On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 10:08:20 +0000, Peter
wrote:

Hi,

I've been told that airline operations increasingly use tablet PCs for
ground planning purposes, and perhaps also in flight.

I just bought a Fujitsu ST4121 to display moving map software and XM /
WxWorx Sat weather. I have not flown with it yet, but believe it is
small enough, light enough, and thin enough to be effective in the
cockpit. Most importantly, it has a tranflective screen, so the
display actually gets brighter in sunlight. Anyway, I will give the
rec.aviation group an update once I do get to fly with it.

I had been using an IBM Thinkpad for this before, but it had several
shortcomings for this application.
#1. In bright sunlight - the screen gets washed out.
#2. At night - lack of brightness/dimness controls.
#3. The 'fold open' display is unacceptable for space reasons.

For those that have not flown with the XM Sat Weather (by WxWorx) - it
is amazing. It greatly increases my confidence while flying both VFR
or IFR XCs. The benefits of the nexrad radar are obvious, but I am
finding the graphical access to METAR and Winds aloft data to be
beneficial as well. It is so much easier and gives a better picture
than calling up Fligh****ch to get the info. The TFR representations
are nice as well.

-Nathan