Thanks to this wonderful site, I will be switching over from Delorme to Garmin Mobile PC - but did have one concern:

Why is this product so "obscure" ? Makes me wonder if it will be abandoned at some point...

Why doesn't Garmin put this product on store shelves next to their popular Nuvi-style "all-in-one" GPS units? I had studied Garmin's own site several times and never knew this product existed (it's buried under layers of menus).
After your site enlightened me, I found that it was available through Amazon, and apparently Staples, but it's only sold on web site at Staples, not in stores, and Best Buy doesn't carry it...

But everyone sells Delorme Street Atlas and Microsoft Streets & Trips which are both garbage-ware in my opinion. I do Insurance claim inspections and plot out 4 or 5 sites a day, every day. I go to a bad-weather site, get 80 to 100 claims, and try to figure out where they are and "group" them into logical day-routes.

Delorme often cannot find 1/4 of the addresses, or centers me in a zip code as the street isn't found. Yet my Garmin Nuvi will find the same address 99% of the time, and Map-quest will find it. This happens in multiple states I travel to, and I am really fed-up with Delorme.

I know your FAQ's say that no-one knows about future releases... but do you get a warm-fuzzy feeling that it is a good product to have running on a laptop (for the big picture showing several destinations) and perhaps can share info with the "turn-by-turn" Nuvi Garmin unit?
===========================================
Edit 2-5-2010: my experience with Delorme runs through many versions, but had only used a very old version of S&T. I should not have classified it as "garbageware" without trying newer version.

Delorme uses there own in-house mapping data which can give mixed results in some areas. Garmin uses Navteq (as does S&T) which is generally more reliable for North America than other map data suppliers.

Garmin makes their big bucks on hardware and got into the computer related mapping arena a little late (except for nRoute). The Mobile PC product is basically a Nuvi on a large screen. A great display and reasonable options. It works effortlessly with MapSource or you can set up multiple stop routes within the program itself. The interface is very similar to the Nuvi and the learning curve from one to the other is zero.

If you buy the version including a GPS (USB 20x or Bluetooth 10x), you are entitled to yearly or lifetime map updates for an extra fee, just like the Nuvi. As to when a new version will be available, no word yet.

Terry

What Terry said.

Mobile PC is barely a niche market compared to their handheld sales so it's no great surprise that they don't spend a lot of time advertising it.

Regarding whether it gets updated or not, it sort of doesn't matter if you think about what Terry just said.

It's so similar to a Nuvi and sufficiently stable that it almost doesn't matter if they don't release a new version. If you could be happy with a Nuvi for features and functions, Mobile PC is there now.

If you buy one of the versions with a GPS receiver, you can continue to update your maps, either when you choose to or by getting the lifetime updates. So, again, you won't really be left behind because you can keep your map data up to date.

It works under Windows 7, so that's not an issue.

Of course I hope they come out with a new version that at least fixes the known and reported problems and we've made a few suggestions for improvements. They keep confirming that they will deliver a new version. But if they didn't, it wouldn't be an issue for a fairly long time.

...ken...

I've used quite a few laptop gps apps in my truck: Streets & Trips, Street Atlas, CoPilot Truck and Mobile PC. Garmin Mobile PC is the hands down winner, at least for my setup. It's VERY easy to use on a 7" touchscreen, except for the "no on-screen keyboard". Driving an 18-wheeler, I get surprisingly good routing that doesn't try to send me down roads that I wouldn't take my S-10 Blazer down, let alone the big truck (like CoPilot Truck does). I wish you could put "times" on the waypoints the same as in Streets & Trips just to get a better idea of the final ETA, as well as a "stop list" that would only display a list of your planned stops with the distance and eta's to them.

If they offer an upgrade, I'll definitely be in line to purchase it immediately.

Wow - thanks to each of you for taking the time to help me.
(1) That is good to know - I "assumed" S&T was using similar database to Delorme. I have many more years suffering with Delorme than S&T, and might even consider checking out newer versions of S&T but am hoping that Garmin Mobile PC will have a more seamless ability to plot out day-trips (like a delivery guy) and export it to a Nuvi. I have the Nuvi for "turn by turn" but like to also have a full laptop on a stand so I can see the big picture. With Garmin Mobile PC I am hoping to use the laptop for a several mile-wide view in addition to the Nuvi.

(2) This site has a wealth of info - and I have just scratched the surface. I am at a storm site right now and short on time... but will research what "MapSource" means & how that might be different than entering a series of stops into Garmin Mobile PC.

Thanks again for each of your time in helping.
Bob H

You probably should download the free trial for Streets & Trips 2010. It will give you an idea of the improvements Microsoft has made lately and can send multiple stop routes to your Nuvi.

Download details: Streets and Trips 2010

Terry

About Mapsource:

Garmin sells a version of their maps on DVD (as well as SD cards or download files). The DVDs come with a program on them called Mapsource. The Mapsource program is installed on your PC when you install the maps on your PC.

Mapsource is sort of like Street Atlas or Streets&Trips without the realtime navigation. It is an excellent trip planning program. It lets you view the maps, zoom and pan, enter waypoints, find stuff (addresses, cities, intersections, points of interest), and plan routes.

It also lets you transfer maps, waypoints and routes to your Nuvi (or other Garmin handhelds) or to Mobile PC.

Mobile PC will not transfer anything to your Nuvi.

The best way to think about Mobile PC is that you stuffed the Nuvi into your PC, except that it needs an external GPS receiver. Otherwise it's virtually the same.

...ken...

Ken,
You could use the current.gpx file from Mobile PC to transfer information to the Nuvi (or vice versa). I assume it contains route information. It is located at C:\Documents and Settings\<your name>\Application Data\GARMIN\GarminMobilePC\gpx. I know this is a rather heavy handed approach but it is possible.

The better method is to use MapSource as you say. When the Nuvi maps are updated, a version of the new data can be installed on the computer for MapSource too. I'm not sure if this update is installed if you don't have MapSource though.

Terry

I get it now. Well explained.
I will definitely get the version with the USB receiver (not just the disks) to get the full benefit of the map updates, etc.

I remember working a hurricane in 1992 and all the street signs were blown away - counting streets south of the freeway to get to a destination.
Delorme was a big improvement - but the Garmin Nuvi blew it away in terms of finding street addresses 99% of the time.
Having a big view laptop + turn-by-turn on the Nuvi is gonna be awesome if they are singing off the same song-sheet, and don't have to enter the addresses twice.

Gotcha - and I see from the photos of your truck that you aren't running S&T (and Malaki isn't running it- prefers Garmin Mobile PC).

I had no idea that S&T could export multiple stops to a Nuvi. When I get caught up next week I will do that download so I am better informed on what is out there.

I have used Garmin products in my vehicles for eons. However, I have set up and printed travel plans from S&T during those years as well. For my area, S&T maps were next to useless after a change of map data provider in 2005 and Garmin was not much better. All that changed in 2009 when Navteq suddenly realized Canada existed outside of the main cities. Now both products are great here but I like the Mobile PC navigation display better. I also have several Nuvis.


Terry

Bob, the GPX file export (and import) is a brand new feature to the 2010 version. You may want to download the trial version, as Terry suggested. S&T does provide good 'big picture'.

Thank you. And I can see from your photos that you are running Garmin Mobile PC with a large display.
Although I do inspections after a bad storm - it seems like my GPS needs are closer to someone who has a constantly changing delivery route.
Do you GPS guru's have insight to what mapping software is used by delivery services? I would think the big ones (Fed-X, UPS) have their own very specialized software.
And the small mom & pop flower delivery stores may use paper-maps and punch the next house address into their small GPS.
My specific issue is being able to see 40 to 100 addresses splattered across a 50 mile region, and being able to visualize the patterns of homes close together in groups of 5 or so to schedule days inspecting about 5 at a time without zig-zagging across town, and coming back tomorrow to one that you were next door to on a previous day.
Delorme used to work OK for me, but as I said there was too many residential addresses that it could not find (but the little Garmin Nuvi would find them and it was right on the money when you ask the homeowner for their cross-streets - it was right there).

Hi Bob,

Streets&Trips has a number of options that might be helpful in what you want. With its "pushpins" you can create groups of waypoints with different names for the groups.

You can get the data into the pushpins a couple of different ways. You can just enter the addresses directly into Streets&Trips or you can enter then into an Excel spreadsheet and use Streets&Trips to import them.

Either way, you now have a pushpin set that will display the locations on a map. You can designate the icon you want to use to display all the addresses in that pushpin set from a large list of different icons. You will then see those icons on the map. You can click on the icons to get the address information, if that's useful.

Once the pushpin set(s) is complete you can use the GPX export option to export the pushpins as waypoints to load onto your Nuvi or connect the Nuvi to the computer and export them directly to the Nuvi.

Once they're on the Nuvi you can create your own route with just a few of them. Or you can make a route in S&T using just some of the pushpins and export just the route to your Nuvi.

For your purposes, Streets&Trips might be more useful for the PC part of your operation than Mobile PC, especially now that S&T knows how to export GPX files and send stuff to Garmin devices.

The only thing to be aware of in deciding the best way to work with these tools is that to send things directly from S&T to a connected Garmin device, you also need an internet connection. S&T does not actually know how to transfer things directly to a Garmin device. That functionality only exists on one of Microsoft's online services so you need the internet connection to make it happen.

That's not necessarily a big deal because you can do it all with GPX files. It's just a little more complicated that way and you need to be aware of it for planning how to do your work.

I hope that helps.

...ken...

Thanks for taking the time to help - really appreciate it.
I have a Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch circa March 2009.
Up to now, I have simply entered a single destination with occasional single "via".

With the small nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch interface, I did not realize I could enter more than the one single "via" but then I never really tried...

Having lived with Delorme for years (working Katrina claims, etc.) I was used to a visual representation of multiple vias, you can re-arrange, them, etc. And of course the "Laptop-GPS" world you folks live in has that luxury (Garmin mobile-PC, S&T, Delorme, etc.)

I shouldn't waste too much of your time - and when I get caught up (next week...) I will just have to get my toes wet and see how the nüvi 255W tolerates multiple stops charted out in a day. I get the idea that the route needs to be fairly final before exporting it to the Nuvi due to it's limited sequencing (re-arranging) interface.

My 200c did not allow more than one via so it is possible your 255w won't either. Entering a second location from Where To will tell you right away. If it says 'Add As Via Point' it will accept more than one. The screen shot is a 750 which does accept more than one via.

Terry

Attached Images

Second Via.jpg (55.6 KB)

It worked, I just put in 4 via points to my nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch

As I was studying the posts on this site, I ran across this one http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/214-garmin-entering-laptop-pc-tabletpc-umpc-market-its-garmin-mobile-pc which introduced Garmin Mobile PC and this quote caught my attention:

"Thanks to the route shaping feature, users can select specific roads they want to travel and customize their route to avoid certain roads and geographic areas."

I really could have used that feature this morning. I am working a 75 MPH windstorm that hit Phx Arizona area a few weeks ago, and keep getting inspections in these upper-middle-class gated communities (puke).

Delorme (or my nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch) tend to route me to the doorstep, but then you find that you "can't get into the community" from that gate, because visitors have to "enter from Balboa street" where the guard gives you the sniff test.

After several of those (wondering where "Balboa" is on a myopic 4.3" screen in 3D) I got wise and started asking homeowners about these "gotcha's" but cannot force my nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch to route me into the community from a specific route.

I know it can be done if I could "step out of the myopic box" and find the intersection that I want to pass through, and tell it that point as a via - but without a LAPTOP GPS running in the van I can't see beyond the narrow route. I have actually thought about buying a paper map and haven't had that need for years.

Sooo... with Garmin Mobile-PC (and maybe S&T if it exports OK to the little nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch I will be able to gain control of this area.

Bob, I should probably have applied a caveat to what I said about routing on your Nuvi. I was thinking more of what Streets&Trips is capable of providing for your Nuvi ... provided your Nuvi is capable of taking advantage of it.

You've hit on an issue that plagues some Nuvi users: some Nuvis are not able to use Vias in routes at all; some can only have one Via in a route; some can do multiple Vias in a route.

From a quick internet search and a peek at the Owners Manual, it looks like your 255W can have multiple Vias added to a route (couldn't find a limit specified or tested so it might be a small number or a large number). But it looks like it may be unable to save a route for re-use.

...ken...

I bet you were typing your post just before I hit "send"...
Yep, my nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch just received 4 "via" points that I selected from recently used addresses.

You folks rock, I had no idea my nuvi would do that. I have 20 years experience in my profession and help others on another forum for that profession, now you are giving back to me. Much appreciated, because getting lost (or late) is a recurring pain for those who have not mastered this arena.

Hi Bob,

What goes 'round comes 'round, eh?

...ken...

Although you can plan a route with multiple stops in S&T and send it to your Nuvi, the Nuvi will recalculate the route based on those stops, not on the modifications you made to the route in S&T. From past experience, I would say MapSource generated routes will also be recalculated on the Nuvi.

So Avoid areas in S&T or route shaping in Mobile PC may not translate to the route you want on the Nuvi. If you have a specific entry you must use to a location, add it as a stop.

Terry

Gotcha. And in the spirit of this web site - I have a laptop stand on my Van (where Delorme used to sit on the "throne") so if that big screen software knows the sequence I need - and I can "back out" as needed to get perspective, then I'm OK.

I loved the little nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch for its accuracy and "turn-by-turn" but you can really feel like you have a paper bag over your head when you lose your bearings and become uncertain of where you are being told to go.
With the big picture, you can let the little guy "flip-out" and re-calculate all it wants. It will eventually figure it out.

Bob, if the plan is to put the laptop back in place so you can use the big screen, it really doesn't matter how the Nuvi works. Streets&Trips will get the job done (big picture and routing to all or a few of the pushpins). So will Mobile PC.

Both will let you put a bunch of addresses in, display them with a symbol on the screen and show you enough map area on a single screen to be able to pick concentrated groups of homes to check out, then make a multi-stop route.

Much as I like Garmin stuff, I think Streets&Trips has the edge for your use because of the option to bulk load addresses and the ease of creating multi-stop routes. Also, because of the type of graphics it uses, you can get more map with more details on the screen than you can with Mobile PC. Even with a large screen, I sometimes get that "bag over the head" feeling with Mobile PC, although not nearly so bad as with a Nuvi.

...ken...

I will definitely check out the 2010 version of S&T, and with insight from you folks that it pulls from the same "Navteq" Map database as my Garmin Nuvi there is more respect for it.
The Garmin Nuvi was so much better than Delorme at finding the 100 or so residences I had to inspect for any given storm, that I was ready to put all my eggs in the Garmin basket.

I visualize the Nuvi for "turn-by-turn" with a separate laptop showing the overall route. Seems there are options on what software to run on the laptop, and thats a good thing.

Well, since we're still kicking things around, here's another combo to think about.

With the GPSGate Express program you can use a single GPS receiver to feed two nav programs simultaneously. Some folks like to use Streets&Trips and Mobile PC simultaneously because they like some features of Streets&Trips for the overall view but they prefer Mobile PC for the realtime nav and guidance. As mentioned earlier, Mobile PC looks pretty much exactly like your Nuvi only a lot bigger display.

Any time it seems like you're getting things figured out, we're commited to see if we can confuse you some more. We call it laying out all the options, but it's really just to see how far we can push someone before they go completely bonkers. :rofl"

...ken...

Actually that is brilliant - I like the idea of 2 nav pgms.
I have room for a net-book and laptop. The net-book could run "turn by turn" Garmin Mobile PC (while maintaining tight control on sequence of stops, when someone cancels on you, etc.) My Nuvi 255W does not seem to have a method to reach in there and yank out #3 of 5 locations on a route - but the more robust software of Garmin Mobile PC would have that power.

And the other display shows the entire route (with S&T or the alternate wide view of Garmin Mobile PC). Interesting about sharing a GPS receiver - but I am going to order a BU353 anyway and still have the receiver from Delorme D-40 laying around.
I have a NEED for this stuff like you wouldn't believe. I'm not just driving around on a vacation, I tend to go places where people wanted you there last week and any hiccup on logistics is your enemy.

The LT40 will not work with S&T (or Mobile PC) directly. You must download a free auxilliary program from Delorme to allow it to output data to a COM port (actually more than one COM port at once, I think).

DeLorme Serial Emulation Driver for Earthmate GPS Receivers

Terry

Bob, if the only (or the main) reason for abandoning DeLorme Street Atlas (and switching to your PND solution, was the inability to easily find addresses, then I don't think you will experience the same problem with Streets & Trips. And Streets & Trips will provide the 'paper map look' you sometimes need. You will be able to easily see your 10, 20, 30, etc, customers on the screen, and much more.

Marvin, thanks for this amazing site. My issue with Delorme started during the chaos of trying to find addresses during Katrina (working the Slidel area at the border of Mississippi & Louisiana, hard-hit damages). If Delorme couldn't find an address, it would "center you in the zip code" and there was some fine print about "located by zip" but if you didn't know to look for the message, you would drive to the middle of a field somewhere and be quite late for the day's appointments. I had the same issues working with Delorme in Atlanta, Detroit, and now Phoenix.
I am really looking forward to working with S&T now that you folks enlighten me that it uses the same Navtek map database as Garmin. It is very rare that my little Garmin Nuvi doesn't accurately locate a residence.
Thanks for saving me a trip to the wall.
I will buy the full package of Garmin Mobile PC that comes with the receiver & full map DVDs etc as you folks have described on the review of that product - seems to be a better method than just buying the software due to the anti-piracy features that kick-in when you don't buy their receiver.
I don't mind spending $ for good tools, and likely will get the S&T with their receiver + that other receiver you have a review on (BU...) and that way there won't be those compatibility issues and I will have spares.

As mentioned in my first post on this thread, Garmin Mobile PC does not seem to be sold in stores, only on-line (direct from Garmin, or Amazon). I ordered the 2010 version with USB receiver (20x) but it hasn't arrived yet.

With everyone's help educating me that the same mapping database used by Garmin (NavTeq) is also used by MS Streets & Trips, I wanted to check it out immediately and bought the 2010 version with it's own USB receiver about 7 days ago. I used MS Streets & Trips on a 9 hour drive the next day, and have been learning it's features this week.

Compared to the Delorme product I had been using, I do prefer S&T as a "big view" paper map type orientation.

You folks have spared me from hitting the wall on a number of issues. And not to expect my little Nuvi 255w to retain a complete route with a sequence of stops intact - which leads me to the following plan.

My Garmin Mobile PC should arrive soon. After I learn the basics of that program running alone, I want to try what Gadget Girl describes in this thread: http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/3133-integrating-microsoft-streets-trips-garmin-mobile-pc

You will have to connect both GPS devices to run those 2 programs. Garmin Mobile PC will only work with the 20x. You can't share the 20x with S&T using GPS Gate as Mobile PC won't work with the 20x when interfaced through a secondary program.

No big deal but make sure you have 2 USB ports free if you want to use both programs simultaneously.

Terry

Thanks - I was wondering if I could run 2 GPS recievers at the same time. My laptop DOES have enough USB ports free. You folks rock.

I've bought several versions of Garmin Mobile PC. I bought 2 refurbished packages with the USB 20x receivers. I also bought 2 Bluetooth 10x receivers with stand alone versions of the software because packages were not available from drivengps.com (very good prices)

The standalone versions will work with any gps that can provide the signal in the proper format but are locked into the one computer it is installed on. It also can't be updated with the lifetime Nuvi update option.

The USB 20x package gets locked to the USB receiver S/N but can be installed on multiple computers. Both got a free update to North America NT ver 2010.40
It is also able to be updated with the lifetime Nuvi update option.

Even though I purchased a refurbished 10x Bluetooth GPS with each standalone version I bought, Garmin does not consider them a package. These installed with North America NT ver 2010.10 with no free update available.
The only way to update mapping is purchase a newer version of the program when the 2011 version comes out per my conversations with Garmin tech support.

But to get to my original reason for posting I noticed that when the Bluetooth GPS is paired with the laptop it gets assigned 2 com ports. This may mean that it could directly feed 2 programs without third party support. I don't have Streets & Trips to try.
Garmin told me this program was developed to support the Fujitsu U810 and Sony laptops that have built in GPS units.

Thats how I was Introduced to Garmin Mobile PC, It came factory installed on my Fujitsu. I also have a HP 2730P tablet PC that I have Mobile PC paired with the 10x GPS. The Program is just teriffic on a 12" tablet screen.

Rick

My favourite for a 12" tablet too, especially in portrait mode. I have an HP tx2000.

Although some Bluetooth installations show the 10x (and other BT GPS devices) having 2 COM ports assigned, they are for input and output and only one is available for use. If you wish to use more than one program with a GPS, try xPort or GPS Gate.

BTW Mobile PC can communicate directly with the Bluetooth stack in most instances so you needn't set up a COM port at all.

Terry

OK, I have been running Streets & Trips with it's own USB GPS receiver that came with the 2010 software and Mobile PC with it's own USB GPS receiver. On the same laptop mounted on a stand I have alternated between the 2 programs, then run them at the same time. I have used each of them for "wide view" and then for "closer turn-by-turn" navigation.
I agree, and personally believe that the "wide view for orientation" is better on Streets & Trips than Mobile PC. And certainly better than my little Nuvi 255w. And also better than the Delorme versions I have used over the last 5 years.
Yep, and I agree on that point as well. I take this to mean the "closer in" navigation view, turn-by-turn.

Lately I have been borrowing the idea from GadgetGirl of having Streets & Trips running on the left side of the laptop screen showing "big picture" and the right side is Mobile PC with Navigation view.

The S&T has "North up" yet the Mobile PC follows your twists and turns (navigation view). Without some orientation of the big picture, I used to feel like a near-sighted person with a bag over their head if only the Nuvi was running and the route to the destination was flawed. You can't get your head out of the mud to see alternate routes.

I know this set-up seems a lot like the Delorme split-screen (wide on left, zoomed in on right). But I cannot tolerate Delorme's inability to find street addresses that my Nuvi could find over the last 16 months I have been using it. I had no idea Streets & Trips used the same map database as Nuvi (Navteq) and really appreciate you folks getting me up to speed.

Hey Bob,

It's a real pleasure to see someone come in with a boatload of questions and watch as they grow themselves into a solution that fits nicely.

...ken...

Thanks for your help man!
I had enough experience with the "dark side" of getting lost, trying to schedule too many address inspections... making sense of the chaos.

I will just keep working with these tools and get more familiar. Like most software, I know I am not using half the features yet.

Nuvis and Mobile PC can do 'North Up' just as S&T can do 'Navigation View' in '3D'. Or am I missing the point?

Terry

Yep - and as a total "Nuvi-Newbie" when I got mine 16 months ago I would toggle it back and forth (north up vs. "turn as you go" navigation mode).

One of the things I liked about "north up" is I could maintain some orientation in a strange city through the twists and turns. But as I zoomed out - the little 4.3 inch screen was so disappointing when I was used to a laptop on a stand (running Delorme - if it could find the address...)

I would always end up going back to the "turn as you go" navigation mode on the Nuvi, because it did THAT so well. The 3D thing of seeing the street names near you, and "vanishing point" distance with bigger picture was the preferred setting for me on the Nuvi, and now it's the same on Mobile PC despite the bigger screen.

The Nuvi just doesn't do the big picture (which I run "north up") quite as nice as Streets and Trips. I think others have described it as "cartoon" "thick lines". I just don't see the "paper map" quality I do in S&T's north-up zoomed-out view.

Yeah and I was playing with that this morning on the way to an address, letting S&T do the 'Navigation View' in '3D'.

I suppose people have their own preference, somewhat shaped with what they are familiar with. For me, the Nuvi or (Mobile PC) does the 'Navigation View' in '3D' better than S&T.

My personal experience was that S&T was not smoothly adjusting to the turns, and the "auto-zoom" thing was erratic, jumping in, then out, then back in.

Possibly it was my hardware being taxed with 2 Nav systems running simultaneously (I will try it by itself tomorrow). But when the Mobile PC was given the chore of 'Navigation View' in '3D' with S&T running "north up - big picture" everything ran smoothly (again each had it's own dedicated GPS receiver made for that software).

If someone forced me to run only ONE PROGRAM on my laptop, I would run Streets & Trips for the North-up big-picture while using the little Nuvi 255 for 3D Navigation.

If I get to run 2 apps, I would use Mobile PC on the same screen, and eliminate the Nuvi.

My next challenge is to get more familiar with the import-export functions of these tools, GPX files, etc. I am very familiar with Excel for my job, and think I will be OK once I read the help files and use search on these great forum threads.

I have never used 'North up' because my mind doesn't work well that way. I want to see the big picture in front of me and am happy to let the GPS figure out where North is for some sort of reference. I like 2D direction of travel for long trips (especially when I can do portrait mode) but use 3D on the Nuvi because there is not enough screen real estate advantage to 2D on a small screen, especially in landscape mode.

Terry

Great way to put it - and mine doesn't either. I have used the Nuvi in 2D mode (running the direction you are driving, not North-Up) and agree that mobile-PC would provide more real-estate on the screen size. I will have to work with that some more (only had Mobile PC running for a short time).

However, if I go to a strange city that just had a big storm, get 50 to 100 people to contact and schedule inspections right away... it is chaotic.

You group 3 to 5 a day (depending how much damage to each) and for that day's route I just need to have some orientation in terms of where my hotel is and the various destinations (then usually back to the hotel). For that big-view orientation, North-up works for me.

I usually work a territory that covers about an hours drive, sometimes 2 hours. It's different than a long-haul trucker or someone on a longish vacation. My vias & stops will be in a pattern that I would like to visualize for orientation (big picture), while the Garmin product does the 3D navigation view it does so well (closer in, turn-by turn).

For the last 6 months I sort of abandoned the "big picture" and got by surprisingly well with just the Garmin Nuvi. But when the route it chose occasionally failed, I really missed the laptop.

The best thing about either program is when you miss a turn (through inattention, traffic conditions or plain pigheadedness), they don't whine at you. They just somewhat politely suggest another route to your destination!

Terry

I love that, especially when I was in large cities last year (Atlanta, Detroit) with my Nuvi.

Back home, in a sort-of rural area of California, Garmin Mobile PC is doing a very odd "recalculate" as I drive a route to a family members house 12 miles away. It acts like the shortcut I took is an unpaved road, and tries to get me to turn left and take a huge detour. That detour remains on surface streets, not to a freeway.

I have it set to "fastest" time. Both the Nuvi and Mobile PC are set that way, and the Mobile PC has the newest map download.

I considered playing with the settings... but if I go to "shortest" I don't see that the route would change. The destination was pretty much straight ahead after 2 short turns, and the program shouldn't have routed me around the world on either setting.

As you folks have mentioned in other threads, you have to take the GPS route with a grain of salt. If I am in a strange city, and my Nuvi (now Mobile PC) is set to 3D view, it takes a bit of fiddling to change to 2D view in order to zoom out and get "big picture".

If I am in the middle of driving and realize there is a routing issue, the temptation to fiddle with it while driving is too strong (especially if you are running late).

I tend to watch the road like a strobe light (back and forth from the laptop) as I used Delorme running on a laptop stand for years. But my goal is to have "big" and "turn by turn" running simultaneously so I can be oriented and make small decisions on routing as I approach a destination without fiddling with the equipment.

This will evolve, but the most simple way for me to achieve that with my current gear would be S&T running on a laptop with Nuvi set up for 3D turn-by turn. But running Mobile PC with S&T together is working too.

I need to get up to speed with creating a route, exporting it to whatever is doing the "3D turn by turn" thing.

While I am between projects, I will play with creating routes for dozens of addresses, and either export all the way points or individual routes to Mobil PC and the Nuvi.

It actually takes only one single press of a key on your keyboard . Press the Enter-key on your keyboard, and you will see the big picture immediately. Unfortunately, this feature has been broken in the new version 5.00.70. Garmin has been made aware, and hopefully they will bring this shortcut back in the next software update. In the mean time, tap or click the 'Browse Map' button in the bottom left corner of the map.

Thanks, I will check that out today, running Mobile PC.
Previously my only Garmin product was the Nuvi 255w.
Getting it out of 3D view was a chore while driving.