I'm looking for a tablet PC, where a major appli

[lew]

I'm looking for a tablet PC, where a major application will be viewing approach charts in an aircraft cockpit (strictly part 91). Of course, I'd expect to use it for many more things, but it's important that it perform this task very well. I've been doing some research, and lurking in these forums, and have learned a lot, but haven't seen much discussion for this particular application.

It seems like outdoor readability (with sunglasses on?) would be a bonus, but I'm not sure whether it's critical, since a real instrument approach would rarely be in bright sunlight. Unfortunately, from what I've read, only a couple of models are sunlight-readable, and they offer only a compromise by reducing display quality or brightness indoors.

There appear to be so many changes occurring in the market right now, particularly with each vendor introducing a Centrino model, that I'm also contemplating just getting an inexpensive older model, and getting some experience with it for a few months until others have more experience with the new models coming out.

In any event, if anyone out there has any experience with JeppView on a tablet PC, their insight and advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
lew

[flyboy525]

Thats an interesting use for a tablet. What kind of flying do you do? I'm just finishing my commercial license in Vancouver, Canada. I wonder if there are any Canadian companies that produce software using Canadian charts. If you know anything let me know.
I've ordered an electrovaya sc-2000 tablet mostly because of its 8 hour battery life, but I'll let you know how bright the screen is when I get it. Thanks,
Flyboy

[flyboy525]

Thats an interesting use for a tablet. What kind of flying do you do? I'm just finishing my commercial license in Vancouver, Canada. I wonder if there are any Canadian companies that produce software using Canadian charts. If you know anything let me know.
I've ordered an electrovaya sc-2000 tablet mostly because of its 8 hour battery life, but I'll let you know how bright the screen is when I get it. Thanks,
Flyboy

[Kupe]

Great idea lew - I think you'll like the tablet in the cockpit. I've only played with Jeppview for a few minutes on a laptop at an aviation symposium, but I could tell immediately how useful it would be on my TC-1000. Not lugging along a big black bag is one big plus if you do much long range travel.

However, cockpit brightness would be a factor for any bubble canopy and many low winged models. I find my TC-1000 almost unreadable with my polarized sunglasses on.

Trying JeppView out with an older model is a good idea too - you could probably find a tablet PC with an attached GPS for less than the cost of the full US version of JeppView! Good luck.

[Kupe]

Great idea lew - I think you'll like the tablet in the cockpit. I've only played with Jeppview for a few minutes on a laptop at an aviation symposium, but I could tell immediately how useful it would be on my TC-1000. Not lugging along a big black bag is one big plus if you do much long range travel.

However, cockpit brightness would be a factor for any bubble canopy and many low winged models. I find my TC-1000 almost unreadable with my polarized sunglasses on.

Trying JeppView out with an older model is a good idea too - you could probably find a tablet PC with an attached GPS for less than the cost of the full US version of JeppView! Good luck.

[Bishop]

Lew:

Check www.infocater.com. They offer an aftermarket process for applying an outdoor/bright conditions viewing surface to the Motion tablet.

[Bishop]

Lew:

Check www.infocater.com. They offer an aftermarket process for applying an outdoor/bright conditions viewing surface to the Motion tablet.

[jefe]

I have outfitted a Commuter with two Fujitsu 4121's with Indoor/Outdoor and Jepp's FlightDeck/FlightView EFB solution. They love it. Also hooked them up with a Tmobile Unlimited and Aircard so they can get their email and surf the web pretty much anywhere they are (on land)

This solution complies with the FAA AC120-76A Advisory Circular under Class 1 for EFB's.

People who sell this (other than me of course)
1. Paperless Cockpit www.paperlesscockpit.com
2. CapJacks (MotionM1300) www.capjack.com

Let me know if you have specific questions.

[jefe]

I have outfitted a Commuter with two Fujitsu 4121's with Indoor/Outdoor and Jepp's FlightDeck/FlightView EFB solution. They love it. Also hooked them up with a Tmobile Unlimited and Aircard so they can get their email and surf the web pretty much anywhere they are (on land)

This solution complies with the FAA AC120-76A Advisory Circular under Class 1 for EFB's.

People who sell this (other than me of course)
1. Paperless Cockpit www.paperlesscockpit.com
2. CapJacks (MotionM1300) www.capjack.com

Let me know if you have specific questions.

[lew]

Thanks to all for the info. I learned a lot reading www.infocater.com, but don't see anything about modifying the Motion screen. They do talk a lot about the Fujitsu 4121, though.

To answer your question, I live in San Antonio and fly a Malibu. We take trips all over the country (and sometimes to neighboring countries) so I had a full US subscription to Jepp. The updates were killing me -- I dreaded seeing that 2" envelope every other week. I tried JeppView a couple of years ago with the idea of printing charts in advance, but that turned out not to be practical.

Anyway, tablets have advanced (and the cost has come down) so much that I switched to JeppView this year, and now I need to find a suitable tablet. Plus, I've got FlightStar for planning and also have to update the in-panel GPS database every month, so the "airplane PC" will get plenty of use. And then, I may as well use it for everything else and replace my regular laptop.

You can get JeppView with Canadian charts, and it's about $400/year. Jepp stuff is incredibly pricey, but they're pretty good on functionality. Actually, www.infocater.com has a section on aviation applications, including some much lower-cost software using NOS charts. Perhaps they have a Canadian version, too.

Well, I just got an old Fujitsu 2300 with indoor/outdoor display and a little Pentax portable printer on eBay for $250, so that will be something to try for a while.

It seems like all of the manufacturers are just coming out with their next generation products in time for the holidays. I wonder why it's such a big deal to make an outdoor-viewable display?

Thanks for all of your help,

lew

[lew]

Thanks to all for the info. I learned a lot reading www.infocater.com, but don't see anything about modifying the Motion screen. They do talk a lot about the Fujitsu 4121, though.

To answer your question, I live in San Antonio and fly a Malibu. We take trips all over the country (and sometimes to neighboring countries) so I had a full US subscription to Jepp. The updates were killing me -- I dreaded seeing that 2" envelope every other week. I tried JeppView a couple of years ago with the idea of printing charts in advance, but that turned out not to be practical.

Anyway, tablets have advanced (and the cost has come down) so much that I switched to JeppView this year, and now I need to find a suitable tablet. Plus, I've got FlightStar for planning and also have to update the in-panel GPS database every month, so the "airplane PC" will get plenty of use. And then, I may as well use it for everything else and replace my regular laptop.

You can get JeppView with Canadian charts, and it's about $400/year. Jepp stuff is incredibly pricey, but they're pretty good on functionality. Actually, www.infocater.com has a section on aviation applications, including some much lower-cost software using NOS charts. Perhaps they have a Canadian version, too.

Well, I just got an old Fujitsu 2300 with indoor/outdoor display and a little Pentax portable printer on eBay for $250, so that will be something to try for a while.

It seems like all of the manufacturers are just coming out with their next generation products in time for the holidays. I wonder why it's such a big deal to make an outdoor-viewable display?

Thanks for all of your help,

lew

[lew]

Thanks a bunch, jefe. The 4121 looks like a great choice, except it would be nice to get a Centrino model with an indoor/outdoor display. I wonder if Fujitsu (or anyone else) will be offering that?

I had looked at the EFB sites, including the ones recommended by Jepp, and was fairly disappointed. Many seem to charge big bucks for some fairly antiquated hardware.

Thanks,

lew

[lew]

Thanks a bunch, jefe. The 4121 looks like a great choice, except it would be nice to get a Centrino model with an indoor/outdoor display. I wonder if Fujitsu (or anyone else) will be offering that?

I had looked at the EFB sites, including the ones recommended by Jepp, and was fairly disappointed. Many seem to charge big bucks for some fairly antiquated hardware.

Thanks,

lew

[Bishop]

See the note from malleable in this thread http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6727&. I can't find it now either. Send Geoff at infocater an email. He responds quickly.

[Bishop]

See the note from malleable in this thread http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6727&. I can't find it now either. Send Geoff at infocater an email. He responds quickly.

[flyboy525]

Thats great lew, I live in Vancouver, but I'm originally from Houston. I'll check infocater out and see about those charts, it would be very useful. Thanks,
Flyboy

[flyboy525]

Thats great lew, I live in Vancouver, but I'm originally from Houston. I'll check infocater out and see about those charts, it would be very useful. Thanks,
Flyboy

[steveh from motion]

Hi -

Captain Jack's has sold many of our Motion tablets for just this application. They were at Oshkosh, and got a great reception there. Check them out...

Thanx!
steveh

[steveh from motion]

Hi -

Captain Jack's has sold many of our Motion tablets for just this application. They were at Oshkosh, and got a great reception there. Check them out...

Thanx!
steveh

[lew]

FYI, Geoff from Infocater says, "There is one company that does a mod but it voids the warranty. We think the Fuji with P3 or Panasonic Toughbook 18 with Centrino is the best choice."

The Toughbook looks very tough, but very expensive and bulky.

I wish there was an easy way to try these things out before making a decision...

Hey, Motion Computing is just up the road -- you guys have a demo we could take outside? Or if you like, I'll give you a plane ride while you show off your tablet!

lew

[lew]

FYI, Geoff from Infocater says, "There is one company that does a mod but it voids the warranty. We think the Fuji with P3 or Panasonic Toughbook 18 with Centrino is the best choice."

The Toughbook looks very tough, but very expensive and bulky.

I wish there was an easy way to try these things out before making a decision...

Hey, Motion Computing is just up the road -- you guys have a demo we could take outside? Or if you like, I'll give you a plane ride while you show off your tablet!

lew

[jefe]

I have heard that Fujitsu will be introducing a new Slate with Centrino, but that is all I have heard.

I understand that you want to replace your desktop, and I can say that for most needs, the 4121 will do that. It has builtin WIFI, Ethernet, Modem, up to 768m of Ram, 60Gig drive, etc, etc. But since you have already purchased one to try out, I would probably wait.

Let me know if you are ever in SUS, and I will let you play with one during your stay.

[jefe]

I have heard that Fujitsu will be introducing a new Slate with Centrino, but that is all I have heard.

I understand that you want to replace your desktop, and I can say that for most needs, the 4121 will do that. It has builtin WIFI, Ethernet, Modem, up to 768m of Ram, 60Gig drive, etc, etc. But since you have already purchased one to try out, I would probably wait.

Let me know if you are ever in SUS, and I will let you play with one during your stay.

[lew]

Hey, jefe... SUS is on the way to Chicago or Milwaukee, or you never know, maybe we'll go to St. Louis some time. Heck, maybe it's worth a trip just to get a look at the 4121!

lew

[lew]

Hey, jefe... SUS is on the way to Chicago or Milwaukee, or you never know, maybe we'll go to St. Louis some time. Heck, maybe it's worth a trip just to get a look at the 4121!

lew

[jefe]

Jeff@M7ws.com

Let me know when you decide to come down and I will drop off a 4121 with the Jepp Demo for you to play with on your way up to Chicago.

One thing though, you HAVE to give it back!! ;)

[jefe]

Jeff@M7ws.com

Let me know when you decide to come down and I will drop off a 4121 with the Jepp Demo for you to play with on your way up to Chicago.

One thing though, you HAVE to give it back!! ;)