GPS for our car

rnln · 08-07-2007, 07:00 PM

I think I need a navigator and plan to have a cheap one in my car by getting a cheap receiver off ebay for my small laptop. This is the first time I search on this topic. Anyone know anything about it can share some opinion?
This is what I am looking at:
Holux 240 Sirf III GPS Bluetooth receiver for a little more than $30. Item# 170137779147
Is that all I need?
Thanks.

toddu · 08-07-2007, 07:07 PM

Should be all you need if your laptop has bluetooth and some type of mapping software such as Streets and Trips.

I use a similar bluetooth receiver with GPS software on my smarphone and it works fantastic. Thing I like about the smartphone option is it's very portable.

Todd

rnln · 08-07-2007, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddu

...if your laptop has bluetooth...

Todd

Thanks Todd. If my laptop doesn't have bluetooth, any other option? I guess I just have to get a none blue tooth receiver and USB it directly to my laptop?

LakeCleElum · 08-07-2007, 07:41 PM

I've run in the ditch looking at my laptop when I should be driving. On my motorcycle, my GPS is mounted high on the dash, right in my line of sight. Buy a cheap older GPS off Ebay for $100 or $150 rather than do the laptop thing......My old Garmin V works just fine......

toddu · 08-07-2007, 08:23 PM

I *think* you can get a usb key that gives you bluetooth capabilities.

Todd

slodave · slodave's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddu

I *think* you can get a usb key that gives you bluetooth capabilities.

Todd

You can, D-link and others make them.
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=34

Joeaksa · 08-07-2007, 11:14 PM

Get a real GPS unit and ditch the laptop. Its not meant for use in a car and you will have nothing but trouble trying to work with a laptop while driving.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 08-08-2007, 04:38 AM

I agree on the distraction factor. I just got a Garmin 350, and the first few times I used it, my wife said, "I've never seen you drive so badly. You've stayed in exit lanes when you're supposed to be in through traffic, your situational awareness is lousy, you're in and out of your lane, you've pulled in front of people..." She was absolutely right. I can't imagine using a laptop, and I don't want to be on the road with anybody who is.

rnln · 08-08-2007, 07:21 PM

I got the picture. Sounds like it is even much worse than you are on cell phone while driving. Thanks guys.

toddu · 08-08-2007, 07:48 PM

I barely look at mine. Just listen to the voice directions - "Turn right 2 miles ahead", etc.

onewhippedpuppy · 08-09-2007, 05:03 AM

My parents tried the laptop GPS route, found it to be very cumbersome and distracting. There's better ways.

08-09-2007, 07:25 AM

I have a Magellan 760 ($800) and a Finedrive 400 ($200) both are great, but I like the Finedrive better, it has a speed warning, I need that, lol. My brother just bought a TomTom with internal battery making it portable out of the car, I really like that feature.

Nix on the laptop, first time you hit the brakes, it goes flying, not good.

The best feature about all the GPS is that you can mount it in your line of sight, so much safer than a laptop or OEM.

I resently lead a Back Country Drive for the Parade, set up my Movie Camera with the GPS in the lower corner, turned out great when played on the TV, not only can you see the road and corners but the GPS with road name, map, and speed, cool. So now when I play one of the movies I actually know where I am, what a concept.

Get the GPS, you'll love it and the prices are coming down all the time.

Good Luck, Don

upwardr · 08-09-2007, 03:18 PM

I have the Tom-Tom gps and it is distracting when programing. Just about rear ended somebody last week left the highway skimmed a mail box on the left and telephone pole on the right , hit 2 culverts in the ditch and came to rest in a driveway. Thought I was about to die. Was driving full size ford van loaded with tools and product. Holy crap!

Never program while driving. Trust me.

But the system is amazing for finding restaurants etc.

Drive careful

Larry

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

I got a cheap GPS unit at Staples -- it's a Mio C220. Cost just under $200. Works fantastic.

It has a 1GB SD card that has something like 3.5 million POI's. Navigation is good - but at times it's a little off -- for example, it thinks my house is a couple houses up the block -- but it's no biggie.

It too has the internal battery so I can take it with me wherever I go. Also I can change the setting from "automobile" to "walking/biking" and the unit "navigates" a little differently.

I used it on vacation this past week in Colorado -- really helpful when trying to get to the hotel from the airport if you're not familiar with the town you're in.

Frankly, I don't know what the $700+ units offer that my little $200 unit can't do...

I suspect that all of the portable GPS units will continue to decline in price, as with all such technology.

-Z-man.

Mule · 08-13-2007, 08:08 AM

I have a Casio Gzone phone from Verizon. It's water proof (I wash it regularly), shock proof & has GPS. Got it for free with renewal. GPS is $10 a month. I'm sold.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I use Tomtom 6 software with a bluetooth GPS. I just bought the European software for my out trip around Spain. It is incredibly accurate.

I would definitely recommend any of the Tomtom units. It is much better than the Magellan 700 we had and the software updates are 1/2 the cost and more accurate.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

My brother has a GPS plug-in for his laptop. We used it for a trip a few months back and even with him navigating, it was a MAJOR PITA. No touch-screen, slow satellite acquisition, slow to re-route directions, difficult to zoom in and out, etc. I can't imagine trying to use one while driving alone. Where would you even set it, loose on the passenger seat?

I've been using a Lowrance 500c for a couple years. Bought it for its large 5 1/2 inch screen. The combination of hard buttons and touch-screen commands is, by far, the easiest to use GPS unit I've tried. Very intuitive.

http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gps-navigation/lowrance-iway-500c/4505-3430_7-31411013.html?tag=pdtl-img

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

There is one automotive GPS unit worse than a laptop: the Hertz Neverlost - the Rubik's Cube of GPS's. This unit is so remarkably bad, every design school in the US should have one on hand to show students the perfect example of how not to design an interface for an electronic device. It's really THAT bad. I think they named it Neverlost just to add insult to injury as users pull their hair out attempting to navigate out of the Hertz parking lot at the airport.

http://hertzneverlost.com/