Laptop GPS World

Small outing today with ALK CoPilot 11. Went well. The system took me from point A to point B with out any issues and was very accurite. I don't normaly like voice promps, but I used Lisa's voice for turns and information. I found it to be pleasant enough. You could hear the voice very clearly. I tested John and Samantha and they seemed very machanical. I don't know how much I'll use voice promps, but I found "Lisa" to be OK.
This is just another update as I get use to the new layout for ALK's new CP 11.

Try Karen (Australian accent). I'm overly sensitive to voice quality , and normally I prefer pre-recorded human voice, but Karen is very good (and I actually don't consider turning her off ).

__________________
Marvin Hlavac

PC GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics

Got a question. My son says that built in GPS systems are better than standalones or laptop systems. Is this true or do you have an oppinion?

That's not really true. They all use the same maps so there is no difference there. They all use pretty much the same routing algorithms, so again, no difference.

As to laptops, he might have a point, because generally laptops have more primitive navigation features because that is not what they were originally designed to do (except for iGuidance and CoPilot).

As to stand alone units, they are just as good as any built in one and generally have pretty much the same features. They also have the advantage that they are much cheaper and so can be more easily changed when the technology changes. Also their map updates are generally much cheaper. I've seen friends with BMWs pay $500/$600 for map updates that would cost no more that $100, if that, for a stand alone unit.

Built in units generally have two advantages. First, since they can be connected to the wheels they can do "dead reckoning" and keep track of you when the signal is lost, such as in a tunnel. But it is hard to get lost in a tunnel. Second, since the car already has an antenna, if the built in unit does traffic than the installation is generally neater when it comes to picking up TMC signals.

__________________
Moderator - GpsPassion.com
iPhone Editor -palmaddict.typepad.com
Contributing Editor - Teleread.org/blog

I've used ALK CoPilot for years and I've always thought it served me well. I like using the power of the computer, that I'll be traveling with anyway. I also like the offers ALK offers when new stuff or updates are available.
It's not perfect, but a pretty strong GPS system to me.
My son has a $600 Garmin and he's pretty happy with it, but the screen is small in comparison to the laptop, and my kids enjoy knowing where we are in relationship to where we are heading.
Thanks for you imput.

Hello GPS community. I recently purchased ALK CoPilot Truck 11 after years of debating and putting off the purchase. And right off the back after the initial installation I was having problems. I'd click on the icon to open the software and it wouldn't load up. I was getting the "CoPilot software has encountered a problem and needs to close" windows that most of us are probably familiar with. So I called tech support and explained. They told me that I would have to lower my screen resolution from 1440x900 to a notch lower at 1024x768. I did that and it finally loaded up. But I explained to tech support that that would be an inconvenience to have to do that every time I wanted to load the software up. I shouldn't have to go through all these hoops and hurdles to open up some software that I paid my hard earned $200 for. It should work just as advertised. She said "well, you can always return it". She also said "that they were working on a fix or a work around for it". Then today while using the program it kept crashing on me like every 15-20 minutes. So again, I called tech support. They had me turn something off that was enabled in the program. Something that had to do with traffic updates while connected to the internet. I'm guessing my wireless card had something to do with that. Has anyone else experienced this? I've been using MS Streets & Trips for the past 6 years about as long as I have been driving a tractor trailer truck. Always getting the latest version until the Streets & Trips 2008 version just stopped working all of a sudden. But after reading the forums in Laptop GPS World I quickly realized that I wasn't the only person experiencing that problem. So I resorted back to the 2007 version. Anyways, I been wanting to try the CoPilot Truck because of the truck specific routes and functionality. I've only begun to use the ALK CoPilot Truck 11 within the past week or so. Its a nice looking program. I mean the colors and the graphics along with the 2D & 3D options are nice when compared to Microsoft Streets and Trips plain bland look. ALK CoPilot has all the features of MS Streets & Trips plus a whole lot more. But I find that the Streets & Trips was better at finding some addresses when typed in compared to ALK CoPilot. I would type in an address in ALK CoPilot and its as if the address didn't exist. I would type the same address in Streets & Trips and it would find it. Alk needs to update there database or something. But this is why I will continue to run both programs. One as the primary and the other as a backup. But I do find myself using the ALK CoPilot software more often though. I guess its my new toy for now. I hope this reply wasn't too loooooong.

SQ609, thanks much for the feedback on the Truck version. I've heard about the screen resolution issue. Did the technical support person mention ETA for the fix or workaround? I hope it's going to be a fix, rather than a workaround.

I haven't experienced the crashing problem you've described, but I have the "Laptop" version, not the "Truck" version. I do have the traffic feature enabled, even though it is pointless as the traffic coverage is only for the USA, not for Canada.

The address search is a weakness of ALK CoPilot. If a user searches for a street number that is within a valid range of numbers on a street, the search should return an approximate location, even though the particular number is not in ALK database. Life would be easier that way.

SQ609, I think you are the first one to post feedback on AKL CoPilot Truck in this new forum. It motivated me to change the name of this forum section from the old ALK CoPilot Laptop to the new ALK CoPilot Laptop, ALK CoPilot Truck. I hope we'll get more user feedback on both versions .

__________________
Marvin Hlavac

PC GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics

Hey Marv. When I called tech. support about the crashes that I was experiencing with ALK CoPilot Truck I inquired about the screen resolution issue. They said that they were working on it and that I should expect a fix within a month or so in the form of a download. It was the enabled traffic feature that kept causing ALK CoPilot Truck to crash because once I disabled the feature the crashes stopped. But I did also have my wireless card plugged in the side of my laptop. So I don't know if the traffic feature was trying to access the internet or what. Hopefully Microsoft will get it together next time with the Streets and Trips 2009 version. MS needs to come out with a truck version to compete with ALK. Even though the Streets & Trips is pretty darn good when it comes to the directions and routing, I have to keep in mind that those routes are for 4 wheelers (cars) and not 18 wheel trucks. I have to be mindful of weight restrictions and height clearances. This is where ALK CoPilot Truck beats Microsoft Streets and Trips. Yeah hopefully we can get more user feedback on this because I'm a newbie to this ALK CoPilot stuff.

Hello, new to the forum. I've been using GPS for a number of years starting with ALK CoPilot PPC 5 up through Laptop 9 & 10.

I live in Portland Oregon and in the surrounding areas the map data has been very out dated. Laptop 10 wasn't as bad as 9 of course. I pickup 10-20 deliveries per run, or 20-40 deliveries each day.

I used new ALK CoPilot 11 last night and the very 1st stop I entered wasn't found. Needless to say this wasn't a good sign, you see with v10 I get 2-5 stops a night 5 days per week that I need to look up in the map book (Thomas Guide).

By comparison my friend has an old Roadmate 300 circa 2004 w/'03 maps and that device easily compares to v9 if not better ! It might even compare to v10 in most areas.

Now the real stunner for me is when I called customer support and trying to get some guidance to see if some of the features I found missing were in fact missing, she decided to hang up on me because I said I was disapointed so far.

So I called back spoke to some guy who wasn't concerned about that as he said he was tech support.

As far as the very out dated maps on v11, he said they get their data from primarily county records? so it's thier mistake? I didn't understand that answer at all. When I placed my order from them last week someone explained that they don't use Navteq because the cost is so high and they already have base maps they build off of over the years.

Disappointed is an understatement, the features that are now gone from v10 that I've found so far are :

- the ability to have multiple info lines on bottom of screen such as destination, current cross-street, current road you are on. You can only have ONE.

- inability to name "phantom" or missing addresses that I found in map book? Which again very very easy on v10.

- the program is not in a "window" eliminating the windows task bar and the clock and battery status as well as other useful info on your computer which is very useful for me anyway.

- the ability to simply key enter when entering destination, that is type destination hit enter, you must now point and click on every detail which takes more time. This seems normal if it were a desktop program, not in a vehicle. This really really sucks bad.

- the user interface, again would be fine from a desktop in a mobile environment very disappointing. Without the v10 easy useful shortcuts always on screen ONE click away such as Detour which I use, have changed as to how they function or where they are located. Again more point and clicks than before, not good.

- finally the map data, nothing new here I know they have been well behind Navteq but this is getting out of hand now. The neighborhoods that are missing, yes not streets neighborhoods, are over 2 yrs old maybe 3-4 yrs.

- The destination is always at least a block away sometimes 1/2 a mile in rural areas where as my friends old Roadmate puts you to the door!

The bottom line is no matter how used you become to entering stops it simply does take more point and clicks and time than v10. The only improvement I found was the graphics lol. Oh well it seems they have taken a step back away from function(s) and more to looks and basic point A to point B type of program burying and eliminating some of the useful functions.

Returning it, done with ALK CoPilot and thinking of trying the Garmin Mobile PC.

Anyone have any suggestions for multiple 15-30 stops? obviously must have "optimize" feature and Navteq !

Anyone?

HELP

Thanks

Greg

Hey Ducati. Sorry to read about your frustration. As I have never used ALK CoPilot version 10 - I really can't comment about the comparisons of version 10 & 11. Furthermore, I am a newbie myself to the latest version of ALK CoPilot Truck 11. And I totally agree with you about there being too many buttons to point and click on especially in a moving vehicle environment. The other routing software that I use is Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007. I used the 2008 version until it stopped working all of a sudden and I had to resort back to the 2007 version. I've been using it for about 5 or 6 years now. And for the most part it has gotten me where I needed to be with about a 97% accuracy rate. You can enter multiple stops as well as "optimize" those stops as I have done. Now I don't know about 15-30 stops because I don't have that many stops on my runs. But I don't see why MS Streets & Trips couldn't handle it. The only thing you have to remember is that Microsoft Streets and Trips is built with 4 wheelers in mind and not the BIG TRUCKS. Check this link out. http://www.deluoelectronics.com/cate...s_-_Trips_2008

They seem to have gone away from the pure function roots of the trucking industry in their consumer grade version.

I was at that company's website a week or so ago and bought this: http://www.deluoelectronics.com/cust...vStick_USB_GPS

I almost gave the MS a shot they have a bundle if you click the drop down for $25 more oh well.

I guess I'll keep trying I got the rest of the 30 day trial or I'll just use v10 for a bit.

thanks

Greg, welcome to Laptop GPS World, and thanks very much for your first impressions of the new ALK CoPilot 11. Is it the Laptop or the Truck version?

Like SQ609 said, Microsoft Streets and Trips can do multi-stop routing optimization, too. And other than ALK CoPilot and Microsoft Streets and Trips, I cannot think right now of another GPS navigation program that can do that.

3 or 4 year new map data not being included in a product would not bother me too much in itself - this is common in other products, too - I actually see substantial improvement of map data in my area. Yet, I wholeheartedly agree with you (and many others) that ALK CoPilot's usability would be improved immensely by Navteq data. I'm afraid ALK may not see it that way, or the cost is just too prohibitive for them.

__________________
Marvin Hlavac

PC GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics

I purchased ALK CoPilot Laptop 11 not the truck version. I'm doing local small package mostly residential. I was using PPC 5 a few years ago in a box truck.

I'll give it a go some more, however, Marvin maybe I have too high expectations in regards to map data? I am doing about 24 stops urban and suburban neighborhoods per day average.

When I come across an address that is n/a I turn to the Thomas Guide that has been 100% spot on. Then I need to find the closest cross-street / location to it. This gets old when you are working in a hurry sometimes.

The odd thing I came across with v10 is various turns on and off a highway that is no way possible. What I'm trying to understand is how the Thomas Guide can be physically printed out in mass volume so accurate every year yet the GPS mapping is every 1 1/2 yrs. and is less accurate.

I do have a tethered T-Mobile EDGE phone $19.99 unlimited data plan for the out of town addresses that come up missing as often too.

I do like the improved graphics and refresh rate as you reviewed in the excellent video posted. I will give it another few weeks or so (2 - 3K miles) of deliveries.

With any luck I have too high expectations and bad luck on the first day...

Got a question. I'm trying to figure out how to just "Drive" with ALK CoPilot 11. The earlier versions had this option.
I was using it to drive to work and my place of work doesn't have local address. We are a Govt. site.
The roads where there as I drove, but I had to put in a town that was about 12 miles from my work place. Very frustrating. Once I got there I "saved" the location...I think. Any ideas? Kent

Hi all. I'm new to this forum. Marvin pointed me in this direction.

I've had ALK CoPilot 11 Truck since the day it came out. I tried to use it but found it too infuriating. After a number of emails and phone calls, the best info I can get is that there will be a patch released sometime in mid-May.

Here's a list of my major complaints with CoPilot 11 I sent to ALK. The tech support's responses are in red:

Bring back the map editor. The avoid/favor roads feature is invaluable
This feature is currently being worked on and should be available in an upcoming update.

Bring back the Save Current and the POI manager
There is a Save Current feature in CoPilot, click on Menu->More->Save Current. The Custom POI manager is currently being worked on and should be available in an upcoming update.

The map data may be updated, but it's still wrong. Look at a map of West Virginia. It only shows a couple roads that allow trucks. Sorry - there are very few roads in WV that DON'T allow trucks. I've been on designated truck routes in WV and CoPilot is telling me to turn around because I'm on a truck restricted route.
When Copilot told you to turn around, did you receive a large yellow warning on the screen that said the road was truck restricted or is it just telling you to turn around? Also, when on a road that Copilot is telling you to turn around, is the road highlighted in yellow. Copilot Truck Laptop 11 now shows truck restricted roads highlighted in yellow. If you received the Yellow warning about the truck restriction and the road is not truck restricted, please let me know what road it was so that I may have our map data team review it.

When ALK CoPilot is running, my cpu usage stays at 100% for the program about 98% of the time. CoPilot 9 used about 5% of the cpu
This is currently being investigated by our development team. I believe it is due to the new graphics interface.

CoPilot randomly crashes for no reason. It doesn't matter if I'm sitting still, moving, editing a trip, etc - it just crashes
This maybe due to a Live and Traffic communication issue. Please turn off Live and Traffic and please let me know if the crashes stop

Where is the patch for the screen resolution issue? 1024x768 is fine if you have a standard monitor. My laptop is a widescreen and that resolution stretches everything
The patch is not available yet. It is still being worked on and tested by our development team. I expect it will be available in the next few weeks.

The Live feature is still as useless in version 11 as it was in version 9. It worked fine for a few days, then I started receiving messages from random people, the tracking info (if it didn't say "Device not connected" on the live.alk.com site) definitely wasn't tracking me. I created a new account - still doesn't work. This is the exact same problem I was having with version 9 pretty much from day 1 with it
This has been reported to the development team and will be fixed in an upcoming patch. Please let me know your live user name.