Just for fun, Im writing this article on the virtual keyboard of Apples vauned iPad and, as you can see, it,s not going that we;; Switching back to a real keyboard, I can now explain that despite the hype, the iPad for general use and for aviation use will do a lot of things adequately, but only a handful of things well. Composing text isn’t one of them. By early June 2010, there were more than 300 aviation apps for the iPad, but the number is technically less because some of those are iPhone apps that will run on the larger device and some are just variations on the same program, such as multiple checklists or POHs. The iPad may be many things to many people, but there are several things it is not: a moving map, a good navigator or a datalink weather display. I doubt if Garmin will even feel a minor nick in sales from iPad competition. The iPad is, however, an excellent plate reader. There are several ways to obtain and manage plates and Im sure this function will improve as the market matures. It can also do enroute charts and sectionals reasonably we’ll and it flat aces things like weight and balance and E6B calcs.
Hardware
Although some buyers are salivating at the idea of the iPad becoming the mother of all EFBs, don’t hold your breath. It has some issues. First is size. At 9.5 by 7.5 inches, the thing is huge and it tends to consume the cockpit. That leaves a lap or kneemount as the best option. (See the photos on page 10.) In my view, this is acceptable if you don’t mind having a largish thing in your lap all the time. If you do, don’t buy it for the cockpit.
The tradeoff is a fabulously sharp and colorful screen whose touch interface is close to flawless. Screen navigation is logical and easy to master in minutes. Like the iPhone, the iPad has a built-in accelerometer that senses position and automatically