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  #11  
Old 12-20-2009, 04:05 PM
RV8iator's Avatar
RV8iator RV8iator is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Saint Simons Island , GA
Posts: 1,523
Default No Nook for me

I have a DX and IMHO it is hands down easier to read than the Nook's small screen. I played with a Nook at BN for a while and didn't find it particularly easy to read or navigate. Didn't play with the PDF's though.
Overall, I really am happy with my Kindle DX for approach charts and wx maps.
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RV 8, N8JL, 3,000+ hours on my 8.

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PIF 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

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  #12  
Old 12-21-2009, 04:44 AM
jmbaute jmbaute is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 149
Default

I did get to try the Nook, but not with PDFPlates. The screen was very small, and I also crashed the device once (not sure how). I received a Pirep from one of the users of the website - he didn't like it very much. The device didn't handle the large files well and the text was too small to make it usable. No ability to zoom or place user bookmarks. While it is second hand info, it doesn't sound like a good platform for approach plates. Too bad, because the price is right.

2010 should bring lots of new eReaders, though.
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  #13  
Old 12-28-2009, 10:15 PM
foka4 foka4 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ankeny, IA
Posts: 210
Default Kindle DX

I just got a DX for Christmas for the purpose of displaying government plates for IFR flying. Without question, it's beautifully suited to the task, and PDFplates.com makes it easy.

Personally, I wasn't interested in any system that required scrolling to view a complete chart. Rather than trying to scroll during an apporach, I think it's better to just go to the NACO website and print off the plates you think you'll need for a given flight and do it the old-fashioned way.

The Kindle DX does a great job of displaying full-size plates, but in the interest of full disclosure, I have a minor complaint that users should be aware of: after 20 minutes, a "screen saver" kicks in and switches the display to a nice black and white image of a famous author. Restoring the apporach plate takes some waiting and some button pushing, and unless you can fly an approach in your sleep, you'll likely have to go missed if the screen saver kicks in within the outer marker and you need another glance at the plate. A best practice is just to make sure to click a button or two before being cleared for the approach to ensure the plate will be visible for the entire procedure.

Ideally, the unit would just maintain the approach plate image even if the unit goes to sleep. To me, this is the ultimate in EFB fault tolerance, and I believe several DX users have requested that the screen saver be eliminated for this purpose. Be aware that hacks were available to disable the screensaver in earlier DX firmware versions, but none is availabe for the latest firmware. In general, hacking a Kindle can create compatibility issues when new firmware updates become available from Amazon.
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  #14  
Old 12-30-2009, 06:18 PM
Larry Motley Larry Motley is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Posts: 13
Default

Comment on reliability/usability.
I use an IPOD touch, and and IPAQ mobile windows based machine. THe IPAQ was the cats whiskers when I bought it.

My IPOD has never crashed in the past year. It can play video from Youtube. PDFs and Word documents are viewable and magnifiable via docs to go. Downloading and updating pograms and content is painless. Memory availability so far seems endless.

My IPAQ crashes constantly. It cannot play youtube video. It has been replaced once. I dont bother with PDFs due to slow video.

I found the IPAQ to be most useful for picking up my schedule information from google and transfering it via active sync to my desktop. Downloading and updating all content is painful and limited due to memory utilization issues.
Worse, the X never really closes programs, so unless you go into settings, to specifically stop programs, after a while, it slows to a crawl.

I suspect the Apple pad, when and if it becomes available, to be the choice...
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  #15  
Old 12-30-2009, 06:39 PM
frazitl's Avatar
frazitl frazitl is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 488
Default Based on Apple history...

we would have to buy the charts and plates thru I-Tunes!
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RV 7A N457RV
250 hours and lovin it!
Southern Nevada EAA Chapter 1300 - www.eaa1300.org

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  #16  
Old 12-30-2009, 08:41 PM
jeff beckley jeff beckley is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 192
Default

http://www.foreflight.com/
Awesome.....
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Des Moines Iowa
Van's RV-7A
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  #17  
Old 12-30-2009, 08:55 PM
7pilot's Avatar
7pilot 7pilot is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Midlothian, TX
Posts: 169
Unhappy Nook - Doesn't search

Jeff,

I am also interested in figuring out what works best. My local Barnes and Noble had a Nook on display that I played with for awhile. I tried the search functions and it works within a single pdf but not to search through multiple PDF's, i.e. Searching for a gps approach for KTKI is not going to work. The salesman tried to get it to search through the few pdf's he had loaded and it would only search the books he had on it, not the user added pdf's.

I am holding out for Apple. I can't see using the DX unless someone can tell me how they easily and quickly get to the approach they are looking for.
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