Paul, I just picked up a Mac Mini computer.  The little box is the
    entire computer.  It is 6" x 6" x 2". I plugged it into my old
    monitor and keyboard.   It  has 1gb memory, 1.66ghz, duo core
    processor, 160 g pf storage. DVD reader.  More memory, bigger drives
    etc are available.    It does not make a sound (no fan)  and is much
    faster than anything I have ever used.  It is small enough to fit in
    any cockpit if a use for it in the air could be found.  Jerry

    I don't know about the Mac but there is a bunch of moving map
    software that runs on PC's. Also a USB GPS reciever.

    Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

There are a few companies out there that make small form factor
motherboards that have a built in graphics card and will boot off of
flash memory. I found quite a few with some google searches. A router I
was looking at was made from one of these little computers. Also, I
remember reading somewhere that hard drives don't work well in thin air
so I would go with flash memory in an airplane. -Jeff

Most hard disk drives are rated only to 10,000 feet. Above that you
are on your own. The reason is that the magnetic read/write heads
"fly" on a minuscule cushion of air. I saw a picture of a human hair
next to the head. The hair diameter was several times the distance
between the head and the magnetic media.

Jeff's recommendation for using a solid state storage device instead
of a hard disk is a good one. Especially if the computer is performing
some flight critical task.

Of course, it might be possible to lengthen the wings on the heads and
thus increase the service ceiling. :)

Doc Custer
Retired software engineer and sometime Audiologist
Building RV9-A. Fuselage



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