I've been using the iPad 3g with Foreflight for the last six months.
Check out the Foreflight web site for features.
Tried many "PFD's" over the years, The iPad/Foreflight is miraculous.
Annnndddd, for only $75.00 per year for Foreflight subscription, my Jepp
days are finally over! My charts / plates now update automatically rather
than hunt and tear; that alone is priceless. The other features are simply
too numerous to list. The cost of iPad and Foreflight subscription is
considerably less than annual Jepp subscription. Charts are finally becoming
a commodity.

"tscottme" wrote in message
...
"VOR-DME" wrote in message
...
Well JEPP has released a free app for JeppView on the iPad (free if you
already have a subscription, of course). There are plenty of reviews out
there for different tablets serving as EFB's, but from what I've seen
the reviews focus on functions and navigation ease. I have not seen any
serious discussion as to which type of display really works in the
cockpit.

The bi-stable or "e-print" type of display, as in the Kindle, is like a
book. It is not backlit, and is great in full sunlight. The iPad is of
course backlit, and is useable at night, but may be hard to read in
bright daylight. In the cockpit, of course, we do both. We fly in bright
light and we fly at night. Statistically, we do more bright daylight
flying, even IFR, than night. I've never used a Kindle, but I'm guessing
at night you need to shine a light on it, just like a paper chart. My
cockpit is set up to be able to light charts at night. I have used
plenty of computers etc in the day, and it's true in bright daylight
they can be hard to see.

Anyone have opinions or experience to suggest where we're going with
this?



I haven't used the Jepp product but I've had my Kindle for about a year.
It's awesome for books and free internet surfing at no additional charge.
The display is very comfortable to stare at for long periods. You are
right you would need a light to read the Kindle at night. The most widely
used accessory light for Kindles are the Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 clip-on
light. It runs on 3 AAA batteries for approximately forever. This
version, versus the Mighty Bright Flex, has 2 bright LEDs and the ability
to shine one, two, or no light. I typically always use the high setting.
The Kindle does better the more light you throw on it, like paper. And if
the old eye elves visit you you'll really appreciate the extra light. I
tried using some of my collection of cockpit flexible neck flashlights and
the Mighty Bright2 is much better suited for the Kindle. Virtually
everyone, including me, underestimates the readability and comfort of the
screen until they use one. It's far more comfortable to look at for long
duration than a laptop since it reflects light and doesn't project light.
I have the Kindle2, prior to this current version, and the current model's
screen is widely reviewed as being a bit better in contrast and clarity by
a small amount versus my model

If anyone else is considering a Kindle, I'd highly recommend the wi-fi/3G
model unless you are absolutely 100% sure you will never be out of wi-fi
range. The $139 wi-fi only model is being bought in larger numbers than
the wi-fi/3G version and new users are being surprised that it only
downloads books and surfs the web near a wi-fi hotspot. This is the first
year a Kindle version is available that doesn't include the cellphone
connection so older users are raving about their Kindle and neophytes are
buying the cheapest version and getting surprised. BTW, it connects to
the Sprint data network. I surf the web about 2 hours per day on mine
including places where there are more cows than cellphones and data is
easy to come by. Did I mention no monthly fee or data charge? It is
awesome to get a new book in about a second after you press "buy." You
can carry the FAR/AIM plus any text files you want to download. If you
have a aviation weather site you prefer tell me and I'll give you my
impression of what the radar map looks like on the Kindle screen. Kindle
is only greyscale and some of the weather radar maps show up essentially
as monochrome, some others have sufficent color gradient to work on the
Kindle.

It is about as heavy, minus the light, as one or two of the old TV Guide
magazines. It's is about as think as a yellow legal pad. Battery life
with "wireless" turned off is a week or two. The one thing I'd want to
change is the labels on the keyboard keys are small. In turbulence I'd
expect I'd have some difficulty, with my old prescription glasses, seeing
the qwerty keyboard as readily as I'd like. I suspect the new model is a
bit better in this regard since it has a graphite grey case with white
letters while my model is off-white with grey letters.



--

Scott

What's the difference between California voters and the passengers on the
Titanic?
- The passengers on the Titanic didn't vote to hit the iceberg. (Dennis
Prager)