What is the best tablet ( I-pad, Galaxy etc ) to use when travelling .

Hi,
I use an IPAD like you mention..
I find it very good.

I have a mount for it in the car from Clicon (do a search in google). No screws or suction caps required.

I run both COPILOT and HEMA MAP app on the IPAD, often at the same time, so I can get voice directions while watching the hema maps. Works well.

I also have a 4G telstra unit like what you mentioned and it is very good. Very rarely do you get 4G unless in the cities but works OK. I have a prepaid plan and unless you do heavy internet stuff there $30 plan is adequate. But don't use YOUTUBE on it else will chew up your data allowance.

Alternatively to the WIFI unit you can use your phone (if you have an IPHONE, I think other smartphones have same feature).

the IPHOne has a feature where you can make it a "HOTSPOT". When this feature is turned on it is possible to connect your IPAD to it for internet access. I used it a lot recently and it worked well. This way you are not having to pay any extra for the device.

Just be careful, if you are on a phone plan, make sure you do not exceed your data allowance as it will cost a bundle. I have a prepaid phone so not as big a deal.

The HOTSPOT is password protected.

You could always buy a prepaid account for your IPAD as well.

I am sure you have heard this before but the gPS option is not available in all IPADS (unless this has changed in the newer ones). To get native GPS you need to get an IPAD which has 3G and WIFI instead of just WIFI.

NOTE: you do not have to have a sim card installed to use the GPS in the IPAD (i.e. the 3G + WIFI version) - it does not use the phone network.

Hope all that makes sense.

Summary - IPAD is very good.

Richard

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab because you can run OziExplorer on it, unlike the iPad. (at present)
If using it for the outback, you will need OziExplorer or similar and suitable maps, such as the Hema digital map range.

After recently updating my iPhone to IOS7 (operating system version) I am not fond of Apple products anymore. The new version is crap compared to the previous one.
Once you upgrade, you cannot go back to the previous version.

Won't buy any more iCrap stuff.

You can't go past the Ipad, there are reasons why it's the biggest selling tablet on the market........ it does everything in a simple way and it performs very well.

Apple have always been known for their human interfaces and how their computers function, one main reason why so many use them.

We still run windows based systems at work but we use Iphones for our mobiles and shortly Ipads for on site work.

The only Ipad with inbuilt GPS is the 4g version.

In another week the new Ipad Air goes on sale in Australia.

http://www.apple.com/ipad-air/specs/

Gidday

Two replies, one loves apple, one hates it ... Par for the course I suppose. If I was a betting man I would be on android to win!

I travel with a ipad with 3G and wifi and as mobile computer for internet and email etc I and find it an excellent device. I usually buy a data pack when I go away but if cogs is an issue there are plenty of hotspots about.

I have not gone down the navigation road with it yet part from when I have been on foot and lost in Sydney as I have some reservations about mounting a 10 inch device On the dash. I know plenty do, but it just seems a bit big for me on very rough tracks. The ipad mini might be the go if you decide on Apple products and as plenty will tell you there are dozens of choices if you go the android route.

Cheers

Firstly not stupid enough to pay 2x the price for a Gestapo tablet that cannot load things on I want or all the other restrictions Apple enforce on users.
Galaxy Tab3 with Telstra 4G Wifi or Bigpond Wifi modem with external aerial plug is great.

OziExplorer works on Android and so does Hema. So many better apps on Android for travelling and camping.

BC,

I use an iPad running Hema maps and Wikicamps. Apple stuff just works better, faster and it's shiny - made of metal and best of all, others hate you if you own one :)

Cheers

Skull

I've owned both and you can't really lose whatever you choose......except, DON'T buy a cheap knock off Android tablet. Buy a reputable brand name if you choose Android. Cheers.

I have a cheap android Aldi tablet and relied on hotel wifi on a recent trip overseas to South America.
What a disaster.
First Optus changed their webmail page , and you couldn't see the inbox on the Aldi tablet, and from forums this is common to Android tablets. After I came home I found that the problem was with the google browser not rendering and was fixed by installing Firefox. I believe this is still a problem. Also the Optus webmail only allows you to do many things like remembering email addresses in the windows version not the mobile version.
I recently used the tablet again on a trip in OZ using a Telstra 3G wireless mobile modem and it was quite good.
BUT Andorid drives me mad. It is very hard to transport your email contacts over to an android device . I understand you have to convert them to Vcard format, which can be done on your laptop, but I still do not know whether the contacts will be picked up by the email program .
I have given up on Android I am afraid , and not having the money for an Ipad, I intend to take my wife's 13 inch laptop running windows 7..

IMHO, unless you intend to spend lots of money on an Ipad and then lots more on mapping software, you are probably better off with a windows device if that is what you are familiar with.
Have a look at the new Windows "surface" as it has office on it and runs windows and currently is $392 or lower with a contact keyboard. Microsoft will not allow you to run Firefox apparently but I have no problem with Internet Explorer.
Regards Philip A

I wouldn't know what's the best, BC, but I'm not about to have a coronary bagging one or the other!!!

Was given a 3g/Wi-Fi iPad last December, and initially it was only a glorified notebook & movie storage device. Few months back got a sim card, $30/month, and have since upgraded that to $180/12 months($15/month) Have got an email account, surf the 'net and today made my first Facetime call to one of the kids.

On top of this have the Hema app, as well as a few others, ABC, Channel 7, Pages etc etc.

Takes quite amazing photos considering the size of the lens, and you can email them before you get home to the "big computer". I'm only home 2 nights/week, so the iPad is a great way to keep in touch with family & friends, as well as a valuable stoage device for diary entries, reminders, alarm, and a video player(have 10 movies on mine)



If you did get an iPad, get the 3/4g/wifi/gps model, with 128gig. I'd do a fair bit of research, as to which suits you......seems some people are really passionate about the subject:-))))

Bob.

I am not going near the IPad/Android issue - certainly some passion there.

As a Third option I suggest looking at the tablets which have full Windows 8 (now 8.1) functionality (Not Windows RT).
I am not running any mapping programs and have no experience on these yet.

In May'13 we lprocured a Dell Latitude 10 (Atom Processor Dual 1.6gHz 64 Gb) and an I5 Samsung both with Office Software after having gone to buy an Android Tablet.
Technology changes so fast that my facts may possibly be out of date in the 6 months since.
The Dell Latitude was $630 - seeing similar other makes for $450 now and the Samsung XE700 with I5 processor 128 Gb was $1200 similar now about $1000.

We use the Telstra 4G WIFI modems on the Liberty Plan (speed slows once limit is reached but no charge for over-run). We have never achieved 4G (Chatswood, Brisbane Mater) as 4G is still city centric. That said they do work at 3G where there is mobile coverage and do appear to work faster than previous 3G models we have used.

IMHE the big T coverage is the broadest in general I have found (yes we have tried others) and the extended family have all gone to the the big T.

Reasons for going this way were:
- Full Windows functionality as a full computer on both the Dell and Samsung
- Able to watch movies (and get TV with a receiver)
- The Dell works very well for books, browsing and emails. Beauty is that you can read in bed with both the Dell and the Samsung Tablets.
- It was suggested to us at the time that PDF's were a problem in the apple system and in fact a large training venue in town was snapping up the Dells to view their large training and service manuals typically in PDF format. Daughter who has had IPad for 18 months confirms same re PDF's.
- The Dell and Samsung can be connected to external drives.

I would not suggest pushing the Dell Latitude too hard on serious Office use and it was only bought for Browsing and Emails which it handles with aplomb.

The Samsung with I5 is a full on mid range computer albeit with a small Hard Drive. This works fine with add-on external drives. It has detachable Keyboard as well as the onscreen keyboard.

The key to all of this is connectivity and of course the ultimate is a Satphone as the Hotspot if the budget will go that far.

Another thing to ponder is that the Android phones (Samsung Galaxy and HTC) we have are able to connect to satellite for their GPS although this is provided through Google Maps. Perhaps someone on this forum with more knowledge than I could elaborate further on this point.

Technology is such a great thing, although for me a paper map and coordinates is more my cup of tea.

Good luck in your search.

Regards

Pete G

end of the day only one system has the most ready to use maps stright off the shelf including this site, only one system has all these maps compatible with windows, windows ce and android, only one system can you catch up for map swaps compatible with all platforms

its ozi

and it can only be had on windows , windows ce and android

apple will do a bit ,but not all that its desighnrd for teenagers wearing nike sheoes and hats on backwards

.... they have no use for 4wd navigation

It is a matter of personal choice really, and I chose to get the one to best suit my needs, a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1.

The reasons were:
1. In built GPS on the tablet. I didn't need to get a more expensive 3G version for twice the price

2. Runs Oziexplorer for Android. A must have app for remote travel. I do not agree that Mud Mad and the Hema app are better. Less complicated to run yes, but not as flexible or versatile either. I can use all the digital maps I've collected over the years.

3. Not limited to on board storage capacity like the Ipad. Can add 32GB of Micro SD card storage.

4. I don't use it as a camera.

Bad points.

- I've gone through/destroyed 2 MicroSD cards for whatever reason- bit of a concern really.

- The camera is absolute rubbish compared to the Ipad

- The display is very good but not as good as on the Ipad

I plan to buy my wife an Ipad for Christmas. I really do like them, just like I prefer an Iphone over the crappy Android smart phones I've experienced. ( I meant "she" not "I").

WBS

I had an iPad, gave it to the Grandkids when I bought my Android tablet. I would NEVER go back to an iPad unless it had all the functionality of a Android device. Get a good quality Android tablet, not the cheapies as they can have issues with hardware.

For maps, I use Google maps for maps and navigation but the net is needed for nagivation (you can download some maps for off line use), "Maps with Me" and "Mapfactor Navigation" (turn by turn navigation). Both of these use Open Street maps which are downloaded onto the phone (free). I have found that these 3 are all I need for what we do and are very good for international use as well without breaking the piggy bank as there are free.

Be aware that you cannot do everything with a tablet, I still need the PC from time to time.

As for the 3G/WiFi devices, love them, I have a Telstra one that is pre-pay and used when out of anywhere elses coverage and an unlokced on that currenty has no SIM card but I would use an Amaysim SIM, $100 for 10GB data, 12 months expiry on the Optus network. Telstra is too expensive so we only use them if we really need to.

No SIM right now, I just tether off my mobile when I am away from home right now as we are away for only a day or two at a time.

The unlocked device is mainly used overseas when I am working with local SIM cards.

Hugh

I have a Nexus 7 and original iPad (about to upgrade to an iPad Air). I got the Nexus so I could run OziExplorer which it does. I have been able to use all my existing maps on the iPad too. One of the first Navigation apps I acquired was Bit Map. It is very easy to upload maps from any computer to the iPad - a dialog appears in your web browser asking which files you want to upload and it does it over WiFi.
I also use OzRunways as I like the WAC charts in some situations. These are also available free in Air Nav VFR.
I also bought the Hema App, and the Mud Map HD App.

Personally I found the iOS environment a lot less clunky than Android, and other than navigation, the Nexus 7 doesn't get much use.

The other issue was that the Nexus 7 died after a year of light use. I found this was a common problem. They were very good about replacing it though.

It interests me that there are posters on this forum who feel the need to disparage the iPad with false claims about its cost and functionality, and do so repeatedly. I openly question their motives, and wonder if they are being paid.

Bob

I too have been looking for a tablet but everyone I've seen has a highly reflective screen and very difficult to read in sunlight or with the light behind you.

Is there one out there that is easy to read in bright sunlight , my Kindle has a great viewable screen in all conditions can any tablets match it ?

cheers

I purchased my wife an IPad some 18 months ago, our first apple product. We both love it. It just works. Recently put hema maps on it and its by far the easiest to see in the car. My 7"GPS running Oz Explores is now stored in the cupboard.

Add to that, Facetime, books pics and ease of use I'll not go back


I want the new IPad Air, and its begining to look like Christmas, whoo hoo.

I'm keeping an eye out for the new Nokia tablet....supposed to be very good in sunlight, and seeing as I have 2 nokia windows phones, it may also interact good with them..

Which ever tablet I use, I will just tether it to the phone when out camping as it saves another plan..

But for a person that just web browses, any of the tablets would do me....especially if one came along at a good price..

Hi Hugh.

Surprized that so few above use those devices.

I use the 5 ch Telstra Wi Fi gadget and I use it for its technical advantages.

On pre-paid you can let it lapse ok but probably better left on pre-paid 12 month plan as its just so useful - we even use it to fill in for home pc when nearing our data useage limit.

I couple it with my 10 inch EEEPC notebook now a few years old but still offers its
own advantages if you can mount them.

The unit doesn't have to be physically connected and at more than one of our
campsites we have been able to mount in a small tree or similar such that it gets better
reception than a phone or hand held device etc.

I guess one day we will have to go tablet but its still more flexible to use a notebook
and you don't have to learn a second system , its really great to easily play with recorded tracks etc seemlessly across home/mobile PC's and this saves so much stuffing around with email formats etc.

The notebook has a non reflective screen with better visibilty than any of the pads we have seen to date and also can plug straight into 12v without a special charger.

Also the notebook can run a seperate GPS mouse which is magnetic and sticks onto car roof for better reception.

You can get external aerial for that wi-fi device to.

Next time I will probably get a single ch wi-fi to increase battery life.

I really don't want to use the internet while I am travelling.

I'll probably spend an hour in McDonalds (not eating but maybe a coffee or soft drink) and take advantage of the free wi fi while passing through a big town if I ever want to get in touch with my email or post a photo on line, but it will probably wait until I return.