Carputers bumps and desert heat

[seanz0rz]

delorme's software is difficult to use even sitting at a desk with a large screen and a mouse and keyboard.

road runner and other front ends (i personally used road runner) do not have navigation built in. they are basically an overlay with touch friendly buttons and text that allow you to operate other programs.

www.mp3car.com for more carputer specific topics. im still not sure that the typical carputer is ready for offroad and expedition duty, thats at least my experience with it.

navigation wise, i used iGuidance for streets and did not have a topo solution. the solution sponsored on this forum, Overland Navigator, looks to be a VERY good program, and something i will purchase when funds permit.

 

[dzzz]

I've never had a drive problem, but my next one will be SSD.

An expensive car touch screen and good software are both necessary to easily go GPS.

 

[SAR Jeepster]

I run an old HP laptop, Garmin GPS 18 and DeLorme Topo on a homemade stand using Energy Suspension shackle bushings. In 2005 I rolled my jeep at about 40mph on the Black Rock playa a lot of dust and a severe bump. I was life flighted out and spent 5 days in the hospital in Reno but when I returned home and turned on my laptop it showed the location I rolled. The laptop still works.

 

[haven]

New netbooks with 9 inch displays regularly appear on sale for less
than $200, and refurbs appear as cheap as $165. Models with 10 inch
displays are stealing all the retail shelf space, so the 9 inchers
have to go. The cheapest models have very small solid state hard drives
and run a version of Unix. Add maybe $30 for a netbook with 80GB to
120GB hard drive and Windows XP. Good brands at this price are ASUS,
Acer and MSI. Dell and HP are available at somewhat higher prices.

Chip Haven

 

[xpdishn]

Thought I would chime in. I have using a Fujitsu for over a year and absolutly no problems. I really like the large size screen, really easy to glance over and see my location.

It's out of the way and can swing for either the driver or passenger (nagivator).

The heat has never bothered it, but really whenever I'm running it I have the AC on. This model advertised a shock resistant hard drive and with all of the abuse I have put it through, it has stood the test of time.

I run National Geographic's TOPO software and it's great. Set it to track where you are and forget about it. You know exactly where you are and where you have been. BTW, all software is loaded into the laptop and the GPS is used only to send my location to the laptop.

Gary

 

[Dave Bennett]

I love the copper pipe mount!!! :coffeedrink:

 

[haven]

Apropos the heat issue, Apple just released a bulletin
reminding everyone that 95F is the maximum recommended
air temp when using the iPhone 3GS. There have been
numerous complaints that the new 3GS runs hotter than
earlier models. A handful of 3GS failures are suspected to
be heat related.

This doesn't mean that the 3GS won't work at higher temps,
just that Apple won't guarantee it. Your mileage may vary,
as they say.