Military Fighter Pilots May Get Windows 8 Tablets

[ThePointblank]

It appears Windows 8 tablets may have a potential ready application and large customer base, due to a company in the the Netherlands...

 

http://www.citeworld.com/tablets/22188/windows-8-tablets-f16-cockpits

To try to solve those space problems, Netherlands-based PaceBlade Technology is working to develop a digital flight bag for F-16 pilots using 8-inch Windows 8 tablet computers. The small tablets can easily fit inside the cramped workspace and sit right on a pilot's knee.

 

PaceBlade CTO Eric Cornelisse, who has served as a military pilot in his native Netherlands and is now in the reserves there, said that he and others in his company were approached directly by other military pilots who were seeking answers to the problem. 

 

Cornelisse explained why the company took a chance on the new 8-inch Windows 8 tablet recently released by Acer, the Iconia W3, rather than sticking with the more common iPad or Android tablets that other companies are using for similar projects.

 

"Military pilots are doing trials with iPads and also working with Android devices around the world," he said. "But there were a couple common things that they found. The iPad was too big and they didn't have full control over the content."

 

But what about the smaller iPad mini? "The iPad is too big and the iPad mini is too small. We actually needed an 8 -inch tablet to do the job.” That's because it's exactly the same size as the paper pads that F-16 pilots already use.

 

But size wasn't the only factor, said Cornelisse. "Also, they had to use iTunes to get their documents, so the security wasn't suitable to work with highly classified content. There were some workarounds but they took too long and it was way too much work."

 

The ability to maintain full control over the Windows 8 hardware for military needs was another key reason for using the platform, he said. "Microsoft offers a private cloud solution, a private store where an air force or big company can have their own environment and their own content besides what Windows offers to their customers," said Cornelisse.

 

 

 

 

[Guest GRRigger]

linux tablet.

[Kuzma]

It's not private as the NSA would have direct access due to the windows OS

[Samdb]

What if it blue screens?

[Kuzma]

What if it blue screens?

Lmao, literal blue screen of death.

[iAsuno]

next thing you'll see they will play real life angry birds.

[Guest GRRigger]

next thing you'll see they will play real life angry birds.

98% of mission is travel anyway :P sleep, eat, fun, then 1 min bomb drop and back again

[qwertywarrior]

the Terrorists will win :P

[bcredeur97]

LOL they downed iTunes in the article: "But size wasn't the only factor, said Cornelisse. "Also, they had to use iTunes to get their documents, so the security wasn't suitable to work with highly classified content. There were some workarounds but they took too long and it was way too much work."'

 

calling itunes inscure, apple should be ashamed considering how secure iOS is...

[beebskadoo]

They will flip out during long missions due to the insanity of the 'Modern' UI and have to abort the mission and be forced to undergo psychological treatment due to PTSD. Just get them an android tablet or an iPad.