Matt interesting write up and it looks like the tracking was pretty good.
I tend to also gauge the variety of GPS systems based on how fast they can plot long routes. My very old Garmin Street Pilot III (which is my primary motorcycle unit) struggles on long distance routes... sometimes to the point I think it may have locked up. It eventually gets it, but it takes a long time. To my relief newer units are much faster. The other test I use is screen refresh - moving the screen from one position to another how quickly does it redraw?
I think your take on true dedicated backcountry units is spot on (no pun intended for the SPOT tracking device - or plug for that matter as I have one). I struggle to think about packing a iPad in my pack - not for weight, but against damage. Now that I think about it I could load the fire app and wouldn't have to gather wood or splash it with kerosene to get it started!
iPad2 GPS
Matt interesting write up and it looks like the tracking was pretty good.
I tend to also gauge the variety of GPS systems based on how fast they can plot long routes. My very old Garmin Street Pilot III (which is my primary motorcycle unit) struggles on long distance routes... sometimes to the point I think it may have locked up. It eventually gets it, but it takes a long time. To my relief newer units are much faster. The other test I use is screen refresh - moving the screen from one position to another how quickly does it redraw?
I think your take on true dedicated backcountry units is spot on (no pun intended for the SPOT tracking device - or plug for that matter as I have one). I struggle to think about packing a iPad in my pack - not for weight, but against damage. Now that I think about it I could load the fire app and wouldn't have to gather wood or splash it with kerosene to get it started!