Touch screen opinions

[gim]

I am considering an upgrade to a touch screen unit.  I have only ever used electronics with buttons (bought it new 6 years ago when I bought my boat).  Part of the reason for considering an upgrade is that all the new models are touch screen so that seems to be the direction they're going.  But part of me is still hesitant because I feel like the screen will get very dirty quickly.  I fish a lot in the rain, plus fish slime, bait residue, etc all touching the screen over and over makes me think it will be filthy.  And I hate looking at a dirty screen with smudges and streaks because I hate looking at my mobile phone when the screen is dirty!  So how about it, those of you who used to have a unit with buttons and now use a touch screen, can you offer your opinions?  Thanks.

[Tennessee Boy]

I have two Humminbird Solix and yes they can get pretty dirty.  Sun screen is the worst when it gets on the screen.  You can still do everything with the buttons if you like but the touch screen is just so easy.  I keep a couple of microfiber cloths near by to clean them when they get bad.  It only takes a second and does a great job cleaning the smudges off.

[scotty918]

That's one thing I like about the Humminbird units; You can use the buttons or the screen. I have a Lowrance Elite TI2, the touch screen works fine 85% of the time, but sometimes it registers my touch in the wrong locations. Buttons would be nice. I miss my Humminbird Helix Mega.

[TheRodFather]

I have garmin touch screens, it is nice to have.  I wouldn't say it is any type of must have though.

 

What IS must have IMO is shortcut buttons.  95% of what I do with my graphs is switching between combo screens and or sonar views.

 

Shortcut #1 on my console unit is a combo with chart and sidescan, for running, and scouting structure.  Then #2 is full screen sidescan to take a better look at structure from far away without getting close to possible fish,  #3 is 2D full screen, #4 is full screen down view.  So I can take a closer look at the spot I'm on with one keystroke.

 

The bow graph has different combos, but same idea, easy button push if I want to look with different sonar etc.

 

The setup is pretty new to me, so it is evolving based on how it works for me on the water, but the shortcuts save a ton of time for me.

 

It seems like people are running multiple units at the console, and multiple units at the bow, just so they can look at different info without pushing any buttons.

 

I don't have that kind of money, so the shortcuts are my way. I think HB has 3 shortcut keys, and Lowrance you have to go back to home to change views.  But don't qoute me on that.

[jaimeastin]

I am not a touch screen junkie, meaning touch screens do not get me excited.  Touch screens, poorly implanted, can make things more cumbersome. 

 

I use a lot of garmin products.  Fish finders and gps units for the field.  I have had no issues with units that do not have touch screen.  I upgraded to the garmin echomap 93sv for my bow and console earlier in the year.   I was not excited for the touch screen, but I have to say Garmin GOT IT RIGHT!

 

I don't use the buttons at all.  The menu setup is very intuitive and the zooming works as it should.  For the echomap plus units, garmin did good.  I demoed  other touch screen fish finders that I disliked.  I particularly dislike touch screen unites with a raised border around them...  The garmin is all screen.  I still use my other fish finders on my various kayaks without a touch screen and I am fine.  I will say that, I don't mess with the fish finder much at all while fishing.. that is until I got livescope.  Livescope and touchscreen is a must!

[Further North]

On 7/19/2019 at 8:31 PM, gimruis said:

Part of the reason for considering an upgrade is that all the new models are touch screen so that seems to be the direction they're going.

No, they're not.  Humminbird's Helix series is not touch screen.  I can't speak to other brands (not interested in converting at this point) but that's a significant part of the market, right there...

 

What I hear about touch screens, in the dirty, wet environment we fish in, is that they are a problem.

 

I don't want problems, I want to fish.  I'll stay away from touch screens until I don't have to deal with problems.

 

BTW, just in case someone thinks I'm anti-technology: I am a touch screen advocate off the water.  I'll not own a computer, or laptop, that's not a touch screen.

[gim]

Thanks for the responses.  It appears that most touch screens often have buttons that can also be used instead.

[Jleebesaw]

On 7/19/2019 at 9:31 PM, gimruis said:

But part of me is still hesitant because I feel like the screen will get very dirty quickly.  I fish a lot in the rain, plus fish slime, bait residue, etc all touching the screen over and over makes me think it will be filthy.

You just leave this stuff on your hands all day? I wipe my hands off a lot while fishing!

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, Jleebesaw said:

You just leave this stuff on your hands all day? I wipe my hands off a lot while fishing!

I bring two hand-towels for just this reason. My sonar may not be touch-screen, but the tablet I use for photos and contour maps is.

[Sprocket]

I love my Garmin touch screens.  Didn't think I would because I've always had buttons.  The only time it's any kind of issue is when I'm wearing gloves.  I'm too cheap to buy the ones that work with touch screens.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

[Jig Man]

I just switched to HB to work with my trolling motor.  I bought the Solix units because of the touch screen.  I rarely touch the console unit but I do the bow unit a lot.  I keep a styles up front in case my hands aren’t clean.  I also put a Graph glass screen protector on the front one to reduce glare.  I have found that it cleans up much easier than the console unit.

[boostr]

I just installed a Garmin 73CV Echomap Plus to keep my older 73SV company at the helm. I use the 73CV mainly for mapping and the touch screen comes in real handy for this. It makes zooming in and out of the map so much more fluid. I'm already saving to replace the older SV with the new touch screen version. I have Striker 73dv at the bow, but i'll leave that one the way it is.