Personal flight computers

On Dec 9, 1:53*am, "noel.wade" wrote:

(LK8000, XCSoar, SeeYouMobile, ClearNav, LX, etc). *They may have
slightly different menus and iconography, but in the end the
differences are styling, not function.

I disagree with that statement. They have conceptual similarities, of
course. However, I have found some significant differences in
functionality (usability) in the cockpit. This is at least as much
about hardware as software. How many of these setups will preserve
your task, start time, stats and flight log through an unintended
power cycle (battery died, circuit breaker popped, "co-pilot" hit the
switch) or even a system lock up? As well, information entry
requirements vary enormously. What looks great at the kitchen table
sometimes doesn't work so hot in the cockpit (been through that).

*I think these programs
can give you way too MUCH info, and it takes precious extra seconds
for your eyes and brain to read and filter the info on the screen, to
figure out just what's important at the moment.

Ohhhhhh yes. An essential feature is being able to turn all the
distraction off. Unfortunately, the great temptation is to leave too
much of it on, on the theory that it might be useful (been through
that, too).

-Evan Ludeman / T8