[Patrick]

I've been reading this forum for over two years now and in that time have seen many requests for added features to both MacENC and GPSNavX. I can honestly say 99% of them have been excellent ideas for improving both applications, however a what point does Richard say, "This is hard work and I might think to increase the cost of MacENC or GPSNavX". Do we all want a MacENC or GPSNavX suite costing the same as Nobletec, I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, Richard might enjoy the challenge of some of your requests, but try to think, is this feature really needed. If we all start to allow our computers to run are vessels, will that change the meaning of "Seamanship". Please understand this comment is not a criticism to all those's who make feature requests, just my two cents worth on keeping the cost down on two excellent navigational software programs. What's your opinion? All welcome.

Patrick :laugh:

MV Eboness

[iquik]

Hi Patrick,

I very much agree with you. Very often adding and adding features doesn't always make an application better. I am more in favour of a good working application which is user friendly and not to expensive.

Kind regards,
Igor

[GPSNavX]

While evaluating the addition and implementation of new functionality I try to adhere to this design guideline..

Apply the 80 Percent Solution
During the design process, if you discover problems with your product design, you might consider applying the 80 percent solution—that is, designing your software to meet the needs of at least 80 percent of your users. This type of design typically favors simpler, more elegant approaches to problems.

If you try to design for the 20 percent of your target audience who are power users, your design may not be usable by the other 80 percent of users. Even though that smaller group of power users is likely to have good ideas for features, the majority of your user base may not think in the same way.

That being said, I appreciate all the feature suggestions and slowly each is evaluated and some make their way into the applications.

[Eclipsemullet]

I am not hugely bothered about dozens of new features. What I do appreciate in apps is the look-and -feel.

I would like GPSnavX to look as much like a beautiful Aqua app as possible, without compromising its excellent functionality.

In short, I like my apps to look *beautiful*.

[ebgb]

One thing I would like to see, as a new feature, is a 'highway' window. Its something that I've always liked on my dedicated plotters, and is one thing that very few of the PC/mac based plotters systems seem to have incorporated

[bobetter]

One thing I would like to see, as a new feature, is a 'highway' window. Its something that I've always liked on my dedicated plotters, and is one thing that very few of the PC/mac based plotters systems seem to have incorporated

not meaning to be contrary but, hmmmm, maybe this is a perfect example of what the original poster is talking about? MacENC/GPSNavX are Chartplotters, not GPSs. I can't see the value of a "Highway" view over an overhead view shown with a chart. I would guess that the Highway view shown on some GPSs is a compromise to overcome the limitations of what were originally small screens on which a chart depiction was pretty useless. The fact that very few of the PC/Mac based plotters (are there any?) incorporate it speaks for itself.

[GPSNavX]

Not exactly a "highway" display, but both MacENC and GPSNavX display a red indicator on the compass graphic in the GPS panel indicating the course to steer to the active waypoint.

One thing I have seen with the dozens of Windows compatible marine navigation applications is how much screen real-estate they eat up with dead space via extensive toolbars and docking panels.

Both MacENC and GPSNavX have been shaped by user feedback so please keep submitting it.

[laurentivan]

Bonsoir,
Basically I agree with the fact that GPSnav and MacENC have great designs because they are smartly integrated in the mac world and allowing to have a relax cruise (even at home before the season ;-). On the other hand, I think that adding (or enhancing) features is not opposing with "easy to use" and elegant design.
Laurent

[ebgb]

you're not wrong, I must have looked at all of them and its death by pallettes in the main, too much going on. Only one I decided I quite like was maptech's offshore navigator, in the 'on water' mode

a lot of them I couldn't make head nor tail of!

maybe I just need to cure my lazyplotteritis with the highway mode thing

[ebgb]

here's a nice easy one....

waypoints, how a bout when you control click on a waypoint the popup includes a 'goto' for that way point??

one of the main uses I'll be putting it to onboard is fishing, I've a list of hundreds of wrecks, fishing marks etc, be nice to be able to just 'point and go' so to speak

I can sometimes see goto in the popup, but its always greyed out

[bobetter]

I can sometimes see goto in the popup, but its always greyed out

You must be receiving GPS data (or be in Simulate mode) for Go To to work...

[GPSNavX]

You must be receiving GPS data (or be in Simulate mode) for Go To to work...

Correct.. And you must [control] or right click on the Waypoint name on the chart.

[ebgb]

that explains everything!! well almost, still don't understand why the wife isn't fond of boats

[Ron]

....still don't understand why the wife isn't fond of boats

It's probably the North Sea. Try the Whitsundays