Way, Way Off-Topic Discussions - An Experiment

[jeffgerritsen]

Lat 64 (Russ),
I agree this forum is social networking and some social networking has it's place in appropriate communication instances. This forum is actually a great example of appropriate use of social networking. I guess I need to clarify myself here. When social networking is used to replace face to face communications, such as Maurice example of his son "texting" him from another room within the same house, is social networking gone way wrong!

[lat 64]

Lat 64 (Russ),
I agree this forum is social networking and some social networking has it's place in appropriate communication instances. This forum is actually a great example of appropriate use of social networking. I guess I need to clarify myself here. When social networking is used to replace face to face communications, such as Maurice example of his son "texting" him from another room within the same house, is social networking gone way wrong!

Yep, Totally agree with you.
It's like most of life I guess; Everything in moderation, including moderation.

U R so ryt,
Russ

[domenic]

Lat 64 (Russ),
I agree this forum is social networking and some social networking has it's place in appropriate communication instances. This forum is actually a great example of appropriate use of social networking. I guess I need to clarify myself here. When social networking is used to replace face to face communications, such as Maurice example of his son "texting" him from another room within the same house, is social networking gone way wrong!

I'm a writer, and have been on many forums. The members on this forum are who they are...one hell of a great bunch of guys.

[TomG]

Fascinating discussion and insight into the mind of our "homogeneous" little group of Atomic 4 appreciators!

I truly understand the seismic shift in interpersonal relations as it relates to electronic media that our society has witnessed over the last several years. For example, I work as a pilot for a big airline where bags fly free. Years ago, when we would arrive at our layover hotel, the crews would enjoy a vibrant and often ribald conversation on the 15-minute shuttle bus ride to the hotel. Now, everyone is t w e e t i n g, facebooking, emailing, googling, or listening to music in their own personal cocoon. It's a shame and I miss the old days. I have also realized that resistance is futile... the Borg WILL assimilate you. Those of you fighting the good fight, I applaud you. I however, have leaped headlong into the dark side and embraced some of this new technology. While I do think this technology has changed our lives forever, I see it as a pendulum swing that is slowly working its way back to center. I don't think it's all bad. We shall see.

We can have philosophical discussions about being "purists" and "kicking it old school," but we really should be careful when most of us are sailing boats made of glass reinforced plastic, equipped with low-stretch dacron running rigging, and most obviously - the internal combustion engine - our very reason for being on this "social networking" site to begin with. If we really want to resist the inevitable change, shouldn't we be discussing the proper lashing of reeds or where sea serpents live via papyrus or cuneiform?

The truth is, new technology can be wonderful asset - another tool in the proverbial toolbox or another trick up the sleeve. It can be something that makes you a better sailor, just like tape drive sails, AIS, and GPS. There is never a good alternate for experience or knowledge and if one tries to substitute an advance in technology without a firm understanding of the basics, the results are guaranteed to be fascinating if not spectacular.

I also get the dislike of Apple's "walled garden mentality" approach to their product. I guess the same could be said for Garmin or Raymarine or Harken or even Universal Motors, Inc. I work with guys who are adamantly opposed to any Apple product. I appreciate that... it isn't for everybody. The iPad is, however, an unequaled success and breakthrough in connectivity and information management. I think programs like Navionics and MotionX-GPS are just the tip of the iceberg. I can, with a single tap, find the tide, current, sunset, buoy data, star constellations, and live wether radar. Now I also know how to read tide table books, ded reckon, find Ursa Major and Polaris by observation, and read my barometer, and I teach my kids these essential lessons as well. Then we do all that on an iPad!

Don't get me wrong... I'm not trying to sell anyone an iPad or try to tempt someone away from the traditions and lore of the sea. I love my boat because it connects me to days long ago... before droids and microsoft and Big Macs and airplanes. And although I cherish the feeling of "self-reliance" that I get from my boat, I also have a policy with TowBoatUS. Why? It makes life better. At least for me.

[rigspelt]

what I did NOT like is the way the guy on the iPad became more isolated , less of a team player because of the connection between him and the magic screen.

So, it's not just an experience for parents and teenagers then, eh? Once driving one to school I reeled off a whole bunch of information pertinent to their future lives. I looked over to see a teen holding an iPod ear bud and saying "were you talking to me"? That aside, I've been waiting for iPad2 since iPad1 came out.

[roadnsky]

...That aside, I've been waiting for iPad2 since iPad1 came out.

Wait no more...

[domenic]

The new stuff is great, and yes, it’s makes life simple…unless the sun flares up, satellites fall from the sky, bang into each other, or a government turns things off. Pirates can track a cell phone just like the police. I’ll stay with the sexton, latitude stick, and good seamanship. As to the stoutness of fiberglass boats…my Columbia 28 has a 1.5 thick hull…they call it the tank. And yes, it has an A4,which gives a fellow something to do. (All the time.)

Domenic

[lat 64]

I just checked it out. Oooh, must have, must have
With a few apps you have a complete backup nav station.
And.
Drumrollllllllllll..

A dock connector! It must be for boats!

Heck, since I never go anywhere, This sounds like the deal for me.
Stay in the harbor, drink beer, watch a few shows, take nap while i-pad recharges on solar panel.


ZZZZzzzzz.....

[ndutton]

iPad2

How much??

[sastanley]

Neil, It will likely cost $100 more than the iPad1, and other than squishing the same capabilities into a slightly thinner package, they added a camera on it so you can see the screen while video chatting with your friends...other than that, it is an iPad1 as far as I know. but, apparently it is new & improved!

[TomG]

How much??

Starts at $499.

[ndutton]

Please forgive this old skool guy, but $100 more than what?

edit:
Thanks Tom, you were quicker on the draw than me.
$500 is a major step toward fresh water cooling if y'all get my drift.

[sastanley]

Neil, See my modified post...i am being a smart-a$$, but that is my pessimistic view of the world.

By the way - I agree with you 100%...I have a handheld GPS and a USB GPS puck for my laptop already..I'd much rather buy the HX from Moyer and get my FWC going than have an iPad on board.

[TomG]

You could also buy a nice sextant and a Nautical Almanac at that price as well.

Here's my iPad story:

I have a Mac Mini (from which I am typing this note) that I bought when my PC crashed for the 17,000th time. The Mini has performed flawlessly for several years. My bride has a MacBook Pro that has performed flawlessly and my daughter has my wife's old 5-year-old MacBook that has a newly installed hard drive and it performs flawlessly. I like Apple products. They work. When the iPad came out last year, I really wasn't interested in them. I thought they were an over-priced, glorified iPhone that you couldn't talk on... too small to be a laptop and too big to carry around like a phone. Sort of a niche in no-man's-land. Then, in an unexpected surprise, I received one as a gift from my in-laws. I have been hooked since that fateful June day.

Are iPad's expensive? Yes. Most quality things are: like tinned marine primary wire, WEST System epoxy, and the Tartan Standpipe I purchased on this very website. For me, it comes down to value. Would I buy an iPad just to use on my boat? Probably not... not yet anyway. But I use my iPad for everything from checking weather at work, to finding an Emergency Room in the Florida Keys last week (don't ask), to rearranging my schedule, to email, to reading books, to watching movies, to just chillin' with a little Robert Earl Keen on the ipod function of the iPad. My Navionics chartplotter software on my iPad is even more robust than my equally priced Standard Horizon CP180i and my C-MAP data card.

Are iPads for everybody? Certainly not and the reasons are as varied as there are reasons. Money. New-fangled technology. Apple's prima donna attitude. Whatever the reason, some people will not or do not like them, just like I don't like professional basketball or gamble in casinos. Individuality is wonderful thing and we can learn from each other. I will say that my opinion is the iPad is cutting edge and that within a few years they will be as commonplace on boats as the ipod is today. And we'll all wonder why it took so long.

[rigspelt]

Wait no more...

Well, there's still the final verdict. I like to keep an eye on the forums before jumping into a new device. iPad looks very useful for my lifestyle, but ... there are always buts. Waiting to see what our local carrier will do with it too.