I,ve never used GPS before - so I'm at a complete loss. My only thought is that is sounds like a great tool but to me there is nothing like holding a map or atlas in your hands - it's sort of like the difference between a real book and an e-book - same information but not the same. I love technology and all that it can do for us but some things I think are just fine the way they are. Electronic toys are fun though....
On 8/31/06, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote: > > RE: Laptops in the daylight > Jim makes a very good point on this issue of visibility and Frank > commented > on the moose he didn't see trying to see the laptop screen in the daylight > (hope that was a joke Frank). That's the primary reason I have looked at > the dedicated GPS units to go on the dash but found the map data outside > of > the cities pretty mediocre. Even if I had a good stand for the laptop it > would still be off to one side and require looking way away from the road > to > see any good info. The voice prompts can be hard to hear above the road > and > vehicle noise. > And as for good directions, yes, within limits. Example: I decided to, > as > a test, to try to relie on the GPS (Delorme software and receiver on the > laptop) to get me to a friends place in Kennsington, Ca.. Kennsington is > a > small city that abuts Berkley. On the hillside, narrow winding short > streets, lots of trees, lots of traffic and stop signs. The GPS totally > failed, only got there when I recognized a couple of streets (I'd been > there > several years before). Several problems contributed. First, loss of > signal > running under trees. This would cause the GPS to fail to provide > directions > in time to turn. Second, when stopped in traffic or at a stop light or > sign, the GPS would loose track of what direction I was headed because I > wasn't moving. Then the next direction to turn might be behind me instead > of in front. The ability of the software to try to get me back on the > original track worked but led to a long and confusing attempt to turn me > onto streets that I'd already past or were a couple of blocks away. I > looked at the track of where I'd been when I finally got to my destination > and it was good for a laugh. > BTW, when I went to leave, I set the GPS up using Street & Trips instead > of > the Delorme software and it was little better but not much because of the > constant signal drop out. > Several years before, when driving to the same location, I had printed out > directions from Streets & Trips (no GPS receiver at that time) and > followed > those printed instructions right to the door without problem. > Summing up, the GPS/laptop solution is great but has some severe > limitations. Be aware of those limitations, it's not an autopilot. >
-- Thanks, Jeff 86' 85' GL (sidelined and donating organs to the 86') |
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