Laptop Navigation

Aiadi

Hi everyone. Anyone knows of a free or cheap way to get maps loaded onto a laptop and then use them to navigate (using something like a bluetooth GPS receiver)? I have a Holux GPSlim236 and would like to use it with my laptop on occasions when my GPS is not with me or when my GPS map coverage is inadequate. Any help would be appreciated.

Little_John

Its not good to use a laptop. I tried it with the holux 236, autoroute and a bluetooth adaptor. the main problem is that the version I used didnt have any voice prompts but I think newer versions can have. the worst part is that with sat nave there are occasions that the verbal directions just confuse things and you need to look at the map. you cant mount a laptop on the dash so you end up takeing your eyes off the road for too long while looking at the laptop.

update the maps on your GPS rather than useing the laptop.

epz_2

its like 80 quid for a tomtom these days which is a much better solution, if you need to brake hard youll kill the laptop.

fwor

I doubt you'll find anything free or cheap, because the map data itself cannot be obtained cheaply - but I'd love to be proved wrong on that!

I've heard good things about Memory-Map for the sort of thing you're looking at, though I've never tried it myself (I've gone for TomTom on-road and Garmin handheld off-road). However, it's probably too expensive to justify for what you want.

BillScarab

I use Memory map with a Garmin handheld for walking. While it will show you where you are in real time if you leave the laptop connected to the GPS it doesn't give directions like a vehicle Sat Nav. It is very expensive though as are all the other mapping software products, due to the OS licensing fees apparently.

Aiadi

Thanks everyone for the replies. Found this and the price appears reasonable (more so for upgrades) but has anyone tried it??

http://directions.ltd.uk/laptop-navigation/

I will be looking at memory map.

fwor

There is actually a specific forum dedicated to InfoMap/PC Navigator here:

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=70

It doesn't seem to get much posted in it, though! You might get a better response posting in one of the more heavily-used forums on that website...

Little_John

Just remember the person you run in to the back of will need your name, address a phone number and the name of your insurance company, your insurance policy number woud be good for them also.

why not make use of the vistaprint offers of free business cards to save you having to write them down on scraps of paper for the people you will run in to the back of?

BillScarab

You're not seriously considering wandering aroudn the streets clutchign a laptop are you?

Aiadi

BillScarab wrote: »

You're not seriously considering wandering aroudn the streets clutchign a laptop are you?

No but as I was browsing the internet on the passenger seat the other day, I thought that it would be great if I could tell where we are and where we are going to using an electronic map (rather than the usual paper one) and give directions when needed to the driver as we drive without a dedicated GPS (like when on holidays abroad). I know it is easier to carry a satnav than a laptop, but my laptop needs to be with me all the time anyway.

BillScarab

Ahh, I see. I have experimented with mine runnign Memory Map on a laptop connected to a handheld GPS and it does update the route in real time but you have to manually plot the route in advance so it's not like an automotive sat nav system.