Could be a very good GPS solution.
Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 08:06
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mfewster
Check this new notebook PC out. It has just been released in the USA. With a flash hard drive for speed and robustness, a 7 inch screen and a price that low, it should be perfect as a GPS mapping platform. Asus are sold here so it should be on the way. Would be even better if it had a slot to read SD cards.
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/asus-eee-pc-4g/4505-3121_7-32466960.html?tag=bubbl_1
Reply By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 08:52
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 08:52
Only problem is it runs Linux. Oziexplorer is a windows only program :-(
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Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 09:17
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 09:17
MrBitchi,
Doesn't Linux emulate Windows ? Can some knowledgable person tell me if they have actually tried to run Oziexplorer under Linux. 8 GB of SOLID STATE hard drive has to be a good start for use as a gps display when bounceing around off road.
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Follow Up By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 09:26
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 09:26
Linux itself doesn't emulate windows. There's a program called WINE which can be used to run some windows programs under Linux but the OS on this unit is highly modified to run this particular hardware set. Not sure if it would even be capable of running WINE. Then I'm not sure if anyone's successfully run Ozi using Wine
Would be great if it worked....
Better alternative would be a standard laptop fitted with a solid state drive.
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Follow Up By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 09:31
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 09:31
Oops, pressed wrong key...
Unfortunately SSD technology is still a bit expensive. IBM make a 16G drive that retails for around $700......
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Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 09:46
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 09:46
Thanks John, What is it they say...dbl the size and half the price of memory every year ? Looks like SSD technology might take care of our bounceing problems in the next couple of years.
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 08:57
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 08:57
Not bad , but I just brought a run out model, low spec, regular laptop at Dick Smith for $649 - and it runs windows XP and lots of disk space as
well as DVD reader - so we are not to badly off these days .
Robin Miller
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Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 11:49
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 11:49
Quote: "Would be even better if it had a slot to read SD cards."
Everyone knows that I'm a dinosaur when it comes to computers; but I just watched the short video advert/review of that little laptop and the geek DOES say it has a SD card slot in the front.
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Follow Up By: mfewster - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 12:07
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 12:07
Whoops. I missed that. Thank you for pointing it out Roachie
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Reply By: TerraFirma - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 12:00
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 12:00
It would be perfect if it was Windows based as many of the drivers for GPS products wouldn't support a Linux platform. Many of the other things could be worked around via USB and yes it does have a SD slot.?
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 13:28
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 13:28
Ever tried to use a 7inch computer screen. You may need a magnifying glass :-))
All the windows icons and menus are hard to read. I run Oziexplorer through a 7 inch screen that pops out of my dash. I can adjust the resolution so all my maps are very readable, but I rely on my memory to know where to click the file menus etc
Another option with a slightly bigger screen is the Samsung Q1.
After running a compact tablet PC, as
well as other laptop options, my favourite configuration is the fully functional laptop tucked away and closed, with VGA or video output to a dash mounted screen, as per my rig pics.
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Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 16:39
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 16:39
Possibly right.
I remember running an 8" mono screen on a system with CPM operating system and it was OK, but then it was only text. :o)
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