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Can I install GPS software on my XP laptop and use it to navigate while
I am driving?

I understand this is not an ideal solution, but is it possible ?

I just want to try GPS, before I buy a Tom Tom or Garmin.

I have seen some sites about Garmin USB GPS receiver, but the
instructions are not very clear.

Is there free software I can download ?

Help - Thanks.

On 19 Oct 2005 08:53:35 -0700, "R U Sure" <nitin.blue@gmail.com>
wrote:

I just want to try GPS, before I buy a Tom Tom or Garmin.

By using free or cheap software it will only give you a poor
impression of what GPS can do. Tomtom is excellent IMO.
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
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On 19 Oct 2005 08:53:35 -0700, "R U Sure" <nitin.blue@gmail.com>
dropped the following oil-slick:

Can I install GPS software on my XP laptop and use it to navigate while
I am driving?

You will also need to buy a GPS mouse.

--
gomez
Honda TransAlp,KTM 640LC Enduro (For Sale)
(not is hot to reply)
"The best tool for the job is the hammer thats nearest to hand"

Can I install GPS software on my XP laptop and use it to navigate while
I am driving?

I understand this is not an ideal solution, but is it possible ?

Affirmative. It is the cheapest gps solution if you have a laptop
already

I use it as all the time

And you have no lack of choice none of them are free though

http://gpspassion.com/fr/articles.asp?id=137

I just want to try GPS, before I buy a Tom Tom or Garmin.

FYI TomTom does not support any laptop at all. Most of Garmin handheld
need special link up cables for use as gps linkup to a laptop.

If you need a gps for occasional drive out of town , this is the best
solution .

Daniel

Garmin makes a nice GPS "mouse" both for USB and Serial. I have used one
with a laptop and works great. If you have Microsoft Works, you already
have software called "Streets and Trips". Works fine but no voice, unless
the later version has it. I had iGuidance GPS software on the laptop also
and it has voice and is probably one of the best GPS software packages.
I've been told that a laptop was the "original" GPS server before the others
methods became popular. Laptop is fine, but it is kind of bulky!


"R U Sure" <nitin.blue@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1129737215.072971.312910@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

Can I install GPS software on my XP laptop and use it to navigate while
I am driving?

I understand this is not an ideal solution, but is it possible ?

I just want to try GPS, before I buy a Tom Tom or Garmin.

I have seen some sites about Garmin USB GPS receiver, but the
instructions are not very clear.

Is there free software I can download ?

Help - Thanks.

R U Sure wrote:

Can I install GPS software on my XP laptop and use it to navigate while
I am driving?

I understand this is not an ideal solution, but is it possible ?

I just want to try GPS, before I buy a Tom Tom or Garmin.

I have seen some sites about Garmin USB GPS receiver, but the
instructions are not very clear.

Is there free software I can download ?

Help - Thanks.

Remember, you will get jusy what you pay for.

"FJG" <nospam@xxx.com> wrote in message
news:y5x5f.11514$456.10279@trnddc08...
:R U Sure wrote:
: > Can I install GPS software on my XP laptop and use it to navigate while
: > I am driving?
: >
: > I understand this is not an ideal solution, but is it possible ?
: >
: > I just want to try GPS, before I buy a Tom Tom or Garmin.
: >
: > I have seen some sites about Garmin USB GPS receiver, but the
: > instructions are not very clear.
: >
: > Is there free software I can download ?
: >
: > Help - Thanks.
: >
: Remember, you will get jusy what you pay for.
:
You could get the Garmin USB GPS receiver and download Nroute free from
Garmin and try it.

Apparently on date 19 Oct 2005 08:53:35 -0700, "R U Sure"
<nitin.blue@gmail.com> said:

Can I install GPS software on my XP laptop and use it to navigate while
I am driving?

I understand this is not an ideal solution, but is it possible ?

I just want to try GPS, before I buy a Tom Tom or Garmin.

I have seen some sites about Garmin USB GPS receiver, but the
instructions are not very clear.

Is there free software I can download ?

You can cheat/grabie/emule/etc freebie software, but you'll always need a
receiver. Hardware.

Not pricey though.

TT won't support it.

Would you recommend this for trips around town? (as in finding a
restaurant at lunch where you have to take your laptop anyway)

Would you recommend this for trips around town? (as in finding a
restaurant at lunch where you have to take your laptop anyway)

Sounds like you are a laptop road warrior. If that is so , get yourself
either a bt or cf gps which can also be used for a pda (in case you
find using laptop as a gps too bulky at time). USB mouse gps unit is
ok but it is limited for use for laptop only.

For software, Co-pilot, iguidance, S&T 2006 (with voice?) and garmin
gps10 are the option.

http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topi ... C_ID=31517

Daniel

R U Sure wrote:

Can I install GPS software on my XP laptop and use it to navigate while
I am driving?

Sure.. Where do you live ? If you live in the U.S. or Canada
you can install Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006.. It's ~40 bucks US
without a GPS receiver and ~130 US with a USB GPS mouse included.

You can copy it on your desktop and your laptop without silly unlocking
codes and if you have a pocket PC with GPS capabilities, Streets and Trips
includes software for you Pocket PC as well.

S&T provides HIGHLY detailed maps of the US and Canada. It lists
restaurants, service stations, points of interest etc.. It does route
planning, shows one-way streets, provides voice directions and will
recalculate the way to get back on track if you miss a turn. They
added a neat feature that zooms the display when it's near time to
make a turn so you can see the street layout better.

(You need Streets and Trips 2006 because it has many features the
previous versions lacked)..

Once you have the USB mouse, then yearly upgrades (software and maps) only
cost around 40 bucks.

http://www.microsoft.com/streets/Produc ... px?pid=002

S&T provides HIGHLY detailed maps of the US and Canada. It lists
restaurants, service stations, points of interest etc.. It does route
planning, shows one-way streets, provides voice directions and will
recalculate the way to get back on track if you miss a turn. They
added a neat feature that zooms the display when it's near time to
make a turn so you can see the street layout better.

(You need Streets and Trips 2006 because it has many features the
previous versions lacked)..

Agreed. The only thing is about the quality of voice command as driving
with the help of a gpslaptop requires that. You have to rely on voice
command rather than visual. 2006 version is so new that there is very
little review about its quality. Price-wise it is a champ nonetheless.

Daniel

R U Sure wrote:

Can I install GPS software on my XP laptop and use it to navigate while
I am driving?

I understand this is not an ideal solution, but is it possible ?

I just want to try GPS, before I buy a Tom Tom or Garmin.

I have seen some sites about Garmin USB GPS receiver, but the
instructions are not very clear.

Is there free software I can download ?

Help - Thanks.

I sometimes use my gps72 in a car (a bit primitive, but still sometimes

useful). It seems to me it loses the sat signal quite a lot - under
trees, in tunnels, etc, which causes obvious problems. Likewise in
built-up areas, I've noticed the accuracy can degrade quite a lot,
possibly because of reflections, and with 3 or 4-storey buildings either
side even completely lose the signal.

This has made me wary of dedicated in-car gps navigators - at least here
in the UK, 30 feet error can move you from a motorway to a sideroad, or
past your next turning.

Just how good are these street navigation boxes at coping with signal
dropouts and accuracy degradation?

--
Please use the corrected version of the address below for replies.
Replies to the header address will be junked, as will mail from
various domains listed at www.scottsonline.org.uk
Mike Scott Harlow Essex England.(unet -a-t- scottsonline.org.uk)

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 08:59:33 GMT, Mike Scott
<usenet.9@spam.stopper.scottsonline.org.uk> wrote:

This has made me wary of dedicated in-car gps navigators - at least here
in the UK, 30 feet error can move you from a motorway to a sideroad, or
past your next turning.

Just how good are these street navigation boxes at coping with signal
dropouts and accuracy degradation?

My Tomtom Navigator 5 isn't perfect in that respect, but compared to
using a real map while driving on my own (which isn't remotely
practical when on a motorway), I wouldn't change it for all the world,
it takes all the stress out of driving for me.
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

Andrew wrote:

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 08:59:33 GMT, Mike Scott
usenet.9@spam.stopper.scottsonline.org.uk> wrote:


This has made me wary of dedicated in-car gps navigators - at least here
in the UK, 30 feet error can move you from a motorway to a sideroad, or
past your next turning.

Just how good are these street navigation boxes at coping with signal
dropouts and accuracy degradation?


My Tomtom Navigator 5 isn't perfect in that respect, but compared to
using a real map while driving on my own (which isn't remotely
practical when on a motorway), I wouldn't change it for all the world,
it takes all the stress out of driving for me.

Glad you find it useful. Mine is mostly fine on country roads, but in
towns, where there are most turnings, and where driving requires the
most concentration, and so where it's most needed, - that's the very
place where it performs worst.

Then there was the PDA-based system (I forget which one) a friend was
very proud of and wanted to demonstrate. We drove out of the middle of
London with me navigating from a map - the gps took well over an hour
before it found a sat lock as we stopped in a car park (and then it
dropped out again within seconds once we started moving again).

I suppose I'm looking for an excuse for a proper in-car system of some
sort, but the thought of spending significant money, and then finding it
doesn't work when most needed...... well, it rather puts me off.

--
Please use the corrected version of the address below for replies.
Replies to the header address will be junked, as will mail from
various domains listed at www.scottsonline.org.uk
Mike Scott Harlow Essex England.(unet -a-t- scottsonline.org.uk)