Laptop + GPS + Mapping software = Woot!

[The Stigenator]

do you have a laptop and GPS + mapping setup?

My dad wants to use his laptop for this affair..since it seems to go with him all the time.

I on the other hand have got my hands on my brothers 3lb Sony 505TR laptop (1" thick 3 lbs), and i want to do the same..

Question is.. which mapping software is good.. etc etc.

I plan to let my dad buy the mapping software and gadget from fry's and buy a gps (handheld with computer support / or one from ebay just for the pc)

so what's your take?

 

[ApacheXMD]

i think a laptop gps in a car isn't all the practical. where are you gonna put it? passenger seat? what if you have passengers?

-patchy

 

[The Stigenator]

well the 505tr is small enough.. it doesnt feel like a laptop..

only issue.. its 300mhz pentium with 64mb ram..

 

[CrazyHelloDeli]

Real men dont need maps, let alone satellites.

 

[ApacheXMD]

if the lappy is small enough then go for it.
a pII-300 should be plenty fast for GPS nav.
I'm just getting into this GPS game, so I don't have any specific software reccomendations. If you look on the mp3car forums there's a GPS forum where you'd get more help.

-patchy

 

[imported_Kckazdude]

The best GPS/Map software is from DeLorme. Have been using this software and GPS for the last 3 years now without a problem. The package for both usually runs $130 in most stores that sell software.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: ApacheXMD
i think a laptop gps in a car isn't all the practical. where are you gonna put it? passenger seat? what if you have passengers?

-patchy

i've seen guys who put full pcs in their trunks, and put a touchscreen lcd in the center console, and have the GPS hooked up to that as well. thats VERY cool. gps, and music/movies... add a wireless network adaptor to transfer new songs to the car. mmm..

 

[DaWhim]

I was a cf gps card for my laptop, then I will be all set. the card is about $80 on ebay

 

[ApacheXMD]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: ApacheXMD
i think a laptop gps in a car isn't all the practical. where are you gonna put it? passenger seat? what if you have passengers?

-patchy

i've seen guys who put full pcs in their trunks, and put a touchscreen lcd in the center console, and have the GPS hooked up to that as well. thats VERY cool. gps, and music/movies... add a wireless network adaptor to transfer new songs to the car. mmm..

yep, that's what i'm planning to do in the distant future.. but it gets expensive fast, especially when 7inch vga LCD's with a touchscreen can cost like 350-400 dollars, and some GPS software are hundreds of dollars too..

honestly.. if I ever did it, i don't think it'd be worth the expense...

-patchy

 

[ApacheXMD]

Originally posted by: DaWhim
I was a cf gps card for my laptop, then I will be all set. the card is about $80 on ebay

why not a serial or USB gps "puck"? They're about 80ish too on ebay. Do the compact flash ones come with the antenna on a longish cable so you can position it so it sees the sky? The usb/serial gps pucks can be placed in the rear window shelf, or the dashboard so it can get a clear view of the satellites.

-patchy

 

[dartworth]

I use a Garmin etrex GPS unit along with MS MapPoint software. Works great for me.

BTW...I use the same GPS unit that I am selling in my sig

 

[The Stigenator]

damn that is a sweet price for an etrex... too bad i will go broke if i get that.. oh well.

 

[bastula]

I posted in all 3 of these threads, so you may find repetitive information, but I feel that it is easier for you too see other people's opinions than simply me restating what I already said (newest is listed first). Good luck with your search and hope it works out.

GPS Thread #1

GPS Thread #2

GPS Thread #3

 

[DaWhim]

Originally posted by: ApacheXMD

Originally posted by: DaWhim
I was a cf gps card for my laptop, then I will be all set. the card is about $80 on ebay

why not a serial or USB gps "puck"? They're about 80ish too on ebay. Do the compact flash ones come with the antenna on a longish cable so you can position it so it sees the sky? The usb/serial gps pucks can be placed in the rear window shelf, or the dashboard so it can get a clear view of the satellites.

-patchy

my laptop has a cf slot for that, so I prefer cf better. also, sony will have a cf adapter for clie, so I maybe able to use that.

something like this will do

 

[0roo0roo]

did it before, have a usb antenna and some software. unless software has voice recognition or something nice like that, controlling while driving without a passenger is err not so good. laptop keys are all littlle indistinct squares from a quick glance.

 

[Linux23]

I may get this tomorrow for my iPaq

Text

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: ApacheXMD

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: ApacheXMD
i think a laptop gps in a car isn't all the practical. where are you gonna put it? passenger seat? what if you have passengers?

-patchy

i've seen guys who put full pcs in their trunks, and put a touchscreen lcd in the center console, and have the GPS hooked up to that as well. thats VERY cool. gps, and music/movies... add a wireless network adaptor to transfer new songs to the car. mmm..

yep, that's what i'm planning to do in the distant future.. but it gets expensive fast, especially when 7inch vga LCD's with a touchscreen can cost like 350-400 dollars, and some GPS software are hundreds of dollars too..

honestly.. if I ever did it, i don't think it'd be worth the expense...

-patchy

I'd have to disagree. The entire cost would be well under 1500. Just the cost of a GPS system + cd deck would run around that if not more.

 

[ApacheXMD]

i know that to outright buy a GPS system is costly too.. but I was just saying personally.. i couldn't justify the cost of a carputer. GPS nav isn't much more than a novelty to me. a couple hundred bucks? maybe.. but a grand? nah.

the only thing i'd actually use in a car-puter setup on a daily basis would be the harddrive full of mp3's..

-patchy

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: ApacheXMD
i know that to outright buy a GPS system is costly too.. but I was just saying personally.. i couldn't justify the cost of a carputer. GPS nav isn't much more than a novelty to me. a couple hundred bucks? maybe.. but a grand? nah.

the only thing i'd actually use in a car-puter setup on a daily basis would be the harddrive full of mp3's..

-patchy

well thats the beauty of the computer.. you have a hd full of mp3's/movies... and the gps is really only like 120 dollars extra

 

[0roo0roo]

eh, but with a good working built in system it does have its benifits. always knowing where you are. being able to plot shortcuts around traffic on the fly, figuring out the shortest route between any two places on the fly... always being able to find an atm, bank, restaurant, hotel, gas whatever u want really.

 

[ApacheXMD]

man.. I'm trying to keep myself from spending money.. but you guys make it hard...

-patchy

 

[vegetation]

An old laptop is going to have an lcd screen with a limited tight viewing angle, plus the screen will be totally washed out in sunlight. Been there, done that, does not work well.

 

[Confused]

Heh, I've posted in all those threads bastula has linked to

IMO, the GPS section of my carputer (see sig) is the least used section, but ever so handy when I do use it. Having up to 40gb of MP3s on tap REALLY is great


Confused

 

[ApacheXMD]

Originally posted by: vegetation
An old laptop is going to have an lcd screen with a limited tight viewing angle, plus the screen will be totally washed out in sunlight. Been there, done that, does not work well.

Yeah the sunlight thing is gonna be tough to overcome, but the viewing angle shouldn't be a problem, given that the laptop is gonna be stationary, as is your head in the driver's seat.

-patchy

 

[fredtam]

Don't have a laptop but have two carputers. One using Copilot and the other Routis. Copilot is definately the best