Monday, May 5. 2008

Thinking of using my spare laptop for GPS

OK, so as you know we do a bit of traveling, mostly through places we've never been to before, and our trusty printed map isn't working very well anymore. It's a bit wrecked, the pages are falling out and the ink is fading.

So, I've decided to go cutting edge and get myself a GPS system, woohoo, but this is the catch, I don't want one of those tiny little things you stick on the dashboard, I'd actually rather buy one of the USB GPS systems that connect to the laptop, which seem cheaper than the car version anyway.

We bought a Vista powered laptop a few months ago which gets used only sporadically and would be a great use for it for when we go off with our cameras, and since I already have a backpack for it we could even take it off-road on bicycles.

I've been scouring the laptop PC GPS software programs forum over at Laptop GPS World for info, I'm happy to buy the USB GPS system online and have it shipped to me, but finding out what software to use is another matter.

Do any of my readers have any experience of using a USB GPS system, I know some of you in the US probably do, so which software is generally better for Vista. If any of you know anything about European maps, what I need is software that covers western Europe.

I'll go ask in the GPS forum as well but since so many of you live in Germany if you can recommend something I can get from MediaMarkt I'd really appreciate it, I do need good maps of Iberia and the USB dongle.
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Posted by Carl in Technology at 10:51   Comments (5)

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  1. Danielle said,

    Monday, May 5. 2008 at 18:57 (Reply)

    Have you checked into TomTom? I used to use it on my PDA phone and had a little cradle attached to the vent, which served me very well. I think they have a bluetooth version of the receiver which would work with a laptop, and one less wire.

  2. Traveller said,

    Tuesday, May 6. 2008 at 03:39 (Reply)

    We used DeLorme Street Atlas USA in the past. We still like DeLorme software program, but for last three years we've used mostly Microsoft Streets & Trips versions 2006, 2007, and now 2008. (Can't wait to see the new Microsoft Streets & Trips 2009).

    Laptop is the best for trip planning. If you can accommodate your laptop - safely - in your car, truck, or RV, etc, it will serve you very will for all your GPS navigation needs.

  3. PlepeopelaDaf said,

    Wednesday, May 7. 2008 at 18:20 (Reply)

    nice work, brother

  4. Carl said,

    Wednesday, May 7. 2008 at 23:05 (Reply)

    @Danielle, thanks, I hadn't considered that, and TomTom is definitely available here.

    @Traveller, I haven't come across DeLorme here in Europe and I know Microsft Streets was available in the UK, but I don't think I've seen it on the continent, maybe a specialist retailer?

  5. Traveller said,

    Thursday, May 8. 2008 at 02:34 (Reply)

    I don't now much about other GPS map programs, especially those for Europe. But there should be some software available. Actually the site you linked to does have a list of laptop GPS programs that includes Europe, too.

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