GPS Without Laptop

I've read here and I've read in the 2 GPS newsgroups I could find, and I'm
still not sure what, or if, I want a GPS system.

I do know that my laptop I haul with me has too much sensitive material loaded
on it that I have to use at least a couple of time a week, so It's not going
into the cab and run at the same time I drive down the highway.

That limits me to the fully self contained models that can be hooked to the
laptop to change maps or parts of maps. Is there a product, or products, that
any of you are using that does what I think I might want to do? A major
question also is - are any of these $500 or less, that would do a reasonable
job. Finally, I don't buy on Ebay! ;-(
Thanks,
Tom J

Tom I use a Garmin Streetpilot III. It's been excellent.

I'm an airline pilot so I've used many different system in airplanes and
boats too. I am fully satisfied with this one. The color screen is excellent
and it's made just for the car. My laptop wouldn't do anywhere near as good.
And frankly with the voice commands, when navigating, you don't even have to
look at the display. Eye's on the road is the safest bet.

Another wonderful aspect of the Garmin is the built-in database. E.g., you
need groceries. You simply ask the GPS for a list of the closest choices. It
even has phone numbers listed. It will then navigate you there.

Then too it has a detour feature. You run into a slow down on the freeway.
You simply ask the GPS for routing around the problem. Nice feature that
I've used before.

Mike Garner

"Tom J" <tomjanis2@att.net> wrote in message
news:bph5gl$1p22rm$1@ID-76114.news.uni-berlin.de...
> I've read here and I've read in the 2 GPS newsgroups I could find, and I'm
> still not sure what, or if, I want a GPS system.
>
> I do know that my laptop I haul with me has too much sensitive material
loaded
> on it that I have to use at least a couple of time a week, so It's not
going
> into the cab and run at the same time I drive down the highway.
>
> That limits me to the fully self contained models that can be hooked to
the
> laptop to change maps or parts of maps. Is there a product, or products,
that
> any of you are using that does what I think I might want to do? A major
> question also is - are any of these $500 or less, that would do a
reasonable
> job. Finally, I don't buy on Ebay! ;-(
> Thanks,
> Tom J
>
>

I don't think campgrounds are in there. However I don't have my GPS at the
house to check. I have never looked because the need hasn't come up yet.
But I can certainly see your point.

The work around for this is to use the printed campground directory and plug
the address into the GPS for directions. I did do that a couple of times to
navigate to state campgrounds.

Mike

"Peter T. Arnold" <PM7088@> wrote in message
news:hgbqrvovef1944kh2srsdmb4j869njrs9g@...
> On Thu, 20 Nov 2003 12:24:06 -0600, "Mike Garner"
> <mgarner@ipapilot.org> wrote:
>
> >Tom I use a Garmin Streetpilot III. It's been excellent.
> >
> >I'm an airline pilot so I've used many different system in airplanes and
> >boats too. I am fully satisfied with this one. The color screen is
excellent
> >and it's made just for the car. My laptop wouldn't do anywhere near as
good.
> >And frankly with the voice commands, when navigating, you don't even have
to
> >look at the display. Eye's on the road is the safest bet.
> >
> >Another wonderful aspect of the Garmin is the built-in database. E.g.,
you
> >need groceries. You simply ask the GPS for a list of the closest choices.
It
> >even has phone numbers listed. It will then navigate you there.
> >
> >Then too it has a detour feature. You run into a slow down on the
freeway.
> >You simply ask the GPS for routing around the problem. Nice feature that
> >I've used before.
> >
> >Mike Garner
> >
> Are CAmpgounds in the data base?
>
> Peter & Anne-Marie Arnold
> Windsor, CT
> '95 F250 W/PSD {150 Kmi}
> 31 Ft Prowler Fifth Wheel
> NCT # 13390, The Masonic Campers

"Tom J" <tomjanis2@att.net> wrote in message
news:bph5gl$1p22rm$1@ID-76114.news.uni-berlin.de...
> I've read here and I've read in the 2 GPS newsgroups I could find, and I'm
> still not sure what, or if, I want a GPS system.
>
> I do know that my laptop I haul with me has too much sensitive material
loaded
> on it that I have to use at least a couple of time a week, so It's not
going
> into the cab and run at the same time I drive down the highway.
>

I've been using my laptop (WinBook) for more than two years on the road with
a GPS. I assume you perform regular backups on that sensitive material?

> That limits me to the fully self contained models that can be hooked to
the
> laptop to change maps or parts of maps. Is there a product, or products,
that
> any of you are using that does what I think I might want to do? A major
> question also is - are any of these $500 or less, that would do a
reasonable
> job. Finally, I don't buy on Ebay! ;-(

I like the Garmin GPS V, which can be had at Best Buy for less than $400. It
has auto-routing, which most GPS units don't have. It's considered to be a
"poor man's Street Pilot" without the voice prompt and larger color display
of the Street Pilot.