GPS laptop solution

rickrose · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 25, 2003 Posts: 2

I have a girlfriend who is directionally challenged. If I don't draw her a map with specific, turn-by-turn, instructions I'm forced to talk her through each turn on our cell phones. She has a wonderful Sony Vaio Laptop PC as well as a Sony Clie T566C PDA and I would love to get her into a GPS solution, on the laptop if possible. (Did I mention that she is a bit myopic as well? So the bigger the display the better)

I'm wondering if there is a GPS device that hooks directly into the laptop which would let us download a detailed map of Phoenix, Arizona so that I can spend my time fixing broken computers instead of talking my lady from location to location. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Rick Rose
Phoenix, Arizona (where temperatures of 115F are not uncommon)

Dave · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 9:09 am Post subject:

Most cabled GPS Mice, Compact Flash cards (with CF to PCMCIA adapter), and Bluetooth GPS Receivers will work okay on laptops. All they do is talk on a COM port which you assign it.

From a mapping perspective, Route 66 probably would be a good bet, you can purchase this from many retailers for around $99 without GPS.

MikeB · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 9:39 am Post subject:

Rick,

You could also look at the USB GPS Mice. These are probably more useful than the CF card as they can be positioned seoerated from the Laptop. If you have a coated windshield then these are able to be positioned where the coating will not affect the signal received.

For mounting option check out the RAM mounts as they supply some laptop mounts specifically for cars.
_________________
Mike Barrett

rickrose · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 25, 2003 Posts: 2

I really appreciate the comments.

sygad · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 30, 2003 Posts: 1

Hi,

New to the scene but fed up of getting lost....

I am installing a full PC system in the car and this thread nearly answered all my questions, am I right in thinking that all I need is the antenna and map software to run GPS on my computer.

If this is the case can anyone recommend a good antenna and software package for a UK user, preferably with location and postcode plotting (if that is the right terminology)

Cheers and I will carry on reading, but not the advanced section for now, that section is deep.

Darren

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