Viewing in the cockpit

[tonyappuk]

Are the latest 7" and 10" tablets better for viewing in daylight? I use OpenCPN on my laptop on the boat but the visibility of the display in the cockpit is dreadful unless it's night or there's a thunderstorm brewing hence the laptop stays in the cabin. Not ideal as we all know. Is it worth buying a tablet for this reason?
Tony

[Cotemar]

Maybe these pictures will help you decide

[David M]

Tablets and laptops are just not bright enough in direct sunlight. The expensive proprietary monitors made by the various nav hardware companies are bright enough and waterproof. They know they have you.

[sgschwend]

It is an interesting issue. My understanding is that there is a type of monitor that can switch from transmitted light to received light. Received light is for outside usage. Results after installing a hood, taken at the upper station.

[Reefmagnet]

Just done a quick search on ebay and came up with these:

Starlinepc com SED070WHB 7" Wide Screen Daylight Readable LCD Touch Screen | eBay

Dell Latitude XT3, i7 2.80Ghz 2640M, 4GB, 250GB, Daylight Viewable LCD | eBay

[tonyappuk]

Thanks All
I know it is possible to get daylight viewable laptops/screens if you pay the price. My question really, not being familiar with tablets, was whether modern tablet screens were better than laptops of old. It seems not.
Tony

[Hakan]

Tony..
Pass a link to PixelQ. A new type of screen that, without own experience, looks interesting. It may be expensive in applications but the development story is nice. Designed for cheep low power outside use.
Pixel Qi - Products with Pixel Qi Screens
Håkan

[tonyappuk]

Hakan
I was aware of the PixelQ screens but that link was useful with all the latest uses. I'm sure they will be cheaper in the future but for the time being they are much too expensive for an empoverished retired engineer yachtie. I only buy stuff if I can get it for thruppence! Especially now that I'm having to treat my aged Centaur for osmosis for the second time. The joys of sailing!
Tony

[zeehag]

you all have described the main reason, or one of them, not to use a puter in cockpit--the other reason is receiving a sea over the transom or quarter. lovely way to mess up a puter. yes i have been pooped by a sea....was wet. EVERYTHING was wet.

[Hakan]

Tone. I can very well recognizance your view. I'm as well retired and engineer and like thruppence trades.
And zeehag has a point, that's clear. Cockpit screens may be more suitable in a canal or other protected waters.

[David M]

There ARE monitors that are bright enough for daylight that are also waterproof, you just have to be willing pay the price.

Some extreme examples of high prices. I'm sure one could do better if they look around by Googling "monitor waterproof daylight"
http://www.furunousa.com/Products/Pr...ine%20Monitors

Or...
http://www.roadwatercomputer.com/rwd080m.php

http://www.vartechsystems.com/produc...ue/default.asp

[wdkester]

I used a Fujitsu Stylistic (can't remember the number) but it is a ruggedized tablet with a sunlight viewable screen. It works in direct sunlight. I built a case to keep splashes off. I used it successfully between Baltimore and the Rio Dulce. IIRC I thought it was a power hog.

People have also rigged a VDL02 toughbook monitor. I can't comment as I haven't seen one in action.

My latest attempt is a $110, 400 cd/m2, 8", shaded and semi-water-proofed touch-screen monitor. I haven't had it on the water, but it seems fine as long as it's not in direct sun. It will spend 90% of the time under the dodger.

I bought at: Refurbished VM80L 8" TFT LED Touchscreen Car PC VGA Monitor | eBay

[Sumner]

What we have done but haven't used on the water yet ...

Computer-Chartplotter Build Page-5

Sum

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Tony..
Pass a link to PixelQ. A new type of screen that, without own experience, looks interesting. It may be expensive in applications but the development story is nice. Designed for cheep low power outside use.
Pixel Qi - Products with Pixel Qi Screens
Håkan

This debuted at CeBIT a few days ago and also looks promising if you dislike the limitations and price of MFDs:



10.4? IP67 Waterproof Panel PC

[armido]

If you've noticed my Thread, http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...now-94064.html and 'how to' at Building on Motorola Xoom | Official OpenCPN Homepage you'd properly guess I've used my Motorola Xoom extensively when underway. I've found the screen bright enough for use beneath the cockpit cover (don't have a dodger or bimini) on sunny days. However I rarely need to use the tablet topsides. A quick round trip below is normally adequate to verify my position or review chart details. While OpenCPN running in a linux chroot environment along side android still does not receive nmea data - and at the moment a solution is being pursued by Marius (mrm) - dropping a mark and modifying it's properties to reflect your current gps coordinates works well enough.

I have to agree that using a tablet topsides is risky in a lively sea because experienced waves tend to get you and exposed devices without giving due notice.

armido