GPS & NAVIGATION

Donald

There are several options.

Go for a second screen such as a Lilliput screen (7 or 8 inch) which is mounted in the front (dash, sunvisor, etc) running from the laptop which is the back somewhere out of the road.

Go for a PDA (4" screen) and run Oziexplorer CE. These can be mounted on the windscreen/dash very close to the driver and can be powered from the vehicle and some mounts even have their own GPS.

I run the software on a laptop but find the PDA more convenient. So I plan etc on the laptop and carryit in the back. I use the PDA while driving and if navigation really becomes a problem, I stop and fire up the laptop and use the large screen to sort myself out.

I run the laptop from an inverter (pure sine wave) under my seat.
I run a PDA (Ipaq HX4700) mounted in an ARKON mount which has GPS and only requires one lead to the cigartte lighter for power. I still have the trusty old Magellan 315 usually set on distances etc as well.

Trust may help your dilema. Others are bound to also have ideas. Check sites such as this one for GPS advice and places such as Johhyappleseed or GPSOZ for ideas.

Donald,
As Alan mentioned there are a whole lot of options. I have an emap in a cradle on the dash, connected to a laptop running oziexplorer and mapsource. Like Alan I have the laptop under the passengers seat and have a 7" Lilliput screen mounted in my case, behind the gear shift, that way I can see both the empa and the laptop screen and have a passenger next to me!
regards
Garth
Perth

Why don't you just buy some paper maps??
Rusty

I have a Garmin60CS and it has its own maps, beeps at me to turn left or right, and talks happily to a laptop and PDA and works a treat, it doesnt have the hema interface but I think magellans do that, however for my money their interface isnt at intuitive as the Garmin. If you want voice command and have another $500 then a Garmin 276C will be a treat, still no Hema but an annoying voice will help u no end.