Delta pilots get Microsoft Surface 2 for EFBs, not iPads

That was on the local news here in Atlanta last night.

I'm guessing they went with MS for the same reasons our company did - it fits into the existing corporate network security easily.
 
That's pretty cool. This move may create a reason for other developers to make Surface based EFB's for GA and create even more competition out there.

David
 
Do they provide a list of error messages so they can get a head start on the necessary training required to use them?
 
Well, that makes sense enough since Jeppesen makes the only EFB software that works on international flights, although I'm not sure about Garmin since they have an international database set for the rest of their stuff. It's long been one of my peeves with everyone else.
 
Yeah, our CEO has a big issue with Apple plus we picked up a bunch of Microsoft corporate travel accounts now too as part of the deal. The Jeppesen App for iPad works perfectly well internationally too btw.
 
Microsoft Surface Pro is all kinds of awesome, but I'm afraid they used the junk version (non-"Pro"). Microsoft sneakily sells two entirely different lines of tablets as "Microsoft Surface", but they basically have nothing in common. The article says "The Surface 2 will run on the Windows RT 8.1 platform", with the name conspicously lacking the "Pro" suffix.
 
zaitcev said:
Microsoft Surface Pro is all kinds of awesome, but I'm afraid they used the junk version (non-"Pro"). Microsoft sneakily sells two entirely different lines of tablets as "Microsoft Surface", but they basically have nothing in common. The article says "The Surface 2 will run on the Windows RT 8.1 platform", with the name conspicously lacking the "Pro" suffix.
Click to expand...

If you have used the Surface Pro, please answer me this, will it replace all the functionality of my now broken and dilapidated Sony Vaio? I need to get something to replace it and am considering going this route.
 
Henning said:
Well, that makes sense enough since Jeppesen makes the only EFB software that works on international flights, although I'm not sure about Garmin since they have an international database set for the rest of their stuff. It's long been one of my peeves with everyone else.
Click to expand...

Uh, no. :nonod:
 
If it says Windows RT that's your answer right there, that it's the ARM-powered Surface 2, the next version of the Surface RT.

The Surface Pro 2 is the Windows 8 computer in a tablet, and is generally much better liked, though as you say, it's a different product entirely.
 
Henning said:
If you have used the Surface Pro, please answer me this, will it replace all the functionality of my now broken and dilapidated Sony Vaio? I need to get something to replace it and am considering going this route.
Click to expand...

A Surface Pro is a full Windows PC (the new Surface Pro 2 has something like 7 hours battery life). As a PC, it is a VERY good and light computer, pull off the keyboard and it's also a very good tablet, and also has a very high quality digitizer pen.

I am considering a Surface Pro for the active digitizer and pen. That is missed in many discussions comparing the Surface to an Ultrabook. Compare the Surface Pro to the cost of any laptop out there with an active pen.

I have had a Surface RT since introduction (plus three IPads of various generations, a Nexus 7, etc).

1 - Surface RT is an MS Office device. No, it can't run Windows programs (in the same way that an IPad can't run Mac programs).
With Surface RT, you get **free** essentially full MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) with true WYSIWYG. The Surface RT handles complex Word and Powerpoint docs, tracked changes, everything, it's all exactly the same as desktop Office (and everything in the doc is exactly the same as it will appear in full Office) and it all just works.

2 - The fully featured and functional browser negates the need for most apps (not all, but most). Plus it works for things that the IPad simply will not do (online GIS mapping, interactive web-based resources, etc).

3 - The micro VGA output and USB port allows me to connect it to my KVM and use it on my 24 inch monitor, connect to a projector and USB presentation remote, thumbdrives, etc. Unbelievable value in that.

On most business trips, my phone is my 4g hotspot (so I don't miss the built-in data on the IPad), and the Surface RT is my working device. The laptops stay at home. I used to have to carry a laptop AND an Ipad.

At my old gig, I bought IPads for my whole team. Now, I would buy 4g phones with hotspot function, and Surface RTs.
 
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PilotAlan said:
A Surface Pro is a full Windows PC (the new Surface Pro 2 has something like 7 hours battery life). As a PC, it is a VERY good and light computer, pull off the keyboard and it's also a very good tablet, and also has a very high quality digitizer pen.

I am considering a Surface Pro for the active digitizer and pen. That is missed in many discussions comparing the Surface to an Ultrabook. Compare the Surface Pro to the cost of any laptop out there with an active pen.

I have had a Surface RT since introduction (plus three IPads of various generations, a Nexus 7, etc).

1 - Surface RT is an MS Office device. No, it can't run Windows programs (in the same way that an IPad can't run Mac programs).
With Surface RT, you get **free** essentially full MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) with true WYSIWYG. The Surface RT handles complex Word and Powerpoint docs, tracked changes, everything, it's all exactly the same as desktop Office (and everything in the doc is exactly the same as it will appear in full Office) and it all just works.

2 - The fully featured and functional browser negates the need for most apps (not all, but most). Plus it works for things that the IPad simply will not do (online GIS mapping, interactive web-based resources, etc).

3 - The micro VGA output and USB port allows me to connect it to my KVM and use it on my 24 inch monitor, connect to a projector and USB presentation remote, thumbdrives, etc. Unbelievable value in that.

On most business trips, my phone is my 4g hotspot (so I don't miss the built-in data on the IPad), and the Surface RT is my working device. The laptops stay at home. I used to have to carry a laptop AND an Ipad.

At my old gig, I bought IPads for my whole team. Now, I would buy 4g phones with hotspot function, and Surface RTs.
Click to expand...

Does the Surface 2 Pro run fairly complex Excel macros (creating ODBC connections, getting data, doing computations, etc.)? I know that has been a limitation of a lot of the 'Office Lite' versions that are usually found on tablets.
 
Art VanDelay said:
Yeah, our CEO has a big issue with Apple plus we picked up a bunch of Microsoft corporate travel accounts now too as part of the deal. The Jeppesen App for iPad works perfectly well internationally too btw.
Click to expand...

Yup... I figured there had to be a payoff there somewhere. Otherwise, the Surface has pretty much been a dud. They should have just called it the Zune Tablet. ;)
 
I suspect the RT version was green-lighted with the idea that we'd all be using more "cloud" software than we have yet adopted. If your applications do not have to reside on the device and can be run through a browser, the RT probably looks better.

(Except it has no way to access a network if you're away from wifi.)
 
PW_Plack said:
I suspect the RT version was green-lighted with the idea that we'd all be using more "cloud" software than we have yet adopted. If your applications do not have to reside on the device and can be run through a browser, the RT probably looks better.

(Except it has no way to access a network if you're away from wifi.)
Click to expand...

Are your ships wifi equipped?
 
CJones said:
Does the Surface 2 Pro run fairly complex Excel macros (creating ODBC connections, getting data, doing computations, etc.)? I know that has been a limitation of a lot of the 'Office Lite' versions that are usually found on tablets.
Click to expand...
Once again: Surface is a tablet, Surface Pro is a PC that looks like a tablet. Of course it runs the full office, duh. That's its reason to exist.
 
CJones said:
Does the Surface 2 Pro run fairly complex Excel macros (creating ODBC connections, getting data, doing computations, etc.)? I know that has been a limitation of a lot of the 'Office Lite' versions that are usually found on tablets.
Click to expand...
The Surface Pro is a standard Windows PC in tablet format. It's a darn good PC, and an excellent tablet.
PW_Plack said:
I suspect the RT version was green-lighted with the idea that we'd all be using more "cloud" software than we have yet adopted. If your applications do not have to reside on the device and can be run through a browser, the RT probably looks better.
(Except it has no way to access a network if you're away from wifi.)
Click to expand...
You can save files to the RT, it has a regular file system, unlike an IPad where files cannot be saved to the device and opened from other apps (or easily attached to emails).
It is cloud integrated, but you can save files to the device itself as well and operate just fine without an internet connection.

As far as the browser goes, my only point was that most of the apps IPad or Nexus need a connection to function, and the ones that don't have a Windows app work just fine in the browser.
 
PilotAlan said:
The Surface Pro is a standard Windows PC in tablet format. It's a darn good PC, and an excellent tablet.
Click to expand...

We're still trying to find the balance between 'handheld pc' and 'tablet'.

The 'handheld pc' versions that we have looked at aren't ideal because the full-blown Outlook is a royal pain to use on such a small screen. BUT, it does run Excel macros.

The 'tablet' version has more user-friendly apps for the screen size, but it can't run the heavier side of office applications.

I want my cake and eat it too! :D
 
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