Glider computers - what's important?

James,

I sell both WinPilot & SeeYou. I have found after 5 years of
consulting on and selling PDA programs that:

1. They are as easy to use and learn as any flight computer or logger
and offer many more functions. It does require some time to learn
and you do have to read the manuals. If you install any flight
computer or PDA system in your glider and then expect to immediately
fly with it without the required learning you will be dissapointed.
2. The PDA systems allow you to learn almost anywhere, work, home, in
the back yard, on the sofa. The simulator programs in the software
allow you to do this on your PDA. WinPilot and SeeYou are fully
functional in the SIM mode.
3. I recommend that you bring up the manual for the program on your
desktop computer and with the PDA in hand go through the manual one
time. This at least this gives you an overview of what is available
in the program. And helps you learn the program. This can be done
with either program and does not require purchase.
4. As always I am reachable on the phone, most all the time, and if
not will return your call. Days, evenings and weekends. Usually it
is a simple thing to get you out of a jam. So a call will with PDA in
hand will save much time and frustration.
5. The hardest thing for most people is learning the file structure in
your desktop Windows PC, this is required with any flight computer,
logger or PDA system. It is not specific to PDA Systems. I spend
more time with people on this that the actual programs.
6. Free is a very good price, but generally you get what you pay for,
if anyone finds this not true please let us all know so we all can all
get this free stuff. The best free thing I have found is the SeeYou
Connect Me program.

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

On Mar 7, 8:29 pm, wrote:
I have a datalogger, I have an IPAQ, and I have all the cabling etc.
I have spent considerable time at Cumulus Soaring, reading the
comparisons of glider software. What I lack is the experience to know
what is important. I've played with the features of SeeYou Mobile,
and frankly, most of the high end graphics stuff on the map just makes
it hard to read.
Many of you on this list have flown with this stuff, and done some
sorting out. I tend toward simpler and easier to use, rather than
bleeding edge, "every bit of information you could possibly want"
tools.
The only thing that is a go-nogo for me is a graphical display of
landing areas within glide under current conditions - a feature most,
if not all, seem to have.
Oh, another factor: a friend purchased WinPilot, SeeYou, and
StrePla. He's become used to WinPilot, and has offered to GIVE me
StrePla. Can it be set up so "Even a Caveman" can use it?

Thanks,
Jim