What GPS software I should use for my netbook?

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...

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

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 saw those at amazon

• 10" Netbook Windshield Mount

and this

• 5.5" Netbook Windshield Mount

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: Netbook windshield mount for $14.95

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.

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

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

Wrong question. Backwards, really.

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.

UMPC, tablet PC, and laptop PC mounts are not that expensive. They are worth the money.