Looking for GPS for my Acer Aspire One (and questions)

I'm going to get an Acer Aspire One netbook with the 120GB drive and I want to get a GPS for it, where's the best one out there for the money? Is is safe to use the laptop in a car using the GPS? Thanks in advance!

 

Well I never stumbled across GPS for a laptop - but it must exist.

Using GPS on a laptop in a car sounds a bit - well, iffy to me.

Where will you place the laptop?
One of the advantages of PDAs with GPS and dedicated satnav devices is that they are in your field of view.

On the seat a laptop will be a distraction, and how would you secure it, power it?

I'd recommend a dedicated device - maybe a PDA (if you have uses for it on the go) - if you do go for a PDA, don't get an Acer, I'e had a horrible experience with one, and another person confirmed that an issue also existed in a newer device - plug in the power supply and you hard reset the PDA - what's the use of that??

 

For my EEE 1000H the best high performance unit that is cheap was the Navibe 720

http://www.buygpsnow.com/navibe-gm7...-receiver-sirf-star-iii-waas-enabled-779.aspx

I got mine on ebay for like $25 shipped.

It has the Sirf Star III chipset (best on there is I think) and all the NMEA protocols you need to work with almost any gps software.

I would not recomend looking at the screen, but you can use it based on the audio ques and drive perfect. I was going to make a dash mount for me EEE though Its fun to watch the compass & speedometer on S&T2009

If your serious about this and not just toying with it like I was I recomend a few things.

Spend like $10 on one of those 1/8" headphone jack into FM transmitter converters. This way you can tune in the sound from the laptop into your car radio making it easier to hear, also you can play your music on there.

I think your ASONE does not have bluetooth, if it did a bluetooth gps reciever is nice to eliminate a cord and make your life easier.

Spend $30+ on a car ciggarete lighter power inverter so you can have unliminted battery life on your laptop.

Lastly again bluetooth only, just pair a cellphone headset with the laptop so you can hear the audio ques easier. The 1000H has probably the best speakers of any of the netbooks, and it was sort of difficult to hear on its own with the volume maxed for some of the GPS programs.

Programs you can use.

Garmin Mobile PC

Microsoft Streets & Trips

Inav Iguidance

+ A few others.

The cheapest one was S&T2009 by far, infact you can get the kit w/ a gps receiver cheaper than just the software of the others.

Example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...+Educational/Reference-_-Microsoft-_-32116506

$65 shipped, full software & receiver.

 

Thanks You've been very helpful that GPS kit sounds just like what I need, I can get a super tiny usb bluetooth dongle from dealextreme.com for a couple of dollars (literally) and the stand I'll look for one and the FM adaptor for your car, I've seen those at walmart. Thanks!

 

I’ve used a Bluetooth GPS unit (Holux m1200) with my notebook. There are plenty of BT GPS units out there (mostly meant for mobile phones and PDAs, but they will work fine with a notebook too). Bought it off eBay for $50.

 

Your welcome. Enjoy.

 

I've used MS Streets & Trips for some time now, and I really like it. Only issue that I woud see is how to install in on your netbook since the media is DVD. Unless you've got your netbook networked with a home PC.

 

I downloaded the trial off MS site and then you can just buy a key for it.

So download the trial then use the key from the purchased dvd.

From there many other options:

> Networked Optical Drive
> External Optical Drive
> Flash Drive w/ Image on it
> Torrent It
> Ect.

S&T is the one least targeted for "around town" driving as it doesnt have the same kind of quick lookup & nav system the other two programs have, but it has great maps, good functionality, and its way cheaper. Its also best for exactly what it says "trips" because no hassles like the Garmin for downloading individual map files to load for the areas you think you may travel to.

 

I use Garmin Mobile PC with Eee 702; a map for the whole US + canada is about 1.3GB and there is no hassle such that. Everything works like a charm after installation.

If anyone needs more info about Mobile PC, just ask.

 

Depends on what map you use, it was like 1GB just for the detailed map of the far east side of the states when I tried it.

Its not like with a 250GB HDD in my EEE that I cant put a full map in. Its just the fact many people have issues trying to get maps on there, and your like why should I have to do this?? Every other program has full maps by default.

 

here u can find the GPS you want: http://www.laptopsforless.com/gpsreceiver