What GPS system shoudl we use?

Thanks Bob, I guess it all depends on how much money I want to spend, I have used the search tool and have read many many conflicting reports so I am still undecided. Whats the approximate damage on an external screen?

Alan,
you can get smaller ones for a couple of hundred, but I use a standard 15" which I paid $540 over a year ago. I think thay are about $400 now. Its best to get one that can run on 12V rather than need an inverter.
One of the big advantages of the dash mounted screen is that everyone in the car can see it and it adds an extra dimension to your travel to be able to see the mapped features as you approach them.

Bob,

So you are using a laptop still with an external display? What a the spec on the laptop.

BTW I have quote on a GPS Antenna for laptop and/or PDA for $175 a fair bit cheaper than a hand held GPS unit if you already have a laptop or PDA. (albeit not as portable)

Gaz

Gary
the laptop is a 700MHz Toshiba with DVD drive. It works more than adequately. In fact, I experimented with an old 333MHz machine running off the inverter and it performed perfectly well too. It seems that running OziExplorer and refreshing map images isn't that processor intensive.
The advantage of the DVD player is that kids can watch a movie on the long boring stretches.

Bob,

I gather from your comments that the 315 will provide a live GPS input to the laptop to run an Oziexplorer moving map?

Richard,
yes. There are contacts on the back of the unit. The data cable attaches to the unit, plugs into the serial port, and can be used by various programmes to provide real time mapping. Such programmes are OziExplorer, or Magellan's DiscoverAus.

Thanks for that. I am just not sure what to do with the lap top or where to put it (no rude responses please!), maybe I'll search the forum to see how others have installed them. I don't think my better half will appreciate holding the lap top for hours at a time. My original idea was to download relevant sections of the map to a small GPS screen when ever it was necessary but I can see many new ideas being hatched now. Can you explain your set up to me? Thanks.

Alan, I am still to finalise my in car set up, but in terms of the physical installation I have made up a tray that hangs from the passenger panic handle, propped back to the glove box, this is adjustable as to height & angle.
The laptop is secured to the tray by a hi-tech Australia Post rubber band and I am working on a shield to keep the sun off the screen.
The usp gps sits on top of the dash, secured by magnetic base, and connects to side usp port in laptop.
The navigator does not have a hot laptop warming her legs, unless she wants to, and can move in & out of the seat without upsetting the laptop or usp gps.
I have seen on this and other forums, reference to commercially made brackets and stands for laptops etc. Others may recall the names of these units or a search of the archive here might bring them up.
There has also been plenty of reference on this site and others about in car pc systems, some of which incorporate touch screens. Worth a look at.
Good luck, Murray

Only prob I have with the pda is screen size.

Would have to say based on personal experience that a PDA is a tad more rugged than a Laptop...smaller, lighter and no moving parts..though keep in mind that PDA's and Laptops both require a considerable more respect than a GPS, as in standard form they are not designed for outdoor use.

Cheers
Greg