Acer Aspire One / Garmin Mobile PC Problem

I'm new to this forum and new to the world of laptop GPS but have run into a problem before I've even got started. Have an Aspire One running Win XP which I thought would be ideal to run a mobile GPS program on. However, it doesn't have a DVD/CD drive which could be used to load programs.

Since Mobile PC is my program of choice, I called Garmin tech support to find out if there was any other way to load the program (ie, directly online or down load to my desktop and then transfer to a thumb drive for loading to the Aspire). Was told I would need an external DVD/CD drive connected to the Aspire to load the program - nothing else would work. Since I don't have an external drive, I'd sure like to find a work-around solution.

Would appreciate hearing if, and how, anyone has been able to load Mobile PC onto an Aspire one.

That sounds just plain silly. I don't have a lot of faith in some of the things Garmin support tells me lately, especially if they don't offer a reasonable technical explanation.

If you have the DVD why not just try copying it to a thumb drive of the appropriate size and give it a shot? That's if you've already purchased it, of course.

...ken...

Garmin tech said they had several calls from folks with problem like mine, but he didn't offer any hope that they intended to solve it. Fortunately, I haven't bought the product yet, but would if I could make it work.

"... Garmin tech said they had several calls from folks with problem like mine, but he didn't offer any hope that they intended to solve it ..."

At least he could have suggested to you to look for a work-around solution in one of many online communities (e.g. Laptop GPS World).

"... Fortunately, I haven't bought the product yet, but would if I could make it work ..."

Garmin Mobile PC is great software. Not having a DVD drive in your laptop should not deter you from buying it.

One possible way to install it would be via a home network. If you have another computer at home, which does have a DVD drive, you could use the DVD drive via network.

Thanks for the suggestion. I may give it a try.

Now a days not having a dvd drive makes you miss a lot of things...maybe you have an usb socket...if it is so you can copy Garmin's Mobile PC dvd to an usb pendrive on any computer and install to yours laptop via usb...
GMPC's dvd, the one that came with GPS 20x is about 1.179.910.144 bytes...about 1.09 GB...

Hope it helps

Juan Carlos

Frustrated by Garmins reply yesterday, I decided to call again to find out if I would get same answer to my question today. I spoke to another tech support guy who absolutely assured me it was possible to use DVD drive on my desktop to load Mobile PC onto a thumb drive and then load on the Aspire One.

So, I'm buying the program and giving it a try and will advise how/if it works. Stay tuned.

Sounds like you finally got someone who knows something about computers. There's really no reason it should not work to copy it to a flash drive and install from there.

Let us know how you like it and holler if you need any help.

...ken...

I have Aspire one as well. Either you get an ext dvd or you may make use of your int dvd of your computer via this (cost Can$20)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...517&CatId=3770

It is not quite simple to copy content of a DVD/CD to a thumb drive for installing software given the built in anti-piracy feature of all softwares. Afterall the cost is really little.


Daniel

I would like to use google earth with my gamin 18. Is there a best case set up for software that anyone knows?

If you are located in the US, you can do that with S&T . Right click a location you can see from your browser msn virtual earth image (very close to google earth)

I have not done that as I do not have garmin 18 just yet. You can have a driver from Garmin to use the usb gps for 3 rd party software which in this case would be S&T.

Daniel

Thanks for that dtong
I am wondering what config. would look like (V Earth and Garmin 18 and and and ? ) I just want to use G 18 as antenna. Maybe not the best choice?
I don't have a lot invested yet! I can get whatever antenna makes most sense. As you might have guessed I am very new to this and would like to set up bullet proof kinda deal. But, with some good quality graghics. I don't have a clue if V Earth or google will work as primary or if I need to layer.

If you don't have a GPS18 yet, don't buy it. It is older technology and only works directly with Garmin software. All other mapping software wants NMEA data which the USB version of the GPS18 doesn't provide. There are inexpensive USB GPS receivers available which will better meet your needs. If you are considering S&T 2009 it can be purchased with a GPS (Pharos 500 in US) which is a very good receiver. Otherwise the GlobalSat BU-353 is fine as a standalone USB GPS receiver.

If you already have a GPS18, get Spanner from the Garmin site. It will provide standard GPS output (NMEA) from the GPS18 suitable for other navigation programs. It is only supported in XP though.

Terry

Terry

Garmin has provided the driver for using the usb gps 18 for 3rd party software. Something entirely new for Garmin indeed.
Likely I have made mistake. I have another GlobalSat BT GPS Receiver BT-328-SP which works flawlessly with iGuidance 3.
I should have researched that before ordering. Maybe I am not going to open that until I have sorted that out with gpscity.ca

Daniel

I would suggest your BT 328 is 2 or 3 generations newer technology than the GPS18 and will work with all standard navigation programs provided you have BT capabilities.

If you add Bluetooth to your netbook, the BT 328 should meet all of your requirements.

Terry