Unsurpassed content, painless update
This Instrument Pilot's Handbook is the same superb work as it's paper version, only now in e-book form, which offers many advantages. It's cheaper (once you have bought your iPad or similar device), much more portable than the 600+ page paper version, much easier to read in a poorly lit environment, and has it's own built-in magnifying device (the swipe move).
Most importantly, you will get free updates as they become available. While updates for the paper versions are posted on Rod's website, it is much less time-consuming (and neater) to just download the latest version, which I just did.
A prior review claimed the display is portrait only. This is not the case on the iPad, which provides both portrait and landscape views. The same reviewer lamented the lack of hot links, movies, or animation. My take is that these features are secondary to the content, and their absence does not diminish the value of this extraordinarily comprehensive, well written, and beautifully illustrated book
Most importantly, you will get free updates as they become available. While updates for the paper versions are posted on Rod's website, it is much less time-consuming (and neater) to just download the latest version, which I just did.
A prior review claimed the display is portrait only. This is not the case on the iPad, which provides both portrait and landscape views. The same reviewer lamented the lack of hot links, movies, or animation. My take is that these features are secondary to the content, and their absence does not diminish the value of this extraordinarily comprehensive, well written, and beautifully illustrated book
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Good stuff
I bought Rod's Private Pilot book before I started taking lessons. He covers all the info you need and in a way that doesn't require a law degree to understand it. I downloaded the Instrument book the other day so I can get a jump start on my inst rating. I'm a few chapters into the material and like what I've seen. I plan to read this book and then start reading test prep software to get ready for writtens.
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Good Content, Fair eBook execution
I find I need to give this eBook a mixed review.
Content: Overall, the content is very good. I would give it 4.5 stars for content. The material is presented in clear/concise format. The material refines and supplements what is available in the free FAA Instrument Procedures and Instrument Flying Handbooks. The sidebars are helpful. The illustrations are generally very good. The material is presented with a strong dose of humor. Humor is good, but in my opinion overdone in this book. Some people will love it, some will not. I found it a bit to punny for my taste (if you get my drift...)
Execution: This is where this eBook falls short. I give it a 3 for technical execution. Essentially, it is a very large pdf file. You can zoom and scroll, but that is about it. It is portrait only, you can't use landscape. You can't select text and highlight or bookmark individual text. The bookmarking feature is limited.. you can only bookmark pages. There isn't a way to generate a "study guide" to review key points later. Images can be zoomed on the page, but you can't view images full screen. You can't tap to select a word and view the definition. There are no hot-links to take you to a different location in the book, for example when it says "discussed later in chapter 5" you can't link to that page. There are no links to outside webpages, for example when they reference the FAR's, you should be able to link to the actual regulation. There is no ability to search the text. There are no movies or animations. When I pay for an eBook instead of a printed book, I expect the author/developer to use the available technology and made it fit the electronic format. What you are essentially getting here is a printed book on an electronic screen, without any of the multimedia features that really make good eBooks shine. This surprises me since the author is known as a TV broadcaster and first-rate speaker. You would think he would have included some multimedia to jazz up the presentation. If they fix this... this book would be an easy "5".
Content: Overall, the content is very good. I would give it 4.5 stars for content. The material is presented in clear/concise format. The material refines and supplements what is available in the free FAA Instrument Procedures and Instrument Flying Handbooks. The sidebars are helpful. The illustrations are generally very good. The material is presented with a strong dose of humor. Humor is good, but in my opinion overdone in this book. Some people will love it, some will not. I found it a bit to punny for my taste (if you get my drift...)
Execution: This is where this eBook falls short. I give it a 3 for technical execution. Essentially, it is a very large pdf file. You can zoom and scroll, but that is about it. It is portrait only, you can't use landscape. You can't select text and highlight or bookmark individual text. The bookmarking feature is limited.. you can only bookmark pages. There isn't a way to generate a "study guide" to review key points later. Images can be zoomed on the page, but you can't view images full screen. You can't tap to select a word and view the definition. There are no hot-links to take you to a different location in the book, for example when it says "discussed later in chapter 5" you can't link to that page. There are no links to outside webpages, for example when they reference the FAR's, you should be able to link to the actual regulation. There is no ability to search the text. There are no movies or animations. When I pay for an eBook instead of a printed book, I expect the author/developer to use the available technology and made it fit the electronic format. What you are essentially getting here is a printed book on an electronic screen, without any of the multimedia features that really make good eBooks shine. This surprises me since the author is known as a TV broadcaster and first-rate speaker. You would think he would have included some multimedia to jazz up the presentation. If they fix this... this book would be an easy "5".
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