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Delta Employees 'Fought Hard for the iPad' as Microsoft Announces Surface 2 Deal

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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A pilot for United States-based Delta Airlines has stated that the company's employees "fought hard for the iPad" as the airline sought to save paper and reduce weight in moving to electronic flight bags, but the effort was vain as Microsoft yesterday announced that the carrier will be equipping 11,000 pilots with Microsoft Surface 2 electronic flight bags, reports AppleInsider. The airline was one of the early testers of iPads for use as electronic flight bags in 2011.

pilots_ipad-800x436.jpg
"We fought hard for iPad," a pilot working for the airline told AppleInsider. He described the Delta deal as being about money, travel contracts, and Delta's Information Technology staff historically being "in bed" with Microsoft.
Click to expand...
Microsoft stated in its announcement that it would save the airline $13 million per year in "fuel and associated costs", with the company's upcoming Surface 2 running on the Windows 8 RT 8.1 platform offering "real-time access to essential tools and the most up-to-date flight-related resources including key charts, reference documents and checklists".

The announcement comes after a number of other airlines and military divisions have begun testing iPads to replace heavy flight bags, including United, American, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps.

While airlines have been looking to embrace the use of mobile devices in the cockpit, the industry has been divided over personal electronics usage by passengers during takeoff and landing. A Federal Aviation Administration advisory committee, however, recommended the relaxation of electronic device restrictions on commercial aircraft just last week.

Article Link: Delta Employees 'Fought Hard for the iPad' as Microsoft Announces Surface 2 Deal
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/01/delta-employees-fought-hard-for-the-ipad-as-microsoft-announces-surface-2-deal/
M

myemailisjustin

macrumors newbie
Nov 3, 2010
25
64
Oh management..why do you never listen?

This is a prime example of management assuming they know what's best..it's all about saving money in this one. If the surface pro2 is anything like the original - stay away from Delta.
 
A

apple_iBoy

macrumors 6502a
Oct 28, 2003
734
495
Philadelphia, PA
So did the iPads not work out as well during the beta phase, or did delta really just make a decision on mission-critical technology based on money and cronyism, as the pilot suggested?
 
FakeWozniak

FakeWozniak

macrumors 6502
Nov 8, 2007
428
26
I will NOT fly on Delta if this actually happens.

I expect the pilots will NOT use the tablets and this will be bigger backlash for Microsoft.
 
Eduardo1971

Eduardo1971

macrumors 65816
Jun 16, 2006
1,383
940
Lost Angeles, Ca. usa
Oh come on.
"A pilot for United States-based Delta Airlines...". So a broad, definitive conclusion was made on account of one pilot. Frightning.

Oh wait the source for this 'factual information" is Apple Insider. That explains it.
 
Solomani

Solomani

macrumors 601
Sep 25, 2012
4,785
10,477
Slapfish, North Carolina
FakeWozniak said:
I will NOT fly on Delta if this actually happens.

I expect the pilots will NOT use the tablets and this will be bigger backlash for Microsoft.
Click to expand...

Worst case scenario..... the Pilot's and Employee's contempt (and reluctance) to embrace the Surface 2 means more mistakes and errors in using the device during flights. That's never a good thing.

They "fought hard for the iPad" means they really really really much preferred to use the iPad. But they were ignored by management.
 
MacsRgr8

MacsRgr8

macrumors G3
Sep 8, 2002
8,284
1,753
The Netherlands
The Surface is the tablet of choice for many Microsoft Certified IT specialists...

It keeps them busy.

Many large companies where the IT department will be "consulted" regarding tablets and smartphones will probably choose the Surface, because of it feels "safe" of them: just another Windows-based device for them to manage.
 
R

reckless2k2

macrumors 6502a
Jul 10, 2008
525
0
uniformity concerns

I wouldn't be surprised if this move didn't open the adoption of Surface across other airlines exploring these options now. I wouldn't be surprised at the desire for uniformity.
 
Battlefield Fan

Battlefield Fan

macrumors 65816
Mar 9, 2008
1,063
0
That's because the Surface 2 kicks the iPad's butt. Too many people are butt hurt over the iPad to realize it though...
 
Eduardo1971

Eduardo1971

macrumors 65816
Jun 16, 2006
1,383
940
Lost Angeles, Ca. usa
FakeWozniak said:
I will NOT fly on Delta if this actually happens.

I expect the pilots will NOT use the tablets and this will be bigger backlash for Microsoft.
Click to expand...

Oh my goodness. This is funny. :eek:

Pilots will use whatever tools their company gives them or else they can look for a new job.

In my work I have to use Windows XP. At home I have an iMac. What's the big deal?

I don't understand your emotional reaction.
 
S

SingaporeStu

macrumors regular
Mar 12, 2009
100
0
Of course it's about money. Apple would never cut them the fire-sale deal that (I presume) MS did... Besides, as somebody else mentioned, you gotta keep your IT guys employed, right?
 
spazzcat

spazzcat

macrumors 68040
Jun 29, 2007
3,679
4,767
myemailisjustin said:
This is a prime example of management assuming they know what's best..it's all about saving money in this one. If the surface pro2 is anything like the original - stay away from Delta.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing MS gave them to them for free...
 
S

smokestack

macrumors member
Feb 12, 2008
82
14
I imagine the pilot's desire for the iPads was likely driven by the same material desires as the marketplace - the present fetishism directed at Apple products. While I agree that Apple is making the best products for the general public, especially when tied to the App Store, the same is not necessarily the same for purpose built devices.

Will these pilots be using the same apps as us? No, they will likely be running custom software that will perform equally well on whatever quality hardware is provided. This decision may be influenced by cost, but the back end is that there will likely be marginal difference in the usability of the devices.
 
springsup

springsup

macrumors 65816
Feb 14, 2013
1,224
1,210
apple_iBoy said:
So did the iPads not work out as well during the beta phase, or did delta really just make a decision on mission-critical technology based on money and cronyism, as the pilot suggested?
Click to expand...

IT departments in general don't like or trust Apple. It's pretty irrational.

I remember in a previous job one of the IT guys went mad at me and starting calling me a "hipster" because I wanted to switch my Windows workstation for a Mac. The Mac would actually have been cheaper and had advantages related to the job, but that's the way these guys think.
 
M

myemailisjustin

macrumors newbie
Nov 3, 2010
25
64
SingaporeStu said:
Of course it's about money. Apple would never cut them the fire-sale deal that (I presume) MS did... Besides, as somebody else mentioned, you gotta keep your IT guys employed, right?
Click to expand...

Dead on. I am very familiar with MS' sales tactics, even if they 'sell' at a loss. I can't tell you how much MS pushed for us to develop our mobile apps for their store..very very pushy, even gave us a surface pro..they even decided to manage the project to help push it along. That was without a doubt the worst experience in technology i've had in a long time, well ok not as bad as my dot-matrix printer in the 80's but it was close.

So did we end up developing our apps for them? No.
 
iriejedi

iriejedi

macrumors 6502a
Oct 4, 2000
821
120
Nor Cal
Southwest?

Not sure how many cigarette lighter sockets there are in a cockpit of a jumbo jet to charge the devicea....but based on my experiences - these will only work for short flights.... - maybe they can only be used UNDER 10,000 feet...

I could see Southwest using these.... :)
 
I

iKen1

macrumors member
Oct 16, 2012
81
34
Makes note, do not ever fly Delta. I don't want my life dependant upon MS.
 
osofast240sx

osofast240sx

macrumors 68030
Mar 25, 2011
2,539
16
springsup said:
IT departments in general don't like or trust Apple. It's pretty irrational.

I remember in a previous job one of the IT guys went mad at me and starting calling me a "hipster" because I wanted to switch my Windows workstation for a Mac. The Mac would actually have been cheaper and had advantages related to the job, but that's the way these guys think.
Click to expand...
My IT guy told me he would be out of a job if everyone was Macs
 
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