PC Software and GPS recommendations

[evldave]

Originally Posted by ree

I'm planning on mounting a small tablet PC (probably one of the newfangled origami/UMPC's) in my H2 for navigation, media, plus whatever else.

Questions:

- What is the best PC-based, GPS-enabled mapping/navigation software?

- Any recommendations for GPS hardware? The tablet/UMPC will likely only have USB2.0 peripheral ports. I think I might be able to get a PC card adapter for it, but I really want something where I can roof mount the GPS antenna and not have to run extra power to the GPS unit (too many wires).

Here's my current setup. It's worked on 40k+ miles of camping trips over the last 3 years (the US & Canada + Alaska).

I prefer Microsoft Streets & Trips for basic 'where am I at right now?' location. For that, I use a Garmin 12 (old school GPS) with serial connector. I've just upgraded to the 60csx (or whatever the # is), but I'll still use the serial connector because I use the USB for other stuff. I don't like this for real-time routing since it doesn't have good directions yet (the 2006 edition added voice, etc. but it's got a long way to go to match delorme IMHO).

For routefinding & realtime driving directions, I use the Delorme Topo 6.0 & Street Atlas, usually the TOPO 6.0 since I'm offroad a lot. For the GPS for that, I use the Earthmate w/USB interface. You can't use 1 GPS for 2 software packages & using 2 USB GPSs causes mucho conflict for some reason.

For other offroad, I also use NatGeo TOPO! w/the various states (I have WA, CA, AK, IL, WI, ID, UT, OR + Nat'l parks + backroads). I prefer that since I used to be a geologist and can read them better for loading in waypoints, printing on the road,, etc than the delorme, but they aren't as nice while driving.

For regular daily driving, I drop the USB interface for the earthmate and put it in the bluetooth powerpack adapter (rechargeable or plug-in) and use my IPAQ 4700 w/streets & trips. I have the Delorme Street Atlas for handhelds and HATE IT - the refresh is ridiculously (sp) slow - that was a waste of $30. I still haven't found any pocket PC-based routing software I like.

Yes, I'm a map junkie. My first step was admitting it, then I went and bought more maps.