Laptop GPS recommendations for offroad use in my Jeep

I am very new to gps and have just started researching. I want to hard mount a laptop in My Jeep Wrangler for use on offroad trails and also for general onroad navigation. I was looking at the Delorme Earthmate LT-40 package with there 2009 software. If I buy that receiver can I also use it with other programs like iGuidance, and Garmin Mobile PC? Could I also use it for real time navigation with other MapSource maps, or Topo 7.0.

I would like to get a setup that could run all the above programs to see which one suites my needs the best and don't want to be limited by the receiver I get. The laptop will be an older Itronix go book, or a Toughbook, either will have a touchscreen so a program that is suited to use a touchscreen is a plus. I looked through a lot of posts on here, and just seem to get confused easily. Anybody willing to help out the new guy? :-)

Anybody got any experience with this?

Hi Mud4me,

Welcome to Laptop GPS World.

Yes, the USB GPS receiver will work with DeLorme Street Atlas, iGuidance, many many many other software programs, and even with Garmin Mobile PC (provided you buy the software-only version of Garmin Mobile PC).

Thanks for the info. Is one program usually preferred over another for its touchscreen capability. i will be mounting the laptop upside down on the ceiling of the jeep so its will really hard to use the keyboard for anything. Do these programs come with on screen keyboards?

You could use an external keyboard attached (Velcroed) to dashboard (that's what I do) ;-). iGuidance does have it's own OSK (on screen keyboard), the current version of Garmin Mobile PC doesn't, but several users reported they had no problem successfully using a 3rd party OSK with Garmin Mobile PC. You could use 3rd party OSK with other applications, too (DeLorme Street Atlas, Microsoft Streets and Trips, etc).

Anybody using an older toughbook or itronix gobook to run these nav programs? I am looking at buying an older used one and want to make sure it will run everything i need it to. Most i have looked at are in the 800mhz range with 256 ram and 20gig hd. I know what all the programs spec that they need but i am looking for some real world experience using any of the above mentioned programs. I know those laptops are expensive but i am concerned about the longevity of a regular laptop in my jeep. Thanks for all the responses so far.

Hi just signed up here, I do have a laptop in my TJ just for offroad use.

I have used Garmin08 but now running Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007 soon 2009. I found that Microsoft had better info but no topo for running trails.

I found MS had state land and marked trails in the map! Not with Garmin just paved roads in Northern MI.

I ran a simple setup to mount the laptop and video camera.
look here for info. I'll refine the mount later.

clicky link

Nice pictures there at that link ;-). I like your Jeep with the home-made laptop mount. I'd likely just buy a Ram-Mount instead, since I'm lazy to build stuff. :-)

Rodolo, did you look at the US Topo maps offered by Garmin, and - I think - Delorme?

Terry

Thanks rodolo, I'll keep an eye on your progress.

Well, I guess it's time for an update. I got the laptop that I will be using. It's an Itronix gobookII 1.7ghz-512mb - 40gig hd. I got a BU-353 GPS receiver, and for software I am running Delorme Street Atlas 2009 Plus, and Delorme Topo USA 7.0. I like both programs, and have had them running at the same time without a problem. I have had the setup on one off-road trip and it worked great. The mount is not done yet, I just threw it in the backseat to see how it worked. It worked great and I never lost my GPS signal the entire trip. I should have the overhead mount done by next weekend. I'll post up a few pics when it gets done.

My ideal setup is to put the laptop overhead and run a 10 or 8 inch touch lcd between the visors.

Thanks for looking the set up. Any input is welcome.

My final setup will be close to that. The laptop i have has a 12.1 screen (diagonal naturally) and it is a touchscreen. I have a program that flips the screen so it can be mounted upside down, just recalibrate the touchscreen and it works great.

Can I get link that program to flip the screen?

Not sure exactly where i got it at but its called pivot pro. You should be able to just google it and find some downloads. its a really small app, like 5 or 6 meg.

OK, I found it. It's a scaled down version on an IBM driver sire, but it works fine on mine. It only flips it upside down and regular. Not landscape or anything, but that's all I needed. Here's your link:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...GR-4UJS2V.html