Naturally, the next question is about the quality of technical support. Understandably, the delivery of service varies considerably with the price. The very small companies must focus on web-based support such as FAQs, forums, a knowledge base and email inquiries. However, this doesn't imply the service is substandard – just that the mode of communication is limited. For example, DigiBOAT, MacENC, and TIKI Navigator all rely on email technical support (with TIKI Navigator returning your email by telephone) and we found them to be very responsive.
SeaClear II, a free non-commercial product, cannot reasonably provide any technical support, but it has developed an extensive self-help forum community among its users. Chart Navigator Pro, Raytech RNS and MaxSea all have top-rate technical support, supplemented by robust forums, knowledge bases and/or FAQs. In contrast, Nobeltec offers "premium" technical support for an annual membership fee.
USER INTERFACE
Although all of the e-charting applications we reviewed are appropriate for anyone with an average level of computer literacy, some do have a steeper learning curve. We've already mentioned the importance of documentation and extras such as tutorials and FAQs to help you get started.
Another aspect that will impact your learning curve is the user interface, in particular whether an application offers a familiar format or a new approach. Although traditional interfaces are easier to learn right out of the box, non-traditional approaches can also be easy to learn. The reason companies redesign their graphical user interface (GUI) is to make it easier to use and better suited to a marine environment. Their success, of course, depends on specifics, such as the design of the menus, icons and data windows.
The software we tested contained four types of graphical user interface: non-traditional interfaces, traditional Macintosh interfaces, traditional Windows interfaces and those styled like a chartplotter.
Non-traditional interfaces were more common among lower-priced start-up contenders. In all three instances – SeaClear II, Software-On-Board, and TIKI Navigator – the interface was designed afresh as a way to make the laptop more compatible with marine use. For example, SeaClear II emphasizes efficient right-click mousing rather than pull-down menus. Intended eventually for a touch screen, Software-On-Board has no menus and few actions that require dragging a mouse. Surprisingly, each of these three pioneering approaches are not unreasonably difficult to learn. SeaClear's simple interface could be self-taught despite its lack of documentation, and the other two provided documentation or tutorials that made learning painless.
The two Macintosh programs, NavimaQ and MacENC, both chose a traditional Mac interface. In fact, we criticized both applications for minor inconsistencies with well-established Mac conventions, such as the use of pull-out drawers and standard shortcuts. Some of these quirks, such as NavimaQ's eight-character naming limitation, have been remedied since our reviews. (For a story on changes since our reviews, see link.)
Understandably, most PC-based e-charting applications choose a traditional Windows interface based on pull-down menus and toolbars filled with icons. Fugawi Marine ENC and The Capn both would benefit from some streamlining and updating of their menus and icons. The best Windows implementation – no surprise given the founder is an ex-Microsoft employee – goes to Coastal Explorer (and by extension, Chart Navigator Pro). These two programs get high marks for their clean and consistent Windows interface, designed for the seasonal or weekend boater who doesn't want to remember new shortcuts and menu choices each time they open their boating software.
One company, Raymarine, chose a chartplotter interface, designed to turn your PC into an on-screen version of a keypad. Boaters who are more comfortable with chartplotters than computers may prefer this interface, but if you are used to PCs, then it may feel cumbersome and constrained.
SCREEN SPACE
The most important side-effect of the user interface is what we called "screen real estate," which is the amount of screen space available for viewing the most important window: the nautical chart. Laptop screens are limited, and nautical charts can be notoriously small and hard to read, so any program that maximizes screen real estate by reducing menu, window and icon clutter scores high points.
Raytech's chart plotter interface, with large soft keys and databoxes, creates an incredibly small chart display area. Similarly, Fugawi Marine ENC's extensive menus, toolbars and library windows also obscure the chart display. SeaClear II, Software-On-Board, TIKI Navigator, and MaxSea have the cleanest and largest chart display areas.
With today's powerful laptops, all of the applications were reasonably quick to open, display and pan over charts. However, Software-On-Board, MacENC, Fugawi Marine ENC and Nobeltec VNS and Admiral experienced delays. SeaClear II and TIKI Navigator were surprisingly responsive. However, with its DirectX graphics acceleration, MaxSea easily takes the checkered flag.
