Let's talk Navigation / Chart software

I bought Coastal Explorer for the simple reason that it updates all NOAA charts (that you want) in both raster and vector for free. The NOAA charts, especially the raster, are the standard for all charts. The Notices to Mariners corrections are there first. Because of the expense of proprietary charts like Nobeltec, Garmin, and the others, it's virtually guaranteed that there will be a lot of reliance on outdated charts over time. Although some may argue that "they're not making Real Estate anymore", there are some significant changes after a storm like Sandy. The other issue is that most non-NOAA charts are vector based, which means that every zoom level has different features included and omitted, and that's based on human judgement. I remember motoring within 100' of a big, red buoy in the shipping lane entrance to San Francisco and not finding it on either Nobeltec or Garmin raster charts until I zoomed down to an unusable range. It showed on the raster, though.
Other than that, I still prefer my no longer supported "The Cap'n" for ease of use. Maybe I'm just used to it.

Navigation is only about one thing: Best Accuracy. If you want to rely on proprietary cartography that is a secondary (Primary?) income stream that is updated annually or at greater intervals, by all means: Go with the pretty colors.
If your navigation software does not access the latest corrected NOAA charts, then you have second best. Don't think for a minute that Navionics, C-Map, Jeppeson, Garmin or any other company is trying to outspend your tax dollars to make a superior product to what NOAA puts out In fact, the NOAA data is the Free source of their product. When they get around to it.
To be clear, I don't work for NOAA. I did work for the worlds first, accurate, land-based navigation company back in the days before GPS. That company developed the most accurate and sophisticated digital cartographic paradigms known at the time.
Ultimately, it comes down to this. For US waters, NOAA raster charts have all of the latest information that is available. NOAA vector charts, just like all other vector cartography, is the reader's digest version.
As is always the case: A prudent mariner never relies on a single source of information to determine his/her position.

Things have changes very quickly over the past few years since this thread started

I the mean times for about 2 years I have switched from Seaclear to OpenCpn and then on to PolarNavy which is an excellent PC based nav software, and only $50. Small program yet powerful, not a resource hog so you can run it on older machines. Very very reliable.

Earlier this year my laptop died and I switched to an iPad. No regret whatsoever! For navigation I use the fairly recently released garmin app which has great charts including for the Bahamas. I have the cellular version of the 128gb iPad which, unlike the wifi only models, has a built in GPS receiver.

The screen is easy to read even in daylight and as big as the older furuno Navnets we have on board. All nav functions are easy to use and most importantly it has active captain data (offline)

Then as a bonus, it can be used for weather, radar, source of music for the onboard stereos via airplay or Bluetooth, access AIS data, and more. I also use it for anchor alarm at night, no problem receiving the signal from down below

It has been as accurate and as reliable as the furunos and with hours of battery life it is totally independent from the electrical system in case of a major problem

And it has a lifeproof case which is totally waterproof...

Pascal; does it have NMEA out to the autopilot?
MBevins; my issue with vector charts is that although they're digitized from raster charts, there are depth contours, buoys and obstructions that are not shown at certain zoom levels. That can be an issue, like the channel buoy that wasn't displayed on approach to San Francisco. Otherwise, vector charts can be more accurate, since additional data can be incorporated, like satellite images or multiple charting sources, like Garmin's use of Explorer charts of the Bahamas.

No but I really don't care, I always set a heading on the AP, I ve never felt the need to link the plotter to the AP,