PDA mounting alternatives

Jim Kelly wrote:
Marc makes good points, to which I would add:
1. Remember that it helps to not change your focal length such
that the outside view is out of focus. Folks over 45yrs or so
will apparently have difficulty in this regard.

For a lot of pilots, that puts the PDA quite far away. I don't need
glasses for distance, but I do need reading glasses. "Sunreader"
sunglasses combine nonprescription sunglasses with bifocal areas low on
the glasses; additionally, the bifocal area has very little tinting.
This arrangement is perfect for PDA use in a glider. Cheap, too, at $25.

Pilots needing prescription sunglasses could get them with the bifocal
area, preferably with very little tinting. More than $25, of course!

In any case, definitely look at the PDA you are considering, and do it
in the sunlight. Their screens differ markedly in visibility, and some
of the older ones are better than the newer ones. I use a 3835, which is
noticeably better than the newer 2210 I first purchased.

2. You need to be able to use your pointer finger easily, and
sometimes to eject the stylus.

I suppose this varies with the software you use, as my finger works fine
in flight using SeeYou Mobile. On the ground, for entering tasks and
other fiddly things not needed in flight, I do use the stylus.

--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

Eric Greenwell wrote:


2. You need to be able to use your pointer finger easily, and
sometimes to eject the stylus.

I suppose this varies with the software you use, as my finger works fine
in flight using SeeYou Mobile. On the ground, for entering tasks and
other fiddly things not needed in flight, I do use the stylus.

And using a finger was even easier with Glide Navigator, which I used
for years before Mobile. Didn't ever use a stylus with it.

--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

I agree entirely Eric. My point is that the stylus often needs a
lot of room above the unit (for ejection). It is easy to forget
this when mounting (eg) below the lip in a glareshield.

jk





"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Eric Greenwell wrote:


2. You need to be able to use your pointer finger easily, and
sometimes to eject the stylus.

I suppose this varies with the software you use, as my finger
works fine
in flight using SeeYou Mobile. On the ground, for entering
tasks and
other fiddly things not needed in flight, I do use the stylus.

And using a finger was even easier with Glide Navigator, which I
used
for years before Mobile. Didn't ever use a stylus with it.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

Another advantage with the 'stick-on' bifocals is that you can
carefully trim them to make them narrow in width (about 60% of
their original width), thus preserving the ability to look
'outside and down' without their intrusion.

Jim Kelly


"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Jim Kelly wrote:
Marc makes good points, to which I would add:
1. Remember that it helps to not change your focal length such
that the outside view is out of focus. Folks over 45yrs or so
will apparently have difficulty in this regard.

For a lot of pilots, that puts the PDA quite far away. I don't
need
glasses for distance, but I do need reading glasses. "Sunreader"
sunglasses combine nonprescription sunglasses with bifocal areas
low on
the glasses; additionally, the bifocal area has very little
tinting.
This arrangement is perfect for PDA use in a glider. Cheap, too,
at $25.

Pilots needing prescription sunglasses could get them with the
bifocal
area, preferably with very little tinting. More than $25, of
course!

In any case, definitely look at the PDA you are considering, and
do it
in the sunlight. Their screens differ markedly in visibility, and
some
of the older ones are better than the newer ones. I use a 3835,
which is
noticeably better than the newer 2210 I first purchased.

2. You need to be able to use your pointer finger easily, and
sometimes to eject the stylus.

I suppose this varies with the software you use, as my finger
works fine
in flight using SeeYou Mobile. On the ground, for entering tasks
and
other fiddly things not needed in flight, I do use the stylus.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

Jim Kelly wrote:
Another advantage with the 'stick-on' bifocals is that you can
carefully trim them to make them narrow in width (about 60% of
their original width), thus preserving the ability to look
'outside and down' without their intrusion.

I used them for several years on Serengeti sunglasses and liked them,
but switched to the Sunreaders when I discovered those even better
because they were untinted in the bifocal area, and because the stick-on
bifocals introduced some glare when the sun hit that area. I think the
two extra surfaces between the sunglasses and bifocals caused it;
nonetheless, they can be a good solution for people with prescription
sunglasses. At ~$20, they are cheap to try, and cutting them down as Jim
suggests is a good idea. You can probably get them to stick better, and
reduce the glare I got.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA