Anyone Still Using a Windows PC for Navigation?
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 18 years
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Back in the day, I had used Radio Shack's Dititraveler GPS receiver, tethered to the computer's serial port. I vaguely remember using a Rand McNally program on the PC. Following that, I had used an early version of Delorme's Street Atlas and Microsoft's Streets & Trips. Back then, I could also "export" the maps to my pocket PC. That would have been around 2000 or early 2001.
With the Evolution of time, I'd upgraded to CoPilot Live 6 using the GPS Receiver that it came bundled with. I'd used the receiver with both PC and Pocket PC - mostly Pocket PC. Sometime later, I got a GPS Receiver from AT&T and used that with Pocket PC's or early Windows Mobile devices.
Through out the time, I've also mixed in Lowrance, Magellan or Garmin PND's.
With the introduction of the iPhone with GPS, and then an Android smartphone and now my Windows Phone 7, I mostly use just the inactive iPhone (iPhone touch?) with Tom Tom or CoPilot, or my Windows Phone 7 with Nokia Drive.
Now to the question - I've got a work computer with a GOBI chip in it. For those that don't know - GOBI is the brand name of a mobile broadband device that could be activated for Sprint, Verizon or AT&T's networks. I don't have it activated on any.
I did figure out that even without an active broadband account, I could activate the GPS chip that's built in and use the PC for navigation. Currently, I'm testing Microsoft's Street's & Trips, MapPoint, and AutoRoute Programs. I may be getting DeLormes' 2012 version of Street Atlas, but still working with the Microsoft products.
So - with all the smartphones, and the evolution of PND's - does anyone still use a PC for navigation?
Delorme
Yes I do because with Delorme I don't need to look at the screen because I use a headset & microphone. The computer is in the back seat, so I can't look at it, & I can ask it questions like where am I, next turn, next stop, finish & etc. It will tell me everything you want to know except elevation. If I take my eyes off the road the car starts drifting that direction I'm looking.
Streets & trips
I still use s&t to plan all my trips but usually just use my 660 for the actual trip.
johnm405 660 & MSS&T
DeLorme
I used Delorme maps on my laptop back many years ago, it was very nice to have such a large screen for navigation!
I only use my PC was routing planning and research, then download the results to my 880.
___________________ Garmin 2455, 855, Oregon 550t
PC
I still use the PC to plan my routes if they are of any length. I like to have the big picture in the ole noodle and then use the GPS to execute it. But never like to be anywhere of distance from home not knowing how to continue or get back. Still love the GPS though.
Dudlee
Back in 2006 was the last time I did
Back in 2006 was the last time I did. I had streets and trips in my laptop with the USB sat antenna and used it for a trip to Barrett Jackson auction in Scottsdale. It worked OK but it was very cumbersome to use and I was the passenger.
That was the one and only time and bought my first Garmin after that and never used the laptop for nav duty again.
Garmin Drive Smart 55 - Samsung Note 10 Smartphone with Google Maps & HERE Apps
PC Navigation
For "new" trips, I still like MAPQUEST on my WINDOW VISTA desktop computer. I like the feature that allows you to click and drag the route to suit my preferences. There are some freeways/streets I like to avoid and my NUVI does not always choose the same routes as MAPQUEST.
-jgracey
I have seen the future and it is now!
Yes
I use MS&T to do my route and then dump that into my GPS.
Ron
Only If I Have To
Last time out my Nuvi 750 froze up, and I'd forgotten how to do recovery, so I hauled out the trusty netbook and put it to work using Streets & Trips.
Hated it- a 10" netbook is too darned big even on the dashboard of a big windshield van, and I can't find POIs whilst underway unless I stop and take the computer in hand.
If only my copilot had been on the trip...
Delorme
I use Delorme Topo 9.0 paired up up with Earthmate PN-40 gps on some trips. works as good as my Garmin nuvi 855 when I have a preloaded trip. The only advantage is the larger laptop screen and other windows views.
snatcher
I also
use MAPQUEST. Easy to use.
3790LMT; 2595LMT; 3590LMT, 60LMTHD
Tried It - ONCE!
I use Streets & Trips for planning our big trips, and like others have said, I export it to my GPS.
I tried using S&T on my laptop a few years back after leaving the Four Corners Monument... and ended up heading southeast to Shiprock instead of southwest to Monument Valley. Scenic drive, but 300 kilometers out of my way!
I'll stick with the directions from Jill.
MS S&T
Until this month, I have ALWAYS used S&T, because I had a lot of Business locations I visited, and they had all been painstakingly added over the years, and I always needed my laptop for business, but yes that is ackward, so I made a stand bolted to the passenger seat front bolt to keep it handy, and the sound was through the car radio, but still ackward. I haven't had y Garmin long enough yet to get it setup.
Harry to the Corps
Forced to use S&T 2010 when TomTom failed
This was near Shaker Heights OH at midnight. My TomTom had been performing well traveling through northern Michigan, but got hopelessly confused navigating urban streets where I had never been before. I launched Streets & Trips to find my way out of town and back home, about 35 miles away. I had a street map but did not have to resort to it. Eventually TomTom sorted itself out, but it was useless until then.