Re: my first GPS - suggestions?

On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 12:39:48 -0400, Jack Erbes <jackerbes@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Joe Parsons wrote:
>
>> On 11 Jul 2005 05:35:09 -0700, "bob bookouri" <bookouri@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>For what you need, if you do have a notebook computer in your car, I
>>>think you would be happier with one of the USB units for the computer.
>>
>>
>> Don't you think that'd be rather cumbersome, compared to any of the standalone
>> units? If one is always alone in the car, it might be practical, but that's not
>> always the case.

Keep in mind, please that my personal bias comes from being a VERY happy iQue
user... :)

>If you want the data collection, driving history, storing of pre-planned
>complex routes with multiple stops or via points, etc., etc., then a
>laptop works best. I have done it a lot with a laptop laying on the
>empty seat. A glance over is not much more distracting than checking a
>mirror.

Speaking just for myself, I would find looking over at a laptop screen to be
*very* dangerous--especially the way I drive!

If I have a very complex route with mny via points and such, I can create that
in the desktop and upload it to the handheld--but I find creating vias to be
quite easy and quick, so I never have the occasion to do that. The handheld
sits in a cradle on my dash, so in those rare occasions when I need to refer to
it, I'm still watching the road. I find the most value from the voice guidance.

>With a passenger, it can lay in a lap when needed and the passenger
>talks you along. If not wanted or needed, it was folded shut (not
>suspended, no automatic shut down, just the screen blanked) and laying
>against the side of the transmission tunnel until needed. The GPS is
>still powered up and it will wake up with a current position as soon as
>you open the display.
>
>Riding shotgun, with a laptop in my lap and Street Atlas 9.0 running, I
>managed to become the undisputed champion of FreeCell solitaire and
>could even ignore my wife's driving habits. Try that with a standalone.
> :>)

You have a point--but my wife's driving makes me crazy anyway, so she doesn't
get to do it.

>I'm beginning to wonder if there are people driving with their gaze
>fixed on their dash mounted GPS to make steering corrections and turning
>decisions.

That's what voice guidance is for.

Well, we all have our preferences, don't we! Me, I like the simplicity and
compactness of the PDA approach--and I can stick it in my pocket when I leave
the car.

Joe Parsons

>When alone, I use the laptop occasionally and briefly to
>make sure I know what and where the next turn is and then I have my head
>up and "out of the cockpit". And then there are the hundreds of "where
>am I?" and "are we almost there yet?" glance overs.
>
>Jack

.

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