Asus Eee PC, Ozi Ex and a GPS mouse - a very tempting mapping solution
Submitted: Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 at 17:32
ThreadID:
59223
Views:
4115
Replies:
8
FollowUps:
16
This Thread has been Archived
Mike Harding
An Asus Eee PC with XP installed is now down to $300.
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=31293
Add a GPS mouse ($70 e-bay) and Ozi Explorer ($125?) and you have an excellent mapping system. As the Asus does not have a hard drive it's a pretty robust system too.
On top of all that you have a fully fledged PC (no optical drive but you could buy a USB one) to do whatever takes your fancy deep in the bush.
And (best of all) according to my calculations it would measure 225mm wide by 192mm high when the screen is at 90 deg. ie.fully open - should fit on the dash of most vehicles with a bit of velcro to stop it sliding off.
Veryyyy tempting... me thinks....
Mike Harding
Reply By: Member - Craig M (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 at 20:33
Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 at 20:33
I currently run a EEEPC900 with all of the above
Works
well
My Advice? buy nothing with a hard drive that goes in the car. EEE's have a flash drive storage, no moving parts and run off 12v without a convertor. There is a similar douvey called a dreambook by another manufacturer that does the same. Good thing about EEE is that it takes a 16gb SD memory card. that's where I keep my maps for Ozi.
It sits on an aluminium laptop stand that bolts with 1 bolt under SWMBO's
seat. It is coupled to the mobile giving me mobile internet as
well.
EEE's weigh less than 1kg so it balances on the stand without bracing.
Can do piccies if anyone wants them
Craig
AnswerID:
312412
Follow Up By: GerryP - Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 at 23:05
Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 at 23:05
Maybe I've been lucky and while I do agree that flash memory is probably safer, I must say that I have had 3 different laptops, over many years, strapped to the cargo barrier and running a remote screen. I always log my track to the HDD so it is continually active and writing while on the move. Now, I have travelled over some of the worst corrugations, as I'm sure we all have and, touch wood, have never had a single glitch with a hard drive failing or playing up.
Now that I've said that... please don't, Mr Murphy...
Cheers
Gerry
FollowupID:
578441
Follow Up By: BoldJack ( Penrith NSW) - Friday, Jun 27, 2008 at 21:40
Friday, Jun 27, 2008 at 21:40
Hi Craig,
Some pics would be great. Am thinking of getting one and ideas of how to mount it in the car would be helpful.
Thanks Bert
FollowupID:
578607