laptop navigation

Both are available for less than $100, including the GPS receiver. I had the Delorme package a few years ago and it was an unbelievable value. Navigating with a 15 inch widescreen and a wireless data card was an awesome combination.

Suggested retail $99
http://www8.garmin.com/ces/mobilepc/index.html

Microsoft Streets and Trips

Based on the limited press release and the screen shots, they have ported the Nuvi to a laptop and added some higher-end features. I evaluated MS Streets and Trips vs Delorme Street Atlas in 2004 and selected Street Atlas because at that time S&T did not have voice guidance. SA had both voice guidance and voice command. S&T has since caught up in that area. Both had feature sets equal and beyond Garmin's most powerful mobile units. But laptops just aren't that usable in a car unless you have a copilot to hold it and run it. I am absolutely thrilled with my Nuvi 350 but it is a toy compared to my laptop with a $79 SA package running on it. The HUGE convenience point of the Nuvi is it fits in my pocket and I can use it safely by myself while driving.

It will be interesting come April when Garmin Mobile PC is released to see how it stacks up against these quite mature and very feature-rich competitors. I have a suspicion (make that fear) that Garmin will limit some features in order to avoid taking market share away from their high-end auto units.

I just received MapSource with the 2008 maps and I am completely underwhelmed with it compared to mapping and trip planning products that are years older.

I also wonder how the laptop installed in a car would look to the thieves.

I've been using MS Streets and Trips 2007 that came with a USB GPS for about a year and I love it. It hasn't "steered me wrong" yet!

As mentioned, trying to use the software manually while driving is a pain though. However, I found a couple of pretty cool programs that complement S&T nicely, to the point of using a "hands free" nav system.

The first is Marv Hlavak's S&T Keys program (found here http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/s-t-keys-hotkeys-microsoft-str... )

S&T Keys is free and is essentially a program that creates hotkeys for certain functions which makes it A LOT easier to use while driving.

The second is a program called Audiomatic. Can be found at http://www.wiseriddles.com/Products/Audiomatic/

It allows you to create macros that are executed by a voice command you create. It's not free. Last I knew they were charging a whole $9.00 for the program. It's pretty cool though once you learn how to create the macros. Their support stinks though so don't expect much help from them.

My laptop will run Streets and Trips via voice command to S&T keys as well as play tunes, launch tv, watch a dvd, launch my e-mail, browser, webcam,u-name-it. The only thing I can't do is dictate.

I have my laptop set up to run everything I need for over the road trucking via voice command. Just awesome! The same can be done for a car.

As far as theft possibilities, it's no worse than a Nuvi on your dash. If someone wants it, they're gonna take it. I NEVER leave my laptop in plain view in the vehicle when not in use.

Installed? Heh - I actually tried it sort of balanced between the center console and front part of the passenger seat, held in place with a sort of bungie cord. Only fell off onto the floor two or three times during panic stops because I was looking down and trying to use the touch pad to fiddle with options instead of watching the road. No touch screen on laptops, right? And then of course you have to disconnect everything and pack it away out of sight every time you stop.

Ah, but on a longer trip with a co-pilot to run it... Now THAT's a different story! As I said before, the laptop features surpass the very best of the auto units, especially with a wireless laptop card for full internet access at the same time. But it is not at all practical for most folks driving by themselves.

I've heard from several people in an off road club that mentioned using police style mounts for their laptops so they could run more advanced GPS software. You can get mounts from places like this: http://www.jottodesk.us/ Not bad but definately not for the sub-compact owner.

Like it has been said, the nuvi is great because it is portable. I never considered buying the 6XX or 7XX series because for me its too big to put in my pocket.

I've used SA for years and love it. But once I got my Garmin c330, I wondered how I lived without it. You can't beat the smaller size. Of course, a Nuvi would be better for size. I never used my laptop in the truck and guess that's why I really appreciate the c330. To each his own. I still use both. It's easier for me to plan a route with SA and then enter the waypoints to my c330. Probably cause I'm use to SA and not Map Source...

http://dvice.com/archives/2008/06/toshiba_qosimo.php

another interesting site:
http://ubergizmo.retrevo.com/s/toshiba+qosimo

I use MS streets and trips. to plan long trips and find different places along the way. Have a lot of fun just overlaying the poi's from here and seeing all the different places and Icons show up on the screen.