet which has a built-in GPS only to find that the device is not supported yet. Navionics support informed me that they are working on adding the device to their compatibility list but could give me no timeframe.
I suspect that the Asus will have the same problem.

http://www.navionics.com/MobileMarineFeatures.asp?MobileType=Android
 
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Good info thanks for the link. Not really crazy about rooting my tablet in case it gets bricked and I don't have an older device that has root capabilities.
Will keep an eye out for something to use mybackup on the cheap.
 
Just as a little side note - I read this thread and then downloaded the Navionics app to my Xperia Arc smartphone for $13 and change. Works great! The phone has GPS so it works perfectly and the battery drain was minimal. Probably not recomended as your primary nav but good as a second or third backup device. Fun for kayaking or whatever...
 
Remember those great charts that were used with laptop computers years ago? Well I hope you still have them because there's a great new app called Marine Navigator that allows you to use them again. Tried it yesterday on the boat and it works flawlessly. I love those charts they have the best detail even better than Navionics. It's a free app for android devices but sorry iPeople you will have to wait.
 
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