Re: Garmin gps 12...can it go to the ball?

Ben Houston wrote:

Jack Erbes wrote:

I have not owned a stand alone unit.  I have researched them in depth
and still read up on the new ones from time to time but I have not
bought one because I prefer using a laptop for the reasons outlined


below.

Perhaps you need to read up on the stand alones again Jack? E.g. check
out page 63  in the following manual:

http://www.garmin.com/manuals/GPSMAP276C_OwnersManual.pdf 

Thanks Ben,

I just spent about an hour in that manual and it does do the via points. That is the first one I've seen that does and I won't say again that none do.

I could probably do everything I do with a laptop on the 276C but I still think I'd just as soon have a laptop with a keyboard as long as there was room for it. I do some other things on the laptop that mean it is going to along for the ride anyway.

I did not say it but most of my time using a laptop has been in a motor home where there was plenty of room for it. And my input to Colin was from the viewpoint of his being a coach driver (that is what we in the U.S. call a tour bus I think) and I am guessing that he has room for it.

I have made some car trips with a laptop, and in those cases it lived on the lap of the person on the passenger side. Or was folded shut at their feet or laying out of the way somewhere when it was not wanted or needed. You open it it, it wakes up, the GPS is still working and updates the screen, and you're good to go.

In addition to vias - as you describe - there is also a nice feature
for automatic reshuffling of vias for fastest/shortest route.

Good feature, if I was going to have to hit multiple destinations in the same area regularly I would probably use that. My use of vias so far has pretty much been to force the road choice to the one I want or, to a lesser extent, get to specific place along a route.

Other
features you may want to read up on include "Custom Avoids" and "Custom
Road Prefs". Personally I find the "Custom Avoids" feature useful. This
allows for a more structured approach to entering route prefs and it
also helps extend the life of my e-maps (the alternative being tweaking
every single route prior to use and possibly changing all from time to
time when common geometry changes). Also it is far easier to do an
unscheduled detour on-the-fly without jeopardizing your prefs.

More good features, look to be well thought out and maybe even aimed at the people that drive the same routes or areas regularly, like deliveries and stuff. Most of my routing has been one time through with maybe a return via the same route.

Altough a laptop (and PDA as well) is far more versatile than a stand
alone navigation unit it is not so obvious which serves as the better
purpose navigation unit. There are many challenges to overcome for
those who "build" their own navigation system around a laptop and a
budget.

I didn't say a laptop is the only way or clearly the best way for everyone. You must have room for a laptop for it to make sense and for some it may be best with another person to tend to it.

You overstate the challenges. And the economics can be very similar for either way. If you get a good stand alone and add software, mounts, and the like, the costs could be more or less than doing it with a laptop.

This would include choice of software and hardware from
multiple vendors for starters and appropriate cables to wire it all
together. Throw in a DC to AC converter, an external antenna and an LCD
hood for better sunlight visibility and you have an impressive spagetti
that would scare the living daylight out of anyone except the most
enthusiastic geek - not to mention the police officer who just returned
from a 3-day advanced terror course.

I think you are making all that sound more complicated and harder than it really is. I have only two cables, a hood is not needed with a fairly good laptop, and I've never scared anyone yet. You're not, by any chance, selling Garmins are you?

The use of a laptop for in-car navigation can be downright dangerous if
you allow it to draw your attention away from where it should be and
you better secure it well should there be a need for breaking real
hard.

Everything is dangerous. There are no exceptions. But looking at a laptop display is not more distracting than looking at the display on the 276C once you're on the road. Unless you let it distract you. People are killing themselves and others with cell phones, radios, CD players, cigarettes, lighters, loose cargo, and almost every other item commonly found in cars. But a laptop may need some consideration as far at turning or braking forces.

For some the idea of purchasing a standalone nav unit takes "the
fun" out of it. Let this be so, but don't get this confused with
"saving money" or getting a more feature rich nav system as you're
likely to spend more for less.

Simply stated, I found the stand alones I have used and researched less capable in comparison to laptops. And harder to use. And less fun to have around. So when I have a situation where I can use a laptop I prefer it. I'm not trying to win an argument and it is okay if people disagree with that. And I don't mind at all discussing it in a logical manner.

I'm not trying to get anyone to say that a laptop is the best way.

And besides, when the driving is over for the day you can check email, pay your bills, play games, and watch movies on a laptop. :>)

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
.

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