Laptop Navigation in my X

[JDGREEN8513]

Hey guys

Not quite sure how this will go over but instead of buying a new HU with navigation I am trying to just use my laptop. My question is whether anyone makes a in car laptop mount for a 98 Xplorer. Appreciate the input.

 

[jgilbs]

lots of companies make laptop mounts for the x. you can go on ebay and buy a cheapo mount for $40 (POS - HUGE waste of money) or you can look up "jotto-desk" on google. those are the same mounts that the police use for their cars.

 

[JDGREEN8513]

Thanks...thats exactly what I was looking for

 

[mmoe]

Are you goin to be running some type of software? How are you going to connect online.

 

[jgilbs]

to use GPS, he does not need to be online(i assume thats what youre doing) he would just need a GPS antenna and software.

if you wanted online capability, you can purchase a WiFi antenna to mount on your car to help with signal strength, but this would work only if you were near a WiFi access point.

 

[mmoe]

This sounds pretty cool. Do you know what software and where you can get one of the gps antenna's?

 

[JDGREEN8513]

Yeah I had considered the WiFi but it would be very expensive and not efficient since, as was mentioned earlier, I would have to be close to an access point. I have not bought the software yet but they have ample selections and a simple gps antenna should work fine. I wonder if they make laptop mounts that can be put in and taken out easily?

 

[JDGREEN8513]

I found some very good software a couple days ago...

.CoPilot Live Laptop 8 - US Streets
..by Travroute

Garmin makes some very good software and FleetBoss (which is the software many commercial truck ventures use) does as well.

This is some of the best.

 

[Savage Wolf]

Yeah I had considered the WiFi but it would be very expensive and not efficient since, as was mentioned earlier, I would have to be close to an access point. I have not bought the software yet but they have ample selections and a simple gps antenna should work fine. I wonder if they make laptop mounts that can be put in and taken out easily?

I have seen a jotto-desk in a ford ranger, easy in/out... no, it bolts to the floor and is very heavy duty, one thing to keep in mind is a laptop stand thats loose mounted will become a nasty projectile if you have a accident

 

[huskyfan23]

CoPilot. I have it for my PPC, there's NO better way to go.

 

[Flounder]

I have Streets and Trips 2005 with the GPS receiver. Very simple to use, and very nice interface.

 

[kenpo1441]

I have the HP iPAQ navigation system and I love it. You can use it with a laptop or any handheld that has Bluetooth. The antenna is small and plugs into the cigarette lighter.

 

[97XEB]

DeLorme Topo USA 5.0 and one of the Earthmate GPS receivers is the BEST option for laptop navigation!!!!

I was a MS Streets and Trips user for years, but DeLorme kicks its ASS!!! I have no personal experience with the Garmin software. However, my research indicates that the Garmin software is geared for and better for just GPS devices. If you were getting a GPS device, I'd say Garmin. Since you are using a laptop, I feel that the DeLorme software is the much, much better call as its more detailed, more feature rich and has more functionality than the Garmin, or other GPS device, software.

Good Luck!