Laptop as GPS

[Zeppelinium]

Michael: What is the $89 GPS add-on for MS Steets & Trips you are mentioning. Is it a portable GPS like a Garmin type? Educate me please. Thanks.

go to Costco. It's a USB GPS combined with Microsoft Streets software.

[GlenCoombe]

Kent, for my two cents worth.... I use Delorme 2006 and the little Garmin GPS / USB windshield gizmo every day. I hate the Delorme so I vote for MS streets... Delorme got me lost again tonight. I'm about ready to go back to the old version. Confidence is very low and it costs me time and money when the software is not taking me to the proper location. This can be a saftey issue too when you travel.
Check out my photos for a look at what you can do with plexiglass and pipefittings. I hold it on the plexi table with a velcro wraparound.

[ArtStream]

Yea, what he said.

[outofcontrol]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinium

go to Costco. It's a USB GPS combined with Microsoft Streets software.

Here's the MS streets& trips
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...v=&browse=&s=1
$99 at costco...is this the right one? Looks like this one comes with the reciever.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...v=&browse=&s=1
This is the DeLorme version, but I don't think it has a reciever in the package. $89

-Kevin

[Cracker]

Originally Posted by coriolis1

I've been using the Delorme EarthMate and their software for a couple of years now, and have been pretty happy with it overall. I made a mount for the laptop that sits snugly in the drink holders in the center console. It pivots on a ball bearing mount which cost about $15 in materials from Home Depot to build. It can actually turn 360 when mounted and running on battery, and easily back and forth from driver to passenger while plugged into the truck via ac/dc inverter.

Dave:

Interesting to note that I have an almost identical setup - and in the same vehicle! Works great for me - after 3 years of use. My mount consists of two oak cutting boards from WalMart, with a center bolt and wingnut underneath to permit swivelling. One of the cutting boards was cut to fit snugly into the available "pocket" under the radio, while the other end simply rests on the console lid. The laptop secures to the upper cutting boards with velcro tabs and requires "brute force" to get it loose! A simple, cheap, and very functional setup. As for "fingering" the laptop going down the road - I simply don't do it. If I have a problem (---very rare with respect to the DeLorme software) I wait until I can pull over to resolve it. I'll take the full-sized screen and the superior voice quality any day over what I've seen and heard from the smaller units. That's probably a concession to my senior citizen status! As for giving vocal directions to the unit, that gets a bit tricky and I seldom try it!