GPS Freeware

marcliam · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:46 pm Post subject: GPS Freeware

Hi!

Has anybody come across the following website before?

http://gpss.npl.com/index.htm

All sounds a bit to good to be true, is it a con?
Confused

Marc

CTHindi · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 27, 2005 Posts: 33

I tried installing once. It messed up my desk top with few hundred Icons. Just spent time cleaning up. Did not use the application at all.

marcliam · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 3:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the warning!

Probably goes to prove nothing in life is truely free.........

Has anybody else had experiences with this software........???

philip4242 · Regular Visitor Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 123

It annoys me that some people don't think it worthwhile to read the instructions (and the FAQs) before they start installing complex software - then lay all the blame on the software, when the real cause of the problem was their sheer laziness.

I think the GPSS website itself is far too 'busy' and not very easy to read or navigate, but if you had bothered to read the whole of the 'download' page, you would have found these 2 items:-

1. 'Please follow these instructions carefully:

* create a directory/folder with a suitable name such as c:\gpss (right-click, New, Folder).
* download or copy GPSS58A.EXE and GPSS57B.EXE into c:\gpss
* run GPSS58A and GPSS57B from DOS or Windows to self-extract the files.
* run GPSS.EXE from Windows.'

(That seems fairly straightforward and comprehensive to me.)

And much lower on the page:-

2. 'Problems installing GPSS Baseline (e.g. running GPSS58A.EXE) ?

* lots of icons all over your desktop ? - you did not put GPSS Baseline in a folder (e.g. c:\gpss).
Get help from a friend who knows more about Windows than you.'

(But it's a bit late now, isn't it ?)

I'd agree that the installation procedure could have been much better thought out (say, by using one of the freeware application 'packagers' available), but if you'd followed the instruction correctly, you'd have saved all the hassle you've had - and wouldn't be wrongly warning people off this software !

PS I have no connection with GPSS or their website (other than being a potential user of the software offered).
_________________
Getting older and more senile by the minute !

Philip

marcliam · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 8:48 pm Post subject:

What about the software itself, Phillip? Worth a try?

Marc

philip4242 · Regular Visitor Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 123

Sorry, marcliam, but I didn't actually bother with the software itself.

But I just had to correct the somewhat misguided view given by the other poster !
_________________
Getting older and more senile by the minute !

Philip

Ollie · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 7:20 pm Post subject:

I installed and used this software years ago on an old toshiba laptop connected up to a garmin gps. I am a self confessed idiot when it comes to computers (even worse with my PDA) but I managed to do this!

In it's time it was brilliant and I admire the guy that created it, no doubt it's come along in the last few years and probably worthy of consideration.

Doesn't always pay to 'rubbish' a piece of software just because it's to much trouble to follow helpful advice on installation.

marcliam · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:06 pm Post subject:

Agreed! I think that forums all over the net are filled with people who are rubbishing software, equipment, etc because they aren't reading the instructions properly.

I've probably been guilty of it myself a few times!!! Embarassed

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