Airbus 380 To Have Linux In Every Seat 332
jpatokal writes "Singapore Airlines will be rolling out the A380 superjumbo on October 26th, and a surprise awaits in the seat of every passenger: their personal Linux PC, running Red Hat. In addition to running the in-flight entertainment, passengers can also use a full copy of StarOffice, and there's a USB slot for importing/exporting documents or plugging in your own keyboard/mouse. Screen size is 10.6" (1280x768) in economy, 15.4" in business and a whopping 23" in first class (along with free noise-canceling headphones). The system is already available on current B777-300ER planes and will also be outfitted on the upcoming B787 Dreamliners."
I always believed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I always believed (Score:3, Funny)
finally (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I always believed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Delta/Song already uses Linux (Score:4, Funny)
Re:finally (Score:3, Funny)
The Year of Linux on the Desktop (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Dedicated turbine (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I always believed (Score:5, Funny)
One the size of a keyboard and mouse?
Re:The Year of Linux on the Desktop (Score:5, Funny)
You haven't fully experienced mobility until... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Security? (Score:0, Funny)
If I were said bozo hacker I'd modify the image so that on a certain day, a few weeks after I planted the crack, a simple display would appear on everyone's monitor (white text over red background):
"SOMEBODY SET US UP THE BOMB. ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US IN:"
Followed by a 35 minute count-down timer. To ensure this happens while in-flight I would check the schedule of flights for the aircraft and try to schedule it to launch then. As an added precaution I'd check for open-office running, or something similar indicating the system was in use (uptime and loadavg perhaps). If possible to get an exact count of terminals in use, I'd wait for a reasonably high usage pattern to ensure a full flight. Timing would be done during the day most likely to have a full flight.
Under the time I would write: "Shutting down this system will result in immediate detonation. Have a nice flight." That will ensure you'll get everyone's FULL attention for at least 35 minutes, followed by the media and HSA investigation. Perhaps scrolling your manifesto for all to read would be a nice touch.
That would be far more sinister than simply stealing somebody's shopping list. It would be just my luck to end up on such a flight too. Stupid bozo hackers.
How to crash at 27,000 feet (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Delta/Song already uses Linux (Score:4, Funny)
Re:In Singapore (Score:3, Funny)
They could also go the thin client with beefy server route. Maybe not as good for a in flight entertainment system, but good enough for browsing and emailing.
But they will probably wait until people (read: their astroturf teams) start complaining OpenOffice is not Office and refuses to read their MSOOXML files before they announce their move that will "save" the airlines from the headaches of the previous system.
Never underestimate neither their weaseliness nor the depth of their pockets.
Re:Delta/Song already uses Linux (Score:5, Funny)
media 'mainframe' or I would have had a look to see what was wrong.
Wow, they sound like idiots. What airline wouldn't want a random passenger given root access to their systems?
Re:The Year of Linux on the Desktop (Score:3, Funny)
"Who's flying the plane?!"
*Runs to the cokcpit to discover a penguin in a pilot hat flying it well*
"Phew... hey, wait a second, penguins can't fly!"
*plane starts to go into a nosedive*
Re:HUmmm, obligatory... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Delta/Song already uses Linux (Score:3, Funny)
media 'mainframe' or I would have had a look to see what was wrong.
Igniting your shoes is so 2002.