GPS CoPilot

I have a 12v computer in a small desktop case that I built it goes under the seat I have 7in touch screen that sits in the free din spot above my in car CD player. It runs on windows XP using Trackranger PRO 6 for nav. Has a 60gig HD Pentium3 1600mhz 1.2 gig Ram. The front page program I use is Digital Dash 5. I have loaded 12gig of mp3 music on it that is connected to my in car CD unit. This allows my to get away from carrying my CD's inthe car. This system starts when I turn the ignition on and continues to run for 40mins after the car is turned off than it shuts down I can change the shut down to suit my needs. It is much cheeper to build your own than by one they are around $3000 new.

everything you need you can get on ebay
go for an 8" 800x600 resolution .. not less
I have a 10" screen which is a bit big, despite
having a roomy truck .. I will replace it with
an 8" .. use either a micro atx pc or on ebay
you also get heaps of mini itx ... there are
systems with CF adapter instead of a harddrive
.. I have one of these for the boat ... too much
stress for a running harddrive on a boat ..

good luck
gmd

Mike,

If you a looking solely for a product that gives you turn by turn direction in the built up areas, you would be much better off buying a dedicated, all-in-one unit such as the TomTom One. Costs around $499 and is a complete unit with built-in GPS and runs Navigator 6 software. The unit has a suction cup to stick on the windscreen and powered from the ciggy socket. No setting up either.

There are several TomTom models ranging from the TomTom One at $499 to the Go 710 at $699, or the Go 910 at $899.

Any of the brand name units such as this are compact enough to allow easy removal when your not using it so you can put it out of sight of those persons who also want one, but dont want to pay for it.

If you also wanted to include tracking for the bush, then you could consider a PDA based solution running OziExplorer as well as CoPilot Live 6, or TomTom's Navigator 6, or one of the Garmin units that Doug keeps raving about.

CoPilot running on a Laptop would be OK, but when you consider the accessories to allow mounting of the Laptop itself, the cost of the software and the addition of the touchscreen, you are looking at considerable dollars all up.

Have a look at TomTom, GPSOZ, and Johnny Appleseed for some more information.

Look at the HP Ipaq rx5765 travel companion, it comes with Tom Tom Ver 6 inbuilt SiRF 111 GPS and you can load OziCe ,

Calculator & Organiser King Has them for $485.00