In our tests, NavimaQ crashed with Maptech's encrypted BSB4 and BSB5 charts, but had no trouble opening standard NOAA BSB3 files. Barco is aware of the problem and expects to have it resolved in the next release, which should be available soon.
NavimaQ also integrates tide data through XTide, a downloadable freeware program that produces tide predictions (see link below). When Barco Software acquired NavimaQ it also acquired WeathermaQ weather fax software, but Barco has since discontinued the product.
If you want to print a chart excerpt showing your waypoints, routes or tracks, you will need a computer screen shot tool. Neither NavimaQ nor MacENC prints charts with your annotations. A good choice for the Mac is Snapz Pro X, which is available as a $29 download (see link below).
NavimaQ integrates with both GPS units and autopilots, provided they are compatible with the NMEA 0183 electronics protocol, which is standard on most modern electronics equipment. It currently does not integrate data from wind, compass, depth, AIS, weather or radar, though waypoint data can be exchanged with some Garmin and Magellan handheld GPS units.
If you want to connect a GPS sensor, don't overlook the fact that Macs use USB ports exclusively, unlike older PCs which have serial ports. If you are buying a new sensor, purchase one with a USB connection. If you own a GPS with a serial connection, you need to purchase a serial-to-USB adaptor such as KeySpan's $39 USB High Speed Serial Adapter (see link below).
Remember that an application is more likely to locate a peripheral device if the device is connected to the laptop before starting the application.
INSTALLING CHARTS
Prior versions of NavimaQ, which ran on OS 9 and early versions of OS X, were notorious for bugs and system crashes. We thoroughly evaluated a one-week-old copy of version 3.4.8 in order to independently re-evaluate its performance.
Like most Mac installations, installing chart files is very straightforward: simply copy your chart files or folders onto your hard drive. You can place chart files in any folder or organize them in any way, as long as they are on your hard drive. Choose File>Open>Open Chart and select Show Charts On to browse your files and select your chart folder. It takes a few minutes exploring the Open Chart window, but it will eventually become clear where to click to see a list of your chart files. If you click on Show Preview, a side drawer opens with a preview of the chart. It's a useful feature if you are familiar with the region, though the image is not always big enough to help you identify the chart.
Note that NavimaQ, unlike MacENC, only allows you to browse in one folder at a time. If you keep your charts organized by type (BSB/KAP or GEO/NOS), or by region, such as the Chesapeake Bay or Florida Keys, this isn't much of a hindrance. In fact, limiting selection to one folder at a time may prevent you from having too many charts loaded. Because the application is only pointing to one folder at a time, it stays organized and your laptop remains very responsive. For this reason, NavimaQ works well with CDs or DVDs of charts that are pre-organized into regional folders.
LOOK AND FEEL
Like many e-charting applications, NavimaQ is designed to operate with three "views" always open: a Chart window showing the chart display, an Overview window, and a Coordinates window.
MARK AND DIANA DOYLEThe above chart, displayed without OS X Quartz rendering, demonstrates poor line quality and color shifts when not viewed at 100%. Below, OS X Quartz rendering technology delivers crisp graphics and blends 2D and 3D content together with transparency and drop shadows. 
MARK AND DIANA DOYLE
Obviously, the Chart window is the most prominent. Unfortunately, NavimaQ does not yet take advantage of OS X's Quartz technology, so charts viewed at less than 100 percent may appear soft and line quality sometimes suffers. A Quartz display, such as MacENC's, is significantly more sharp and smooth. Barco is aware of this issue and stated that adopting quartz technology is a high priority effort.
The Overview window displays the larger geographic area from which the chart display is chosen. Dragging the rectangle outline on the Overview window pans the main chart display accordingly. However, the window has a quirky tendency to expand and contract, depending on the scale of the chart. For example, a Chart window of St. Lucie Inlet results in a tiny, barely-legible, one-inch-by-one-inch Overview window.
NavimaQ's graphical user interface is largely the standard Mac interface, with a main menu bar along the top, an icon-based toolbar, and floating windows. Unfortunately, both NavimaQ and MacENC sometimes ignore Apple standards. Certain shortcuts, window names, and tab positions are at odds with some Mac conventions, and they sometimes even behave inconsistently. For example, to a Mac user, a title bar placed on the left side of a window signifies a pull-out drawer, but NavimaQ does not abide by this convention.
