Advantages: An idea if you really don't know the area.
Disadvantages: Limited, outdated mapping, not so easy to use

...In our brand new Fiesta, delivered this month, the Blaupunkt TravelPilot comes fitted in a unit combined with the radio. To try this system out, over a period of three weeks, and a total of about 600 miles, entirely within my home county of West Yorkshire, i ran the TravelPilot alongside my own local knowledge of the area built up over 17 years of driving around the area. To enter a destination it is necessary to go through a menu and a series of entries not wholly unlike entering a text message on a mobile phone. There is a form of predictive texting, which can be quite useful. The problem I found, though, was that before I could find the way to, say, Huddersfield Police Station I needed to know what road it is in. There seems to be no provision for places like hospitals or police stations as destinations. Back to the AtoZ to get... Read review

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Advantages: none
Disadvantages: none

...of planning a flight, because its not that simple, pilots do not just climb in, start the engines and off we go....ohhhhh no !! pilots meet in the briefing room somewhere in the bowels of the airport to plan the whole flight, they look at the en route weather, alternate airports for emergeny landings or diversions, they work out how much fuel is needed for the trip, and decide on who is the flying and non flying pilot as this decides on the workload for each pilot. Having sorted that lot out, they then meet the cabin crew and brif them on passenger loading, delays, route etc...and then go out to the aircraft, the nonflying pilot programes the on board flight management system (its like a series computers that controls the autopilot), whilst the pilot who is doing the flying will make an extrenal inspecxtion of the aircraft, checking all flying... Read review

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Advantages: none
Disadvantages: painfull to watch at times, can be ver y boring

...This ITV series follows the Easyjet flights from Liverpool airport. They involve the check in staff, pilots,ground and cabin crew. They follow travellers from checkin to departure. For me it's painfull to watch, they seem to have non stop delays, customers having arguments, missed connections. You feel quite stressed out after watching the show. It shows Easy jet in quite a bad light as they tend to concentrate on the negative, I don't think I want to fly with them now. Also a whole programme the other week dedicated to the fog bound travellers, they just showed the same few people for half an hour - this was just boring. Budget tv at it's very worst.... Read review

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Advantages: Safe air travel with friendly service
Disadvantages: You pay for what you get

...I feel safer on British Airways as I know that their pilots are amongst the most skilful in the world. As a student hoping to fly their jets, I know exactly how hard it is to qualify as a BA captain. This should reassure those who are worried about airline safety. The service itself on BA is world-class. The have the largest fleet of 747-400 aircraft in the world and are heavily investing in the new 777 aircraft. The new flat beds in business class puts them as world leaders in business class air travel. The cabin crew are also amongst the best in the world - smiles and efficient, kind service very much the order of the day on the flights I have been on. So I would recommend BA to all travellers from the budget trekkers to the very rich. An excellent all-round service guaranteed... Read review

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Advantages: Ariving can be a pleasure
Disadvantages: Or a pain

...of space and time seem to be suspended when one travels from point to point. They are subtly shifted or altered. In one sense, the passage of time ceases to have any real meaning. Although arriving late can be a frustrating experience, when one enters the curious state of being known as being a traveller, control of one’s existence is delicately devolved to other people. The driver of the coach or train, the pilot of the aircraft, they are responsible for one when one is travelling. And even though one may travel a particular route many, many times, no two of those journeys can ever be the same. Take the example of a simple train journey. No two skies will ever be the same. A cloud formation may be similar, but it will never be repeated. Although one may see the same sheep, cows, horses, etc., in the same fields each time the journey... Read review

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Advantages: If you dream of being a pilot, this will definitely help.
Disadvantages: Graphics tend to flutter on certain planes.

...Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 is excellent for the serious traveler. The graphics are pretty good, and the destinations are realistic. This simulator gives you a detailed view of the cockpit controls for several different planes and helicopters. The best part is, the cockpit controls really work! You may choose crafts such as helicopters, jets, 747's, or Cessna's. You can also personalize the craft by giving it a name. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 has every destination possible. You can even fly over Nevis, West Indies! You'll appreciate the massive forests in South America and the beautiful glaciers of Alaska. If you get lost, turn on the GPS tracking system. If you need a break, turn on the auto pilot. I think that they included everything! I've had only a few problems with this simulator. When trying to use one of the older... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent, Based for people on a budget
Disadvantages: Many different TV names which is rather confusing

...Morris, Megan McCormick, Ian Wright, Justine Shapiro, Christina Chang and Estelle Bingham. Now though, only four still film for the show, although all six can be seen on other travel shows and older editions of Pilot Guides. Holly Morris is coming back soon apparently. The current presenters are… IAN WRIGHT who taught children while travelling and is an accomplished artist. He is the funny one and always has something funny to say in order to lighten up a situation! JUSTINE SHAPIRO who survived a plane crash when she was younger, when a DC 10 crashed into Boston Bay. Due to the accident, she had her education subsidized. She is a calmer presenter and takes time out of filming to enjoy travelling. CHRISTINA CHANG is one of the lesser-known characters and she is another one who absolutely loves travelling. She likes acting and has... Read review

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Advantages: clear, touch screen, user interface
Disadvantages: screen hard to read in direct sunlight

...Me and my dad had been looking for a GPS system for his car for a little while, there are soo many to choose from but we opted for the Garmin StreetPilot C320. When the product first arrived we weren't sure how difficult the system would be to set up but it was relativily easy to install and easy to mount on the dashboard. The Garmin StreetPilot has pre installed maps and POI's for the whole of the UK. Once set up the screen clarity and clearness is unbelievably good. Using the Garmin StreetPilot C320: The GPS is very user-friendly and the GUI is simple and understandable. The first time we used the Garmin StreetPilot was when we travelled from Northampton to Sheffield for a university open day. Selecting the destination is extremely straightforward and requires a minimum amount of input from the user. Another strength the system has... Read review

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Advantages: Plenty of action; can be read casually
Disadvantages: Bit formulaic; implausible in parts

...all, a former naval aviator with combat mission experience (the blurb, again). To be more positive about it, the action does start pretty quickly, within the first few pages in fact, and it does just keep on happening – even if it is a bit formulaic. It makes a good holiday or travel read when you don't really want to struggle with tangled plots and complex characters. Does the hero get the heroine in the end? What is the interesting sting in the tail? Just how does Rip pilot the thing? In fairness to the book (and author), you'll have to borrow or buy it to find out or hope some other review gives the game away. Book Details CN 103934, hardback club edition © Stephen Coonts 2002 Published by BCA by arrangement with Orion Books... Read review

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Advantages: Outstanding Special Effects, Sets and Characters
Disadvantages: Can't think of any

...Characters John Chrichton - Ben Browder Aeryn Sun - Claudia Black Zhaan - Virginia Hey Rygel - Voiced by Jonathan Hardy D’Argo - Anthony Simcoe Chiana - Gigi Edgely Bialar Crais/Pilot - Lani Tupu Scorpius - Wayne Pygram The plot of this is that a human astronaut/scientist tries a new expirement in space travel. Build up enough speed on top of the Earth’s atmosphere and use it as a spring to travel faster than any human has before. But something goes wrong and instead opens up a wormhole to the other side of the universe. When Chrichton (Browder) comes through the other side he emerges in the middle of a space battle with a band of people called ‘Peacekeepers’ (Sebecian - who look very similar to Humans) attacking a ship (called Moya). Moya is a Leviathan, a living ship which was captured by the peacekeepers to serve as a prison... Read review

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