Hema Navigator vs Laptop

Submitted: Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 19:43

ThreadID: 66613 Views:3878 Replies:5 FollowUps:17

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Sixty at Last

Hi all, I am running an old Toshiba laptop with Ozi etc and it does what it's supposed to do. However, the set-up is cluncky, heavy, cables everywhere.

I could go to a newer mini notebook or to a Hemi Nav. I have read somewhere that a 'crack' is available for the latter which will greatly enhance functionality. Which would be good because I assume the Hemi would be far less cluncky set-up.

However, would I still get the functionality that a full (laptop) keyboard provides??

Cheers. S@L.

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Reply By: Member - reggy 2 (VIC) - Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 20:08

Reply By: Crackles - Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 20:15

Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 20:15

No the Hema unit can't possibly give you the functionality of a laptop, 2 completely different products. They are however an excellent compromise which you can navigate with & doesn't take up all that much space.
An alternative that is a little larger & has a few more features are the7" ebay GPS units. These units aren't locked so extra mapping can be loaded onto the Oziexporer CE program. Additionally they have reversing camera's, MP3, MP4, Bluetooth etc & the 7" screen is a touch easier to read.
Cheers Craig.........

AnswerID: 352796

Follow Up By: Isuzumu - Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 20:27

Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 20:27

I am with you Craig, I have a Asus EeePC 901 8.9 inch screen.
I run OziExplorer with Natmap/Hema desert maps, also DiscoverAus (Magellan) mapping thru either SD card or external hard drive. then I have a full functioning computer with internet on a Telstra mobile wireless broadband modem. The EeePC you can buy as little as $450 with 30GB hard drive, I only have 12GB so use EHD and SD cards

FollowupID: 620956

Follow Up By: Sixty at Last - Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 20:40

Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 20:40

Hi guys. Thks for the quick responses.

What I meant by a 'crack' Bruce is that I' think that the Hemi is locked up to additional software but that there is a program to crack the lock so as to open it to greater functionality.

I am sure I've seen a lengthy post on it on the Forum but I'm damned if I can find it again.

Cheers.John.

FollowupID: 620959

Follow Up By: Isuzumu - Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 21:00

Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 21:00

No problems John, do not know of it (Hema) I also have a Garmin Nuvi 760. I am shortly putting a touch screen in the EeePC makes it a lot friendly to use as well.

FollowupID: 620967

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 22:48

Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 22:48

I maybe wrong but as far as I know the Hema is a Mio 520 rebadged.

So if you get a Mio and unlock it you ca turn it into a Hema

Try the GPS Australia forums for "How to"do this and for about half price

FollowupID: 621005

Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 07:30

Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 07:30

Hi Craig,

I am not sure I am understanding this correctly . Are you saying that the 7 " unit has Oziexplorer as software o it and that I could say load the 250,000 rastor map into it ?

Can you put waypoints into it ?

Thanks,

Willie.

FollowupID: 621032

Follow Up By: Crackles - Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 09:05

Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 09:05

No for $300 you just get the unit with a reversing camera which only has road navigation maps preinstalled.(Like a Tom Tom) You would then need to get a copy of Ozi CE & whatever maps you want to load onto the memory card/s. You can end up with the same mapping software as a Hema but for a couple of hundred dollars less, plus has the bigger screen & additional options like hands free bluetooth, FM transmitter & ability of loading any Raster map you already have.
Unlike the Hema which has it's maps preinstalled, there is a little setting up of this unit to get Ozi working. There are step by step disscussions of how that's done on the Nissan & Jeep forums.
I am yet to buy mine but everyone I've spoken to have had no issues working perfectly even out on rough outback roads.
There are higher resolution units out there but for the dollars these are one of the better featured models currently available.
Cheers Craig...............

FollowupID: 621050

Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 15:34

Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 15:34

OK , that's all clear. Thanks a lot, Willie.

FollowupID: 621118

Reply By: Member - Chris & Debbie (QLD) - Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 21:49

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 22:57

Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 22:57

Good thing about the old tosh is that all the cables come out of the back. I combine the power/USB/COM cables in split conduit so only one "cable". Main hassle with mine is that its too old to run the city maps. And the newer laptops have cables coming out of each side which is a pain.

My phone has a GPS and city maps, so I've not bothered with something like the Hema Navigator.

AnswerID: 352842

Follow Up By: Sixty at Last - Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 23:13

Saturday, Mar 07, 2009 at 23:13

Never would have thought about the cable/laptop interface location issue. Many thks Phil.John.

FollowupID: 621019

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 00:56

Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 00:56

This photo shows you what I mean. I can easily store a laptop in a pocket if it doesn't have cables coming out of the sides. And the split conduit makes it all tidy.

FollowupID: 621027

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 09:37

Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 09:37

Be careful you dont block the ventilation holes for the fan storing it like that.
I have mine in a mesh rack on the cargo barrier.

Allows it to breath.

Mine is a Medion and has a 160gig HDD so have all my music on it as well and its connected to an 8in screen for navigation and plays the music thru an FM transmitter to the radio.
Havent managed to make it skip when playing so far.
Only prob is the connectors are at the sides but the rack is wide enuf not to matter.
I use a Projecta 6000ma Converter to power it.

Cheers

FollowupID: 621059

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 10:37

Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 10:37

Good point Gaham. The fan is on the LHS of the Tosh, not underneath. It stays cool and the fan rarely turns on - might be a plus for running the old W98 with Oziexplorer as the only program on the computer! The Tosh runs directly off 12V and has a simple video out which is why I haven't upgraded it.

FollowupID: 621065

Follow Up By: paulnsw - Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 10:42

Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 10:42

I also bought the Aldi Medion Akoya which is a MSI Wind rebadged. Sensational 10" laptop with Bluetooth wireless, XP, 160G HD, 3 USB ports, ext monitor port. Laptop powered by Jaycar laptop power supply on 19v $39.95. Same power plug as Toshiba.
Put Bluetooth GPS in canopy roof permanently mounted in pocket with Velcro. Powered when ignition switch switched on. Control laptop with Bluetooth mouse connected to 7.6" VGA daylight screen. Everything cost me under the price of Hema Navigator including software.
The Medion is so much more and useful compared to Hema Navigator. Connect to NextG for email on $10 150Mb plan. If you stick to email 150Mb is heaps. I love having a proper keyboard on the Medion a big hard drive and can do my photographs and everything else you want.

FollowupID: 621068

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 16:54

Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 16:54

The fans may be on the end but most usually have slots underneath where the fan either sucks cold air or blows the hot out.
My Medion/Wind does and so does my 15 in Compaq

FollowupID: 621128