Quote:
Originally Posted by ottischwenk
What do you need that for?
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Hiking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ottischwenk
- EInk screens are too slow for navi applications - except maybe the Tab GPU devices.
- you usually have a smartphone with you anyway.
- and if you absolutely want to have the data on the reader, then there is Bluetooth.
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Phones usually have a shorter battery life than ereaders. If your phone were to die partway through a multi-day hike, it could be problematic.
I just returned from several weeks in Japan. During the trip, I went on a solo hiking trip in a fairly remote area. I had never relied on electronic hiking maps/apps with GPS before. I was curious to see how well several of my devices would perform. I had my Hisense A5 Pro C, my Nova 3 Color, an old Experia cell phone with no sim card, and an old Experia tablet with me. I also had paper maps as backup and was relatively familiar with the area. And I had a power bank with me as well. Turned out it was needed.
The Nova 3 Color offered the best view. I could see so much more of the map hiking app. I could take screenshots and mark down details. I could save the images as a powered off screen so that I was not consuming power when not needed. It worked wonderfully... except that it could not identify my location on the map...
Instead, I had to use the GPS function on my Experia phone sans sim card to identify my precise location and then locate the corresponding place on the N3C. Had my phone run out of power as it did, and had I not had a backup power source, this could have been problematic. I was travelling in an area where there were warnings on the map that it was easy to get lost. Indeed, it was. I went off course a number of times. I would have eventually discovered my mistakes and been able to get back on course with just my paper maps and my compass, but it could have cost me hours in humid 30C degree heat along ridges with no nearby water sources and no fellow hikers.
If my N3C had a reliable GPS function, I wouldn't have needed to carry along the extra weight of a cell phone and a power bank. My back and knees would have been very grateful to shed the excess weight. However, I managed to make it to a remote peak which had eluded me for years. And I now know which devices I would rely on for future similar adventures.