My dad has a killer gps program on his laptop that we used to go get my truck. Last time I made the drive from new orleans to alburquerque I used a similar program and laptop and while its cool it a bit large for everyday use.

 

First of all Mayfair you were in a mood tonight weren't ya.

Second; I do the laptop type of GPS. Can't be w/o my internet for to long. I run DeLorme software. The maps are wonderful and depending on what your doing you can switch from streets to back roads. They have some great stuff to chose from and al their software runs w/ the same hardware.

 

TomTom Go 910... We own it and it is the shiznight. Every road in North and south ameriica ( Canada to the southern tip of south america), Europe, asia, africa, Middle east and Russia. Endless voices to choose from. On the maps you have all your standard points of interest... Hotels, restaurants gas stations etc that you can navigate to. Also, say you want to chnage your reservation to a different hotel because you didnt get as far as you wanted to that day due to weather..(happened to us) The waypoint in the TomTom has the phone number attached to it and since it is connected via bluetooth to my cell phone we just called it right up using TomTom as a speaker phone. And the peice de resistance? There is still 15 gigs of space left of the hard drive of the device. Just right for a mass of MP3's that weplay through an fm transmitter mount made by TomTom through our stereo. God we love this thing.

 

I almost went that route Squirt because I remembered you telling us about it before, but I decided to just go with the little Garmin only because living in the city it's easier to hide once you get to where you're going. If someone looks in my window and sees that mount, you can bet your sweet azz they're gonna wanna see what else is in there. I already have a spot along side of my door handle where it looks like someone tried to break in. [:@]

They must have hear me racking my shotgun and hauled hiney outta there !!

 

Lock and Load the BENELLI...........

 

At first I just liked my dark tint because it looked good but now I love it because you cant see anything inside.

 

Well my back seats are limo tinted at 5%. But the front are at 30% so I can see. My laptop usually goes with me for meetings, but if it doesnt I either put it underneath my rear seat, or under my storage consoul. I have been broken into before and lost 10,000 in stuff. I am much more carefull with my stuff now. I can also remove the mount with the pull of a lock and it comes out. It is nice because it doesnt cause any restraint in the movement of the seat, and it doesnt cause any leg issues.

 

My primary experience has been with
Delorme TopoUSA software
on Toshiba laptops.

I have also used Rand McNally Streetmaster
and Microsoft Streets and Trips.

I first used a GPS unit from Rand McNally
that connected via an RS232 serial port
then later switched to a USB unit from Delorme.

I don't use the GPS and software often
just when travelling to somewhere I have not been in a major city
or trying to transport rafts and kayaks into mountainous
areas on backroads to get to river banks.

The Delorme TopoUSA is great for this work.
It shows even remote foot trails
and gives you a constant idea
of what the terrain around you should look like.

I have even used this software to find a more accurate
'benchmark'
by setting up the software as if I am going on a walk
and then keeping the GPS receiver in exactly the same spot.
After an hour or so like this
your 'map' has a bunch of black dots on it
that looks like a shotgun has been fired at a target.
You mark the spot in the center of this 'scattershot' pattern
and you have a benchmark accurate to about 2 feet!

With a Verizon EVDO card with external antenna port
a laptop and GPS is an almost unbeatable navigation device.

 

Hey Hank, I agree that the lap top GPS configuration is a great set up, but my problem also lies with the area of placement. The time that my needs are the greatest, is when I have my wife and two kids in the cab with me. I can't see my laptop sitting there near the center console along with everything else going on. Thanks for describing your set up, sounds like you've put alot of thought into it. Also, I love my Benelli. I have the Super 90 M3 model. I haven't shot that many rounds thru it and it is still in around 98% condition.

 

I've been looking for a GPS myself. My biggest criteria has been to support uploadable waypoints (specifically diesel stations) so I don't have to worry about planning ahead all the time.

I found a site that has some for those of you interested. Its free and once you register you can download the files.

http://www.poi-factory.com/taxonomy/term/24?page=1