Range Report am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

[cruze5]

So years ago i purchased exbal($150), and field firing solutions.($150)

exbal will still work on the pc

field firing solutions will only work on windows mobile. they no longer release software for the pc, and never did for the mac operating system

So 300 dollars later I am very limited on what I can use these programs on. when my old windows mobile devices crap out. Im SOL because i will have to buy the new software, PLUS a new device to put them on..

Now these much cheaper programs have come out, shooter , bullet flight, jb etc etc. Makes me think I have been ripped off previously

anyone else share my frustration?

 

[mattj]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

It has simply evolved, much like the technology itself. Smart phones have become the norm (you know that's the case when your retired 60 year old non tech-savy parents parents first dropped their land lines, then upgraded from plain cell phones to Android smart phones).

Along with smart phones and their app markets have come an expectation for relatively cheap apps. Along with that, there are more programmers around, full featured apps are easier to write than they once were (libraries, APIs, etc), and there are more resources available now on ballistics, etc.

So, no, I'm no more frustrated than what you mention than I am by the fact that my first computer cost $1500 and was less capable and useful in every way than the dirt-cheap-with-cell-contract phone I have in my pocket.

 

[CoryT]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

Since the original FFS desktop still work even in Vista, and the current FFS is simply the best field software available, what exactly is the problem? If a device dies, now does that relate to the software? You get a new device and reload the program, how is that different than your iPhone crashing (or exploding) and needing a new one of them?

 

[Lindy]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

I agree with mattj.

Back around 1973, I paid around $400 for an HP-35 Scientific Calculator. It was the only product then which would do what I needed to do as an engineering student.

Now, because I still prefer an RPN calculator, I run a emulator for the HP-42 on my Iphone. The app cost $1.99.

Was I ripped off when I bought the HP-35? Not in my opinion. Technology evolves - see Moore's Law.

In 1977, working as an engineer, we paid $4000 for a 4 <span style="font-weight: bold">kilobyte</span> memory board for the systems we were building. Now a gigabyte thumb drive is a few dollars in Wal-Mart.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

I guess I'm a simple sort. I use Litz's Free BC from Berger Bullets.

I don't carry calculators, computers, sliderules 'n such to the range. I might print out the data and attach it to my data book but I like simple math for adjusting for wind and such.

For example, I can set the wind on the program to 1 mph, then use simple math to figure what X wind is at a given range.

Just more to fool with when I figure I can better use my time concnetrating on fundamentals.

Frustration = stress, stress screws up concentration, or the mental game and shooting is after all 95% mental.

 

[Leaddog]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

I'm with Kraig on this. Although I have Shooter for the iPhone, I usually set current conditions, calculate, and send to my computer where I print a copy to take to the range.

Range time is best spent reading wind and mirage than tweaking a piece of electronic gadgetry.

 

[Christopher Rance]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

I like the PDA with a SiRF Star III bluetooth gps or MTK chipset combo over some iphone. Plus Atrag and FFS Delta V can't be beat.

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

I'm very happy this technology is now avaialble and at low cost. Technology evolves. What your holding in your hand right now or looking at to read this is most likely already outdated. That's just the way it. In the future, I expect to see alot more variations (different brands) of the BORS system come out. I expect to see "smart scopes" with ballistics data built in eliminating the need for the hand help unit all together.

 

[eric long]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

HP 35, sigh, takes me back to calculus in 1987. My dad let me use his.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I agree with mattj.

Back around 1973, I paid around $400 for an HP-35 Scientific Calculator. It was the only product then which would do what I needed to do as an engineering student.

Now, because I still prefer an RPN calculator, I run a emulator for the HP-42 on my Iphone. The app cost $1.99.

Was I ripped off when I bought the HP-35? Not in my opinion. Technology evolves - see Moore's Law.

In 1977, working as an engineer, we paid $4000 for a 4 <span style="font-weight: bold">kilobyte</span> memory board for the systems we were building. Now a gigabyte thumb drive is a few dollars in Wal-Mart.
</div></div>

 

[MALLARD]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

haha smart scopes ... does that come with a builtin kestrel/chrono ? that i would buy.


ya i agree with the OP about prices but those ballisitics programs still offer some info that jbm doesn't. ( or those other free ballisitics programs) If you weren't shooting that far i would be upset , but if your shooting at 1000y and beyond the expensive ballisitics programs are more useful then jbm ( mostly because their easier to use , adjusting things, shit like that)

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I agree with mattj.

Back around 1973, I paid around $400 for an HP-35 Scientific Calculator. It was the only product then which would do what I needed to do as an engineering student.

Now, because I still prefer an RPN calculator, I run a emulator for the HP-42 on my Iphone. The app cost $1.99.

Was I ripped off when I bought the HP-35? Not in my opinion. Technology evolves - see Moore's Law.

In 1977, working as an engineer, we paid $4000 for a 4 <span style="font-weight: bold">kilobyte</span> memory board for the systems we were building. Now a gigabyte thumb drive is a few dollars in Wal-Mart.
</div></div>

Back in circa 1986 when I worked in Data Processing (Information Technology had not been invented yet) programming and operations as a co-op student, we got a new IBM 3083 liquid cooled mainframe. One of the big innovations with it was a 1 gig hard drive. It was the size of a 21 cu ft refrigerator/freezer and had a power supply sitting next to it in a matching sized cabinet. The drive and power supply cost in excess of $100,000.

Compare that to a 64 gig iPod Touch today you can stick in your pocket for $360 shipped...

The whole mobile device world has changed dramatically in the last 4 years, let alone in the 20 years proceeding that.

Look at the price of the Shooter app, available for both Droid and iPhone/Ipod OSs, at $20 versus what you have tied up in SW for your older devices. Suitable ipod/iphones one generation old can be had for under $100, so for about $100 total you can be running the latest greatest Shooter app. The ability to buy the SW for about $20 when the next generation comes out of hardware, OS, or the app itself kinda makes cost a non-issue compared to the "olden days" of Horus and the likes.

 

[Bigwheels]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

I have been there too. I'm now on my 3rd PDA for FFS. I just get one off ebay for $40.00, & call it good. My only issue now is the new Shooter ap I got on my droid works with G7 BC's, & gives better solutions. However, I'm not going to play in the field with a $500.00 droid when I can risk a $40.00 PDA from ebay.

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bigwheels</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> However, I'm not going to play in the field with a $500.00 droid when I can risk a $40.00 PDA from ebay. </div></div>

There are $65 Droid 7" tablets on the US market right now, brand NIB. The same item is being distributed in Chinese schools right now per some news articles for about $45 US.

Granted they are a long way from being a hardened field capable device, but the way the arrow is pointed on this one...

 

[PanaDP]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

How long ago did you buy those programs? I feel lucky if I get 2 years out of a piece of software. Technology changes. If you can't handle that, don't pay for new technology.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: am i the only one frustrated (ballistic programs)

1970, I'm newly married and just began work as a junior operator on the company's biggest and best computer machine-thingie; an IBM System 360 Mod 65-I/H, eight operators and a whole 256Kb of memory.

Now that computin' in the fast lane, baby!

The company was still running 705's, with <span style="font-style: italic">tubes</span> in them. Progrmamers needed to know Assembler language, and how to wire patchboards.

I would handle several hundred pounds of punch cards and listing per day. Being able to read Holerith code by eye and knowing how to program the control drum card on an 029 Keypunch machine was a basic required skill for junior operators.

By 1990, I was learning my fourth programming language, Lansa, was solely responsible for operations on a bank of A/S400 machines, and getting very close to the 'dark computer room' goal. When the glitches stayed home, I spent ten minutes of so each morning, replacing b/u media with blank stuff, initiating diags, and collecting printed logs.

By a year later, the b/u's were recording directly to offsite media, and I was no longer travelling to the next state six days a week to spend ten minutes in the computer room. My commute consisted of pouring a cuppa in the kitchen, walking into the den, and booting up the PC. Building maintenance onsite were my hands and eyes when things went South.

LOL!

Greg