Which to buy for my notebook/car?

blakeyt · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 24, 2004 Posts: 1

I just got a new notebook (A Vaio S150, if anybody's interested), and I'm wanting to buy a gps unit that I could take along with my laptop in the car and use it as a navigation system - I basically want to track where I'm going, have the software choose the best/fastest routes, find points of interest along the way, have voice-guided directions, etc... Bluetooth would be very nice (the fewer cables the better), but is not an absolute essential. So far the two I've looked into are Microsoft's "Streents & Trips 2005 with GPS locator" and the two products from Delorme, the "Blue Logger", and the "Earthmate GPS" (possibly w/ the bluetooth adapter. Anyways, having never used any of the software nor the receivers I have no idea which are good and which aren't. If anybody has any recommendations and why you recommend that product that would be awesome. Basically any information that could help me make a decision would be greatly apprecaited. Also...I'm hoping to spend $150, but am willing to go higher if there's a motivating factor......Thanks in advance!

Dave · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 7:41 pm Post subject:

Because you're talking about Streets and Trips and DeLorme I'm guessing you're from US or Canada. If you were in Europe then I'd say InfoMap Navigator 4 would be your first choice. However, being US based I would say probably CoPilot Live | Laptop 7 would be your best choice. We have a review here.

In terms of GPS Receiver, it's really up to you. Most will be USB which will be powered from the laptop. If you go for a serial mouse (GPS) then you'll need a PS/2 socket to drag the power from. Bluetooth will obviously have it's own self contained battery but will have only a short life span in terms of battery power (usually up to 7 hours) between charges.

The other issue is getting a car charger for the laptop. Most of these aren't cheap (or not in Europe) and can set you back a tidy sum if you go for a proper manufacturer based one to match with your laptop.

RS2000 · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:20 pm Post subject:

just a quickie on laptop power in the car. As i got a DC - AC converter. As they are now quite cheap to buy. I paid under £20 for my 1, & now just use the mains power charger to run my laptop. so no need to go spending fortunes on car lappy chargers.

Paul...(RS2000)

Dave · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 5:33 pm Post subject:

I keep looking at these inverters, Maplins have been doing some good deals lately, but don't you find it runs your car battery down ?

RS2000 · Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:56 pm Post subject:

wen use lappu in car it only for sat nav, so engine always running, so never had any probs. at the mo anyway

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