GPS Navigation & Street Mapping

Hey with all the traveling peopple do over the holidays, I was wondering how many people have used their laptop/handheld for GPS Navigation? and if so what software/hardware do youuse? what are the problems you've had? and do you recommend it?

I've recently tested 2 software and hardware Rand McNally with Navisky and Microsoft with Pharos and the Microsoft is much better but it doesn't have voice prompts for upcomming turns or arrows or anything just tiny text and when driving alone it makes it hard to use too much. DeLorme's Street Atlas 2005 seems like it may have that but I was wondering if anyone has used it or something else.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

I used a PDA with GPS built-in for a little while, the Mio Mitac 618 (it's the same as the Navman Pin http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000299RYY/qid=1103743199/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/002-5880483-7488023?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846). My major problem is that with living in a city (new york) I have major problems acquiring satellites unless I'm outside of Manhattan. I found the software by Navtech to be very nice...only other problem was the amount of storage needed to store a map on a PDA. Having a laptop would have eliminated such an issue, but I don't want to carry a laptop around to tell me where I am.

 

yeah thats understandable, but since I'm driving carrying the big laptop isn't too much of a problem.
Although what I would like to do after I graduate in May is too build a PC in my car with a touch screen monitor and all.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

I can't believe there are this many people on a notebook forum and nobody has any experience with mapping software and a gps reciever with them.

[ ] or more likely I'm just impatient...

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

I have DeLorme Streets & Trips 2005 with DeLorme Earthmate GPS. i just bought it about a week ago, and I love it. The GPS is very small and very efficient, and it always gives me 3D GPS (the best signal possible). The Software uses very computer voices for turns that are sometimes hard to understand, but thats ok. GPS is really fun, I'd highly recomend!

 

I don't have a GPS but it would have been nice during my most recent trip. Mapquest.com sent me 112 miles the wrong way! How lame is that? Yeah, a GPS would have been nice.

Sharp AL27, Athlon 64 2700+ 60Gb hdd, 512Mb mem, 64Mb vid, superbright lcd. DVD +-/RW. Great choice for business use.

www.pc-proz.com

 

Yeah thanks, I ended up with actually two programs I got the Microsoft one on sale with GPS and kept it due it having more POIs but the Delorme was better for the trip while navigating alone due to the voices, so if only the two could be combined into one I'd be happier.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

Quikster,

It's been a shile since I've seen any posts from you or am I mistaken? In any case, glad to see you're back! [ ]

But about the GPS, this may sound a bit stupid, but can't you run both at the same time, therefore effectively giving you the pluses of both apps?

-Vb-

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Steve1496

 

Did you update it with the new year? I had to update it with the new year to get the new magnetic declination corrected.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

Quikster, I am very intersted in getting the GPS Navigation system software. And I am very very new at that, so please don't mind me if I ask stupid question.
I am planning a 2-month trip and I think GPS will really help me. So, if I have that install in my notebook, and bring it along when I drive, do I need any internet connection(using cell phone?) in order for that to work? is that same as the GPS that people have in their car?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Bruce

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Quikster

 

thanks quikster, I will try it out later on, the DeLorme 2005 sounds very insteresting. I like that.
I also wonder how the notebook can commicate with satellite when it's not being connected to the internet?

 

With the tablet PC's hitting the market, I started thinking about building out a tablet to mount in my truck, it would be sweet to mount a tablet PC in my truck (tablet for the touch screen) and then use GPS and some mapping software....

Man wouldn't it be nice if someone would create a car stereo with a USB output that would let you configure your car stereo with a laptop, and give you software that would allow your laptop to control the stereo when it's plugged in with a touch screen display... I have though of many ways to attempt to piece togeather a solution for this but I don't have the $$ to try it out LOL

The only GPS/Navigation system I have seen in a vehicle was a very very poor solution even for the application it was being used.

On a Police ride-along the Mobile Dispatch computer had a GPS/Navigation system that would pinpoint your current location, and the location of a call but it was poorly implemented with no practical zoom or directions, just two dots that sometimes you had to scroll the map to find. When you are going code3 there isn't much time to play with a computer for directions, so they end up using paper maps more often than not.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Bruce