Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2003 14:08:45 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Belanger <belanger@FLUID.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Belanger <belanger@FLUID.COM>
Organization: Fluid, Inc.
Subject: Re: GPS in a Westy?
In-Reply-To: <004101c2faef$4fb6c120$0b73d1d8@p4>
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Larry is right on the money in his observations.
I've did some fairly extensive research into PC-based GPS tracking
solutions. Here are my conclusions:
1) Microsoft Streets & Trips: 2 out of 5
$40: http://www.microsoft.com/streets/
Good basic package, but fairly limited functionality. Seems to be
designed more for the home user.
2) Microsoft MapPoint (combined with AGPS plugin): ?? of 5
$250: http://www.microsoft.com/office/mappoint/default.asp
$10: http://www.techgt.com/agps/
Supposedly this is a very good package, but I haven't tried it. The
fact that the GPS tracking isn't inherent makes me nervous, the fact
that it's Microsoft makes me upset and the fact that they charge $10 for
a trial version outrages me, but this is their industrial strength
technology.
3) TravRoute CoPilot 2003: 3.5 out of 5 (30-day money back guarantee)
$400: An excellent package if you're just using your software for
driving. The interface is ugly as hell, but they've really tuned it to
in car use. It has an automatic re-route feature, so if you decide to
change your course, it'll automatically recalculate the best route.
Very slick and fast. It even has a small phone book for searching for
gas stations, restaurants and ATMs. Also comes with a GPS receiver.
4) StreetAtlas 2003 Plus: 4 out of 5 (30-day money back guarantee)
$150: http://www.delorme.com/streetatlas2003/moreinfo.asp
I think SA2003+ is the best of the three I've evaluated. Unfortunately,
it's not 100% tailored for driving, so some features are a bit
cumbersome, but the speech recognition and synthesis are excellent. The
biggest bonus is the 11,000,000 record phone book that ships with the
product, which is accurate and mapped in real-time to your road.
One day, I had a strong hankering for a Dr. Pepper(only served by Jack
in the Box and In n Out Burger), I turned on Radar Mode for Fast Food,
which turned up a place half a mile a way in a few seconds. Now that's
what I call a good use for technology!
All the products have their pluses, although Topo is more focused on
terrain and superb for backpacking. It just depends on what you want.
I'd strongly recommend purchasing at least one or two of the packages
and taking advantage of the 30-day trial/return policy most offer.
Good luck,
MB
Larry and Avery Johnson wrote:
> Hi Doug
> We have been using a DeLorme GPS with Toshiba notebook in our Westafalia for about three years. Up until this year, we have used DeLorme TopoUSA v3.0 which plots and moves your location over the map as you drive. In may respects this software is an overkill. It gives details down to about 25 ft. with topographical info and all the trip planning tools you need. This software comes in 7 CD's. As I said, an overkill. Recently I acquired a copy of MicroSoft Streets and Trips. It only comes with 2 CD's but has plenty of trip planning tools. Better yet it covers Canada. It even shows the tiny lake I live on up near Algonquin Park :-)
> The GPS we use is a DeLorme Tripmate. It was very cheap and is no longer in production. Their current GPS is $99, has USB and tracks the satellites much faster than my Tripmate which has a serial link.
>
> You are welcome to copies of my software if you cover my costs.
> You are even welcome to my Tripmate. I'd love to trade up to their latest GPS unit.
> Larry
> _________________________________________________________________
>
> Hi gang,
>
> I've been saving this for Friday since it doesn't directly involve
> leaky heads or tires or conversions. I'm looking for a GPS solution for my
> Westy. I'm leaning toward a GPS receiver hooked into a laptop because it's
> cheaper (already have the laptop) and you get that nice big display. So
> I'd like to hear from anyone using this sort of thing ---- with comments
> about hardware and mapping software etc. I'd also like to hear from people
> who are using handheld units, in terms of how useful they find the
> displays etc and how easy it is to navigate on the highways and at street
> level. I'm particularly interested in comments from people who have used
> GPS in Canada with regards to mapping software --- because the options are
> fewer and less sophisticated here in the Great White North.
> Speaking of Great White North, Toronto is in the midst of a
> three-day freezing rain/ice pellet storm. This would be bad enough under
> usual circumstances, but all the snow plowing contracts with the city
> expired March 31 --- so they're having a hard time getting plows and crews
> on the road. What a mess........
>
> Cheers,
> Doug
> '84 Westy Bluebelle (with I4 conversion)
> "Still waiting for spring"
--
_______________________________________________________________________
Mark Belanger - belanger@fluid.com
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