best way to GPS from your laptop?

[dieselstation]

I recently got Microsoft Streets And Trips and although it's decent, it's not the best interface for GPSing on a laptop. I want something clean and smooth and with a 3D view. I WISH Navigon would make a laptop version of their software. looks soo smooth..

screenshot of Navigon Mobile Navigator 5

Is there anything else out there that works on a laptop that's easy to read while driving?

 

[Syringer]

Where do you keep the laptop? On the passenger seat?

 

[dieselstation]

i plan on making or buying a laptop stand and bolting it to the passenger seat floor. but it'll still be removable.

 

[Bootprint]

Originally posted by: Syringer
Where do you keep the laptop? On the passenger seat?

or get a Ram mount for it link

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

iGuidance or Tom Tom. I use iGuidance and it's fine. It's got three levels of 3D view but I prefer the 2D view. My GPS reciever is the Globalsat BT-338.

 

[RossMAN]

DeLorme

Speaking from personal experience do yourself a favor and buy the Garmin StreetPilot c320 which can be had for around $299.

 

[dieselstation]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
DeLorme

Speaking from personal experience do yourself a favor and buy the Garmin StreetPilot c320 which can be had for around $299.

hehe.. ok.. maybe that is the best idea.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: dieselstation

Originally posted by: RossMAN
DeLorme

Speaking from personal experience do yourself a favor and buy the Garmin StreetPilot c320 which can be had for around $299.

hehe.. ok.. maybe that is the best idea.

I did exactly what you did.

First I bought Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 with GPS locator for $79.99 and thought awesome!!! Even though my Dell 700m is a small 12.1" laptop it's still tedious and a pain in the ass. So I bought a Garmin c320 which I fell in love with. Now the S&T GPS and software sit on a shelf unused and unloved. If you have a valid reason to take your laptop with you EVERYWHERE and have a power inverter, then maybe stick with the laptop solution.

 

[erwos]

You definitely do not want to be hauling a laptop around in your car all the time. Besides the dedicated alternatives some people have suggested, if you have a PDA phone, you can also use that along with a Bluetooth GPS receiver and software (eg, Mapopolis or TomTom). This not only gives you a good amount more room to work with in your vehicle, but also allows you to use the GPS for short hikes on foot while not carrying a (somewhat bulky) dedicated unit. That's not an inconsequential advantage.

The disadvantage is that good GPS software for your phone runs in the $100-$150 range, not including receiver. That's still under the c320's price (a decent BT GPS receiver can be found for $60 or so online), but it's not a small purchase.

-Erwos

 

[corkyg]

I have a newish laptop, and it is all set up nicely with DeLorme Street Atlas 2007 - works perfectly with DeLorme's Earthmate GPS sensor.

However, it is not practical to use it in a car while driving - almost needs a co-pilot to act as navigator.

So, the Garmin or Tom-Tom Go is also for me the best solution. Aside from the novelty and the gimmick factor, 95% of time I know where I am going anyway.

 

[thescreensavers]

Garmin 18 $99.99 with software. very good.

 

[kami333]

CoPilot

A good thread on GPS at mp3car.com link