Laptop GPS Solutions?

[Xsorovan]

Hello everyone!
I am going to be making a long trek accross this fine country of mine (the Us of A) and I thought, being as I will be driving alone, and cannot look at a map while I am driving, that it would be cool to get something for my car that can tell me where things are and where the heck I am! So I looked up car GPS navigators and decided I didn't want to pay that price.

So I will use the trusty laptop instead. What kind of GPS solutions have you guys used/ seen used, and did it work well? What should I stay away from, what should I look at?

Also any suggestions on map software, that might not come with the GPS device that I'll need to get?

Thanks.

 

[dartworth]

I use an etrx Venture with my IBM 600 lappy. It works great with MS MapPoint software. Also works great for wardriving.

 

[cressida]

www.gpspassion.com

I would use Destinator (kind of expensive) along with either a usb gps reciever or blue tooth if you want to get fancy ... also you will need a power inverter.

If you have the extra money, I would look into PDA gps solutions.

 

[m2kewl]

if you have bluetooth on the laptop, you can try the socket gps w/iguidance software (works on a ipaq and laptop).

i use it w/ipaq and never get lost again

 

[Wolverine27]

^

 

[dkozloski]

I use an old 166Mhz Sony laptop and a DeLorme Earthmate with DeLorme software. It's like traveling with a companion that really knows the route. AAA Map'N Go ver.7 is good for the highway and StreetMap USA 2004 has more detail in the city. Things go much better if you can install the map data base on your hard drive, If your laptop has to be searching a CD-ROM drive it uses up a lot of battery and slows down the whole operation. I use an inverter to power the laptop from the cars power port (cigar lighter).

 

[Slickone]

I asked about GPS's for laptops here.

I use an etrx Venture with my IBM 600 lappy. It works great with MS MapPoint software. Also works great for wardriving.

Newbie question: Does that GPS send back info to the laptop too? Meaning, can it 'drive' the map on your laptop? Or does the laptop only show it's info on the small GPS screen?
I'm looking into the cheaper solutions...

Edit: Just now noticed bad typo.

 

[Slickone]

Bump

 

[corkyg]

Good for a bump - but I agree with dkozloski and DeLorme's Earthmate. It is excellent and doesn't cost an arm and a leg - maybe a finger or two. I have had the first generation Earthmate and the new one is much nicer and quite compact. The software can't be beat - it interfaces with Street Atlas USA and other DeLorme mapping software - the best there is.

DeLorme

 

[Slickone]

Where's the cheapest place to get the DeLorme?

 

[corkyg]

You can find it in any software store - my cheapest place is my local Costco. You can also get it directly from DeLorme - and you might try EBay.