Hi everyone this is my 1st post here kinda excited, but here goes... recently I brought a netbook Asus Eee PC 1005ha and I been thinking of using it as a GPS inside my car. I already have a Qstarz BT-Q818X bluetooth GPS receiver which I got it cheap on Black Friday but I have no idea which software I should use to go with it. I been reading this forum for the past week but the forum doesn't tell me what software works with what hardware. So I'm still kinda confused... please help me out here... thanks...
OS: window 7 X86
Location: US
No internet accesses on the road...
OS: window 7 X86
Location: US
No internet accesses on the road...
Assuming the 1005HA has built in Bluetooth, your Qstarz should work with any navigation software. Why don't you download the free trial S&T 2010 as a starting point. It will work with your GPS.
Terry
Terry
wow i didn't know BT-Q818x works in all gps software... i guess i got lucky ... i'll go download the street and tips and start from there... thanks for the help
Skyosu, be aware of the problems when you're using a computer in the car. There is a myriad of things that will require you to take your eyes off the road if you're using it without a "navigator."
yea right now I'm still debating if i should get a net book mount for it. I read the Californian driving code and seems like is against the law to mount it anywhere near the windshield. I was looking at the ram mounts and they are not really what I'm looking for. 1st too expensive. 2nd those mount are not really for netbook. 3rd it takes up too much space. I don't even think those are legal in California... >_< so i don't know what to do now... I think I will just give up.
skyosu, some people here on the site use the above inexpensive netbook mounts: http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/2246-netbook-windshield-mount-14-95-a
I personally never tested them myself. RAM Mount does sell a new model tray specifically designed for netbooks, UMPCs, ans small laptops. RAM Mount products are more expensive, but I think they are worth it.
I personally never tested them myself. RAM Mount does sell a new model tray specifically designed for netbooks, UMPCs, ans small laptops. RAM Mount products are more expensive, but I think they are worth it.
It scares the hell out of me to think people are looking at their laptops while driving instead of the road. It's bad enough with all the morons talking,and texting, on their cell phones while driving, but to think people are looking at a GPS screen is criminal
KY Traveller, that's why I mentioned a "navigator." However, a laptop GPS system is infinitely better than the portable units for the amount of information it displays in normal operation.
But, drivers also "fiddle" with the portable units, too. They'll look for a Starbucks; they'll program in a new route, etc. Newer cars have a built-in distraction because many come with GPS from the factory.
It's not going away.
But, drivers also "fiddle" with the portable units, too. They'll look for a Starbucks; they'll program in a new route, etc. Newer cars have a built-in distraction because many come with GPS from the factory.
It's not going away.
As long as they aren't trying to set up or alter a route, it is not nearly as distracting as texting, or even talking on a cell phone. That is one of the advantages of the navigation software giving spoken directions and warnings.
Terry
Terry
They're all great until you start to make adjustments. As Hamlet said, "Aye, there's the rub." Talking or texting on a cell phone is about the same as driving under the influence.
In the Old Days, spreading a paper map over the steering wheel at 70 miles an hour was not explicitly illegal and people did it. Was that better than having a laptop in the car?
I can remember trying to find a street using a city map book while driving (a company car no less). It was definitely distracting and even the old Garmin eMap was a great improvement.
Terry
Terry
Quote:
In the Old Days, spreading a paper map over the steering wheel at 70 miles an hour was not explicitly illegal and people did it. Was that better than having a laptop in the car?
Is having a laptop in the car and using it in the same way as a paper map on the wheel any better than the paper map on the wheel?
If you think about how a lot of people use their laptops for in-car navigation -- perched precariously on the passenger seat -- it's arguably worse than the paper map on the wheel becuase they have to take their attention even farther from the view of the road than glancing downward to the steering wheel.
Well, you asked....
...ken...
Well, of course, both have their major problems.
I am really happy to have gone UMPC. I do my route planning out of the car either on a pc or on the UMPC and use only the Navigation mode of S&T or AutoRoute on the UMPC in the car. That works for me without threatening road safety. It has also had the benefit of avoiding inconveniencing my principal passenger which is not to be minimized.
I am really happy to have gone UMPC. I do my route planning out of the car either on a pc or on the UMPC and use only the Navigation mode of S&T or AutoRoute on the UMPC in the car. That works for me without threatening road safety. It has also had the benefit of avoiding inconveniencing my principal passenger which is not to be minimized.
UMPC, tablet PC, and laptop PC mounts are not that expensive. They are worth the money.
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UMPC, tablet PC, and laptop PC mounts are not that expensive. They are worth the money.
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Marvin is right. As long as you don't try to change settings or otherwise make adjustments, it might be better than the portable units because it is easier to read.
It's a rare vehicle smaller than a semi or large RV that you can get something with a screen larger than about 5" positioned so you can see the screen without moving your head off the road view AND the screen does not block any part of your road view.
Even in a subcompact car, there are a variety of places you can put the portable units so they meet the above requirements AND they are at least as easy to read as a laptop when positioned correctly. You never have to move more than your eyes for a glance, so your peripheral vision is still on the driving view. They're not quite as good as a heads-up display would be but awfully close if you take a little effort to position them well.
...ken...
Yeah, you were gonna leave it alone and I should have.
Quote:
Yeah, you were gonna leave it alone and I should have.
...ken...
... and just to add to the discussion, the following are some of the companies manufacturing excellent laptop mounts for cars, trucks, boats, planes, etc:
- JottoDesk
- Gamber-Johnson
- RAM Mounting Systems, Inc.
This may sound nuts to you, but here goes.
I saw coffee cup mounts for "normal" gps units advertised. Being a "cheap Charlie", I decided to make one for myself by using a jam jar that fit precisely in my coffee cup holder which is located between the front seats of my car.
Works great: I have bifocals so it's even better for me than a windshield mount, which causes me to have to tilt my head way back in order to read the small print.
If you got a jam or other jar which fit precisely into the coffee cup holder hole, i.e., leaving zero side to side play, you could attach the suction cup of that $14.95 Netbook holder.
Here's a link to a photo i took:
<http://b3.s3.quickshareit.com/img_14545227f.jpg>
I saw coffee cup mounts for "normal" gps units advertised. Being a "cheap Charlie", I decided to make one for myself by using a jam jar that fit precisely in my coffee cup holder which is located between the front seats of my car.
Works great: I have bifocals so it's even better for me than a windshield mount, which causes me to have to tilt my head way back in order to read the small print.
If you got a jam or other jar which fit precisely into the coffee cup holder hole, i.e., leaving zero side to side play, you could attach the suction cup of that $14.95 Netbook holder.
Here's a link to a photo i took:
<http://b3.s3.quickshareit.com/img_14545227f.jpg>
I am exploring purchasing the Garmin Mobile PC package (GPS receiver plus maps).
The OP in this thread says he already has a Qstarz BT-Q818X bluetooth GPS receiver.
One of the respondents said he could use it with S&T 2010.
I am confused: would using it with S&T just produce an icon of your car moving along a map or would could you also get the other functions such as text-to-speech?
What I am getting at here is: should I go with the Garmin Mobile PC package or buy ether the Garmin Bluetooth GPS receiver or the Qstarz BT-Q818X bluetooth GPS receiver and experiment with different maps???
The OP in this thread says he already has a Qstarz BT-Q818X bluetooth GPS receiver.
One of the respondents said he could use it with S&T 2010.
I am confused: would using it with S&T just produce an icon of your car moving along a map or would could you also get the other functions such as text-to-speech?
What I am getting at here is: should I go with the Garmin Mobile PC package or buy ether the Garmin Bluetooth GPS receiver or the Qstarz BT-Q818X bluetooth GPS receiver and experiment with different maps???
Either of the Bluetooth receivers you mention would work with Streets and Trips but the QStarz would be a less expensive choice. The Garmin GPS10x has a special mode allowing it to work directly with Garmin products as well as other navigation programs.
If you were to purchase the Mobile PC package including the BT GPS10x, you could use that GPS receiver with S&T as well (not at the same time though). If you consider the BT-Q818x first, you would want the software-only version of Mobile PC to work with it.
Speech and routing are functions of the software (S&T or Mobile PC) and are not affected in any way by your choice of GPS receivers. Bothe S&T and Mobile PC have speech functionality.
Terry
If you were to purchase the Mobile PC package including the BT GPS10x, you could use that GPS receiver with S&T as well (not at the same time though). If you consider the BT-Q818x first, you would want the software-only version of Mobile PC to work with it.
Speech and routing are functions of the software (S&T or Mobile PC) and are not affected in any way by your choice of GPS receivers. Bothe S&T and Mobile PC have speech functionality.
Terry
Quote:
This may sound nuts to you, but here goes.
....
Here's a link to a photo i took:
<http://b3.s3.quickshareit.com/img_14545227f.jpg>
....
Here's a link to a photo i took:
<http://b3.s3.quickshareit.com/img_14545227f.jpg>
I have one of those $14.95 mounts and I can't use it on the dashboard, even with the 10" extension, because it's too high and blocks my view of the road. I never even thought of a cupholder mount. Thanks for sharing.
...ken...
Terry -
You are right: the Garmin is almost double the cost of the Qstarz.
So, do I have this straight?
1. The BT-Q818 will work with either the S&T maps/software or the Mobile PC maps/software.
2. The Garmin GPS 10x will also work with either the S&T maps/software or the Mobile PC maps/software.
Forgive me if I am stating the obvious; I just want to be sure I understand everything that's involved before I order the gear and that by choosing one receiver over the other, that I don't lose any functionality.
Many thanks for replying and...which receiver would YOU go with? The Garmin or the BT-Q818???
You are right: the Garmin is almost double the cost of the Qstarz.
So, do I have this straight?
1. The BT-Q818 will work with either the S&T maps/software or the Mobile PC maps/software.
2. The Garmin GPS 10x will also work with either the S&T maps/software or the Mobile PC maps/software.
Forgive me if I am stating the obvious; I just want to be sure I understand everything that's involved before I order the gear and that by choosing one receiver over the other, that I don't lose any functionality.
Many thanks for replying and...which receiver would YOU go with? The Garmin or the BT-Q818???
I already have a Garmin GPS10x from my previous Garmin software days and a QStarz BT-Q890 (the keychain version of the 818x) and like them both. The QStarz is a more modern chipset and is a little more sensitive but in daily use, either is perfect.
From your signature, you are already familiar with the Garmin Nuvi. Mobile PC is very similar in most respects and your learning curve would be minimal. However, the software version could only be used on one computer and you could not add Garmin maps for other continents (or Mexico). If you purchased the version which includes a GPS 10x, you could use it on more than one computer as long as you used that same 10x with each computer. You could also purchase Garmin maps and use them with that package.
If you would like navigation software that concentrates on the planning side of trips, S&T would be a better choice and the Bluetooth QStarz would be perfect for that software. Or you could go with the S&T package that includes a USB GPS and look at adding a Bluetooth GPS later.
Terry
From your signature, you are already familiar with the Garmin Nuvi. Mobile PC is very similar in most respects and your learning curve would be minimal. However, the software version could only be used on one computer and you could not add Garmin maps for other continents (or Mexico). If you purchased the version which includes a GPS 10x, you could use it on more than one computer as long as you used that same 10x with each computer. You could also purchase Garmin maps and use them with that package.
If you would like navigation software that concentrates on the planning side of trips, S&T would be a better choice and the Bluetooth QStarz would be perfect for that software. Or you could go with the S&T package that includes a USB GPS and look at adding a Bluetooth GPS later.
Terry
One of the advantages right now for S&T is it is available as a free trial download. That means you don't have to figure out how to share a DVD reader on your Mac over a network to the netbook (if that is even possible). You download directly to your netbook and install the product. Then, if you want the version with GPS, buy it and use the code with the product already on your computer. Or if you just need the software, order a license from Microsoft
For other software products, I would recommend a standalone DVD device. They are not that expensive and can save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
Terry
For other software products, I would recommend a standalone DVD device. They are not that expensive and can save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
Terry
Quote:
So, do I have this straight?
1. The BT-Q818 will work with either the S&T maps/software or the Mobile PC maps/software.
2. The Garmin GPS 10x will also work with either the S&T maps/software or the Mobile PC maps/software.
1. The BT-Q818 will work with either the S&T maps/software or the Mobile PC maps/software.
2. The Garmin GPS 10x will also work with either the S&T maps/software or the Mobile PC maps/software.
1. The BT-Q818 will work with microsoft Streets&Trips. It will work with the software-only version of Mobile PC.
2. The Garmin GPS10x works great with Microsoft Streets&Trips. If you decide you want the GPS10x and there is any chance you will want to use it with Mobile PC, buy the version of Mobile PC that comes with the GPS10x bundled together.
The approach I would take would be to wait on the decision of what GPS receiver to buy and download the free trial version of Streets&Trips to see if it does what you want. If so, you can buy the BT-Q818 and Streets&Trips and you're in business.
If you don't like Streets&Trips and want something that works more like your Nuvi but on a nice big screen, then you can buy the version of Mobile PC that comes with the GPS10x. Terry has listed some advantages to that approach.
If you will never care about adding Garmin's City Navigator maps for Mexico or Europe to Mobile PC, you can buy the BT-Q818 and the software-only version of Mobile PC and save yourself a little money.
...ken...