From what I have gleaned from the conversation thus far, people are doing their homework before plunking down any amount of bucks, big or small, for an efis system and that is very important.  I, too, was very awed by the potential for an efis system less than $10k.  Then as I began to think about it, I realized that my comp-sci major buddies and I could build this same system from a PC you can get from Best Buy.  From what I understand it even runs off of Windows (or at least it did).

   In all honesty, I have NO reason or desire to slam the guys at Blue Mountain.  Heck, I admire them for trying to make this deal work and it looks like they're well on their way to doing it.  And if they do, it will be a great, low-cost alternative to gauges.

   The most valuable words of wisdom on the matter I have received is this (and frankly, this applies to almost everything we deal with on this list):
   YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
   <note the period>

   I could ramble about the redundancy of SFS system and talk about the "environmental video" (It looks like the guys at Chelton cook a pretty mean egg - right on top of the SFS!) and the TRUE synthetic vision (i.e. high res terrain modeling and true HITS technology) and all that jazz, but I don't work for Chelton and don't want to turn this post into a brochure.  All I have to say is that there's a reason the system is so expensive.  There is also a reason the Blue Mountain System is so affordable.  PLEASE look into it DEEPLY before putting your life in the hands of an efis.  (Next time you see that "blue screen of death" on your pc, just ask yourself how you'd do if that monitor was your efis system....)

Aaron May
Legacy N589SF>>