Pocket PC on the flight deck

I have the HP (no more Compaq) Ipaq 5555 and Controlvisions Tracker Blue
GPS. It's a wireless bluetooth GPS with WAAS. While they say its line of
sight and limited in range, I've had it work through two floors in my house
and at opposite ends. In the airplane the gps doesnt point directly at the
Ipaq, the gps is towards the very front and out of sight, but it never
hiccups.

For now though the AI/WX don't work if you use bluetooth gps. If you go
totally wired, all three integrate together fine. Hiding the wires was
never a problem when I had them.

The software has a rough air interface giving you larger buttons. Even in
moderate turbulence I rarely use them though and once your flight plan is
set up you don't fool with the unit much. Maybe you zoom in or out, but you
dont have to touch the screen for that. It's not an issue.

As far as the neverending MS slamming, this program froze ONCE on me in two
years, and it probably wasn't the operating system. And even if you need to
reboot everything it's not like rebooting a PC, it only takes one push on
the bottom of the unit and its back up and ready to go. This is a backup
system, all of it, the AI/WX/Moving Map. Would I trust WinXP as the PRIMARY
system as it is now? I'd be hesitant. But this isnt a primary system.

As far as PocketPC's, I love mine, I'm on my second (wife inherited the
first and likes it alot). Some like the PalmOS better, and Garmin makes
their IQue that uses the PalmOS and has a moving map and built in GPS.
There are lots of programs out there, aviation and others, for the Palm,
including EFIS types. At the time of my decision I didnt like Palms
handwriting recognition, you had to use their Grafitti, which is special
characters. With PPC, you just wrote like you normally do, and the latest
OS is even better at deciphering your writing no matter how sloppy.

You probably need to go out and use each kind, see what you like. But also
decide on which aviation software you prefer as they are usually made for
one OS or the other, not both. Waiting for anything from Apple would be
like waiting for hell to freeze over. And as usual there'd be only a couple
of overpriced choices with no support after a few years.

So, how would it operate? Turn it on (AI/Moving Map), leave it on, and
enjoy. The AI would automatically display itself over the moving map in
case a spiral is detected. If all electrical is lost, the AI would power
the Ipaq and the GPS for longer than you'd choose to stay in the air if it
were to happen, and probably longer than your tanks would give you. If
you're in total darkness the Ipaq would be backlit with the moving map and
AI at your disposal. If you want WX you can easily add it, and in case of
emergency you have a working satphone to make voice calls. Dont take my
word for it, check out their website and their user forums. And once
again, I dont work for them, just a satisfied customer.

Chris