Don Dunbar wrote:

Hi Paul,
What do know about this company, I have sent several emails without a reply.
I was looking to purchase there Epanel system once I checked out a few
tech items
Regards Don
http://www.pcflightsystems.com/

Never heard of them Don. However there are several outfits doing
stuff for PDA's. I would be a bit skeptical about the E-gyro
until I had a chance to see it work at OSH.
Paul Lamar

     The Epanel is the 10" screen but uses the same gyro imput.
     Don Dunbar

I prefer a larger screen but then I am building a four place with plenty
of panel space. The other thing I don't like about PDA's is the high cost
for what you get. A third thing is there is no provision for a CD. 
Many PC compatible moving map programs on the market use CD's to store
map and topological information. It is also a cheap way to distribute
updates. 3D virtual reality (the view out the windscreen) are going to
be standard in a few years. This will take a lot of computer power
to animate well and PDA's will have a hard time keeping up with the required
power. Another thing I don't like about PDA's is their limited I/O.
You need a parallel port and or an RS232 port to get engine data and GPS
data in quickly. Actually a four parallel port card and an RS232 would
be great. There just is no room on a PDA to accommodate all the things
I want to have. Yet another is the lack of hard disk to store engine
and air data. Then there is the problem of limited software for
a PDA. Usually you are locked into one or two vendors for aviation
software while for a PC compatible computer there are at least a dozen.
This encourages competition and low software prices.
Last but maybe not least is you can repair and upgrade a computer
like this. If the keyboard or LCD goes out you don't have to throw the rest
of it out.

This is why I am going with SpaceWalker and a 12 Volt desk top 15 inch TFT
flat display. Here is a picture and a partial list of the mother
boards they make.

http://www.spacewalker.com

Granted! None of this will fit in a Long EZ or a RV4. But then neither
will a couple of hundred pounds of tents, sleeping bags and camping
chairs. Call me spoiled by the C182.

Paul Lamar
 
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