The EFBs i've come across so far are usually standard Windows XP pen tablets, however in my outfit we now operate the second military spec rugged platform of that kind. Main reason is that they hope to get lower repair and replacement bills than with our first platform (a standard HP tablet PC), main reason is that they have to withstand quite a wide range of different temperatures, vibration levels and shock from falling down, not to mention moisture. Since those things are now rugged PCs they are quite heavy and bad to handle in a cramped cockpit like the 737, so most of us are looking forward to the promised EFB II fixed installation where everything is fixed to the airplane and not manually handled by us. Documentation is allready only available in electronic form including the AFM, apparently a dual EFB-installation is quite enough to satisfy the regulator, dispatch with only one working EFB is approved, the EFB has to be stowed below 1000ft AGL.

Its out in Australia?... I don't think so... It is not going to be shipped anywhere until end of March....

I don't know about feeling the need to show everyone my iphone - but there are certainly a lot of captains who are intrigued enough to ask if they can have a look at the apps on it.
Smithy - Have you taken that giant leap into the 80's and bought a VCR or a microwave yet?
Why are people so rabidly for or against these things? If you don't like it - don't do it!
As regards the ipad - I can think of one reasonable use for it... Reference. My company issues all manuals electronically. Having that search option available on the flightdeck would be occasionally useful. But then I can do that on the iphone too, just on a smaller screen.

I am not an Apple fan, but I have an iphone, which is crap as a mobile telephone. Being touch sensitive there is no tactile feedback either of key position or activation. In the old days one could stride purposefully through the Angel with a clunky Nokia texting your friends with one hand that you were running late. Try doing that with an iphone and you will hit the first lamppost you encounter. (ie it ruins your situational awareness :ugh:)

The best feature of the iphone is the SMS speech-bubble interface. It makes SMS into conversations that are visible and can be scrolled! "I refer the honourable girlfriend to the excuse I made earlier." becomes a real possibility...

hugel

Mac + OS X = modern, powerful and reliable
 

Must be one of the oldest myths around in IT land. A Mac/OS X computer is at least on the same technological level as anything Microsoft sells on PCs these days. In fact, that Mac/OS X combination is technologically very comparable to a UNIX/Linux system since OS X is based on Mach, FreeBSD and NetBSD. Don't let the ease of use of a Mac fool you: behind the screens there is a very modern, powerful and reliable operating system. And that is why a full OS X could have made the iPad so much more interesting and useful!

And what is wrong with a well designed, good looking computer :confused:?

I have been using PCs with Microsoft operating systems and Linux since a long time but when my portable PC was stolen one day I 'confiscated' my wife's Macintosh and since then I have never felt the need to go back to a PC/Windows system. For professional reasons I do need the ability to run my customer's Windows applications but this was easily provided by running a virtual Windows system on my Mac using VMWare's Fusion software.

Johan

PS It's always nice and good to have a choice whatever your preference is!

That is a blow Smallfry, now I'm going to have to explain to the guy that showed it to me last Saturday that he hasn't really got one at all!!!

(It probably didn't arrive by a 'recognised' route).;)

Rockwell, Panasonic & Thales, be afraid, be very afraid.
 

So, from what I hear so far, the ipad is of no use in the cockpit but has some entertainment value, can be used by a child or pensioner, can play games and view films, download the latest newspapers/magazines and weighing a pound & a half will slide into a pocket roughly the size of an inflight magazine.

Now, what possible use could it have in aviation???????:8:ok:

Fair enough, I'm confused now, I'll be seeing him again tomorrow and find out exactly what he has got, but I could have sworn...............etc.etc.:)

Hugel,

You obviously have not seen the app that displays the video camera feed as the background with your SMS text over the top so that you can see where you r feet are going on the screen in real time as you text ... :E No more gutters, small dogs, lampposts etc..

I'm an ex commercial pilot, now software engineer with 15+ years of experience writing real time avionics software. I'll definitely be getting an iPad to go along with my Macbook Pro and iPhone. You'll find many engineers with macs not for the looks but for OS X and its UNIX/BSD base combined with its excellent integration with the hardware. Most of us used windows once upon a time :ugh:

The reason full OS X is not being supplied is due to it's performance on the power efficient processors, have a look at the reviews of how windows 7 is performing on tablets ... not well at all.

Why are so many developers supporting the iPhone/iPad? The App store takes away all the pain of having to set up a commercial site and get customers in. + the huge user base. Apple also produces one of the best development environments money can't buy, it's been free for eons.

Unfortunately due to certification requirements, it's too difficult to get the iPad/iPhone certified as a navigation device due to OS X and the hardware operating limits. The OS would probably have to be qualified to Do-178B Level B or C and Apple would not be interested due to the cost and limited market. However it would make for a great planning and briefing device.

You won't be getting one then? :E:E

Stop drooling then :eek: