This is the GPS I am looking at

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Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
280 at Newegg

I need something better than an atlas for my possible road trip next month. My sense of direction is utterly lousy. Think that GPS will fit the bill?
 
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dmurray14

Golden Member
Feb 21, 2003
1,780
0
0
Well I could understand if you're using it for camping or something, but if you want to use it for a road trip, why not get something like the DeLorme Earthmate with mapping software? That's pretty much what I have and it works great.

Just my 2 cents.

Dan
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
So what happens when the batteries in the notebook go dead? This is a 2000 mile possible road trip. What about a Garmin Street Pilot?
 
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datdamkid

Golden Member
Jul 14, 2003
1,540
0
0
Buy that GPS for the laptop and then buy a inverter for like 50 bucks and there you have it no laptop shal die then....thats what i do...
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Originally posted by: datdamkid
Buy that GPS for the laptop and then buy a inverter for like 50 bucks and there you have it no laptop shal die then....thats what i do...
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea. These inverters supply enough juice from the alternator of the car to power a hungry P4m notebook?
 
Confused

Confused

Elite Member
Nov 13, 2000
14,166
0
0
Originally posted by: Bateluer
Originally posted by: datdamkid
Buy that GPS for the laptop and then buy a inverter for like 50 bucks and there you have it no laptop shal die then....thats what i do...
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea. These inverters supply enough juice from the alternator of the car to power a hungry P4m notebook?
Click to expand...

I've got a 150W inverter which can easily charge my P4m laptop, as well as easily powering my Duron 850/40gb 7200rpm/dvd/5.1 etc carputer :)


Confused
 
Scarpozzi

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
I suggest going to WalMart. They're about $39.95 or so...just be sure you get the biggest one you can find. I found one that had a cooling fan on it. I would suggest getting one with good ventilation. Those things often have overheating cutoffs....a nice fan can keep it going. ;)

EDIT: It wasn't a big 1500 watt....it was a 750 watt. Check the output amperage to make sure it can charge your lappy. My Dell C840 has a 90watt input...most dells only take 70watts and that's what I would expect most other laptops to take. Just remember that the ratings on inverters are lower than what you can expect. My 300 watt inverter will support a lightbulb, radio, coffeepot, etc. But when it comes to powering my laptop, it dies. Just remember that it can claim so many watts per outlet as a net rating and not be anywhere close to that "per outlet".
 
Confused

Confused

Elite Member
Nov 13, 2000
14,166
0
0
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Just remember that the ratings on inverters are lower than what you can expect. My 300 watt inverter will support a lightbulb, radio, coffeepot, etc. But when it comes to powering my laptop, it dies. Just remember that it can claim so many watts per outlet as a net rating and not be anywhere close to that "per outlet".
Click to expand...

You will probably find that it is labelled as a 300W (Max) with 150W continuous. That's what mine is labelled as, but to avoid confusion i always quote the continuous rating when talking about mine :)


Confused
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Originally posted by: Dr Smooth

Do you have a laptop?
Click to expand...

Yes, Inspiron 8200. I could get the Earthmate, which I am seriously considering, but I need to narrow done the inverter issue.
 
G

glaHHg

Member
Jan 18, 2001
66
0
0
Buy a map. If you still somehow manage to get hopelessly lost, stop at a gas station and ask someone where you are on the map, then plot your course from there. Buying anything electronic is overkill.
 
I

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Originally posted by: glaHHg
Buy a map. If you still somehow manage to get hopelessly lost, stop at a gas station and ask someone where you are on the map, then plot your course from there. Buying anything electronic is overkill.
Click to expand...

It's a matter of safety and convienience
 
Siddhartha

Siddhartha

Lifer
Oct 17, 1999
12,505
3
81
Originally posted by: Bateluer
Originally posted by: Dr Smooth

Do you have a laptop?
Click to expand...

Yes, Inspiron 8200. I could get the Earthmate, which I am seriously considering, but I need to narrow done the inverter issue.
Click to expand...

What is the "inverter issue"?
 
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desertdweller

Senior member
Jan 6, 2001
588
0
0
If you have a PDA you can also get GPS systems for that.

You'll have to do a search though, I don't have any links
right off hand, but they are several manufacurers available.


DD
 
C

cressida

Platinum Member
Sep 10, 2000
2,840
5
81
If you have a pda you could use it as gps as well, I've been looking at the laptop alternative.
Text, whatever software you get for laptop, get routis, it just came out and is highly recommended by many people, it will work for pda as well. Routis + mouse reciever + inverter = $250 (about)
 
Confused

Confused

Elite Member
Nov 13, 2000
14,166
0
0
This thread (and also one earlier today on the OcUK forums) have all but persuaded me to put GPS on my carputer!

I'm going for this :) Gonna have a nice touchscreen TFT in the dash, so something like this will be perfect, a nice small "mouse" along with voice directions! :) Of course I shall have to do some playing to get that to use a seperate sound card to my music, and a seperate speaker (probably a slimline one in the headliner above the driver's seat) as i don't want music blasting loud when suddenly in the middle of a guitar solo i get "IN 100 METRES TAKE THE THIRD EXIT ON THE ROUNDABOUT" scaring the schit out of me!!

:)


Damn i knew browsing AT would cause me to spend lots of money one day, and i thought i was doing so well removing HD and FS/T from my list (not that they would help anyway with me being in the UK) ;)


I have an iPAQ PDA, but it's going to work out more expensive to get one for that, plus a storage card, than it is for the USB one and software :)


Confused
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
I think I will grab that Linksys inverter I linked to, and the Earthmate GPS. Just need to allow my cash reserves to build backup.
Thanks for the input.
 
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