I think a variety of competing systems is terrific. If one operating system or type of hardware dominated or pervaded the market, development would not be the same and we'd have a whole new set of things to complain about.
Rich > On Feb 20, 2014, at 0:04, Stevan Plavsa <stevanpla...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Thanks for putting into perspective Rick, I mostly agree with you. What I > don't agree with is that the consumer is buying software. We are, of course, > because we don't have a choice. I think that high prices for marine grade > equipment are justified minus the software. iPad and Nexus tablets are one > thing, marine grade outdoor hardware is another. > > I guess what I want is the E7, running android. > And yes, when I look at the promotional videos and see ten displays and > interfaces in a cockpit I think ... that can all be done with one computer. > All that stuff sure looks cool but only new boat buyers can afford that > stuff. > > People my age and younger are buying old boats. We're buying old boats > because we can't afford new ones. There is a market for low cost, reliable > alternatives. Someone's just got to make a marine grade android helm computer > that looks as good as an E7. Binnacle wants $1500 for the E7, I think the > above described thing could sell for the same provided that it's a good > design. > > Steve > Suhana, C&C 32 > Toronto > > > > >> On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 10:42 PM, Rick Brass <rickbr...@earthlink.net> wrote: >> Steve, >> >> >> >> I don’t necessarily agree with you about the advantages to the consumer of >> what you propose, but stop for a minute and ask yourself: >> >> >> >> Why does an Android tablet sell for $250 (I actually saw an Lenovo 10” 32 >> meg android tablet at Office Depot today for $129. The 7” was only $99), >> while an iPAD costs $700? >> >> >> >> The answer is the software. Assuming the Apple product is the best quality >> available anywhere, the production cost might be… say $50 more than your >> Nexus tablet. But it has a proprietary chip and software that some consider >> fabulous. And an image as being unique and superior. So many folks will pay >> a premium price for the device. And I’ve read that Apple’s margin on the >> iPad and iPhone are over 50%. >> >> >> >> All the android tablets use basically the same chip and the same >> componentry. There are differences of appearance and displays, some minor >> differences in functionality, and differences in support and the >> manufacturer’s reputation, but the big selling feature is the price. And >> when the competition is based on price, margin goes out the window and only >> volume can make profits. >> >> >> >> And, frankly, the marine marketplace just isn’t that big to generate a lot >> of profit at small margins. >> >> >> >> Think about the different instrument systems available for your boat. Isn’t >> it almost universally true that the individual components aren’t real >> friendly with each other – despite the existence of NMEA2000? Oh, you can >> connect your Raytalk to your Tactick to your Garmin Nexus to your Simnet >> evo2 to NMEA2000 if you want them to play nicely… provided you buy the >> proper interface boxes. But each manufacturer has a proprietary network to >> make sure you don’t wander off and buy a less expensive/less profitable >> instrument than the one they sell. >> >> >> >> The proprietary software is how they get you to pay $1500 for the GPS >> display. If the software wasn’t proprietary, you could buy less expensive >> components and only the guy licensing the software (think of it, the boating >> equivalent of Bill Gates) and the guys making the chips would be making any >> money. >> >> >> >> Sorry to rain on your parade. Wish the world was different. It really would >> be nice to buy flexible, capable, reliable instruments for a couple hundred >> dollars. >> >> >> >> Rick Brass >> >> >> >> From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Stevan >> Plavsa >> Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 9:10 PM >> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com >> Subject: Re: Stus-List Navigation Software >> >> >> >> The Hyundai will get you there, but the BMW will offer a nicer experience. >> >> >> >> A nexus 7 costs what, $250? I can drop six of them in the lake for what a >> Raymarine E series costs. It fails to compete with the plotter for "marine >> readyness" but otherwise it does so, so much more. A plotter is better at >> the helm, no doubt. The market is changing though and the big guys need to >> keep up. Maintaining a proprietary code base, IMO, is not the way. >> >> >> >> Steve >> >> Suhana, C&C 32 >> >> Toronto >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 8:44 PM, Rich Knowles <r...@sailpower.ca> wrote: >> >> Basically ditto Robert. Elegance and reliability wins. >> >> Rich >> >> >> On Feb 19, 2014, at 21:35, Robert Boyer <dainyr...@icloud.com> wrote: >> >> I hesitate to get into a debate about Apple vs. all other devices but I will. >> >> >> >> During most of my engineering career I used Windows machines and looked down >> on Apple--until I got one! And then another, and another... >> >> >> >> I will never go back! >> >> >> >> To see the difference, all you have to do is start both machines (laptops) >> at the same time--there's a world of difference, the Apple being much >> faster. >> >> >> >> I have never had a memory device failure in any of my iDevices while I >> regularly had hard drive crashes in Toshibas, HPs, etc. iDevices simply >> have much higher quality than other devices--that's why you are paying >> more--it's not just for the name. They also hold their value better when >> you sell them after you buy a new one--try that with another similar device >> of any brand (they are usually worthless when it's time to upgrade). >> >> >> >> I am clearly an Apple fan--they won me over! And I didn't even bring up >> iCloud and it's advantages... >> >> >> >> All this being said, I wouldn't use my iPad in the cockpit of my boat as my >> primary navigation device--I have a chart plotter at the helm for that >> purpose. >> >> >> >> And to those that complain about not buying a state-of-the-art chart plotter >> because in 3 years it will be outdated--the same obsolescence will apply to >> tablets and laptops and while it's true tablets cost less--they may not >> after you drop one or two in the sea or lake. >> >> >> >> Bob >> >> >> Bob Boyer >> >> S/V Rainy Days (1983 C&C Landfall 38 - Hull #230) >> >> Annapolis, Maryland >> >> email: dainyr...@icloud.com >> >> blog: dainyrays.blogspot.com >> >> "There's nothing--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as messing >> about in boats.” -Kenneth Grahame >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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