Mini Laptops Vs SatNavs ?

[tonyishuk]

Having just wandered around Curry's and spotted a couple of small screen laptops running windows Operating systems. They seemed quite a useful little work horse. The cost was very near the price of a TomTom.

Seemed easier to store, as easy to use ect.

 

Has any one played with these types of laptops ?

 

Worth running Autoroute with a GPS input for navigating ?

 

Rgds

 

 

 

[Mr. Grumpy]

Have a look at this link (sent to me after a recent forum inquiry).

http://www.xor.org.uk/silkroute/equipment/satnav800.htm

 

 

[Guest peter]

I've got an assus Eeee with Autoroute /GPS installed. Very good and more usefull than dedicated Satnav.

[Mel E]

The problem with using a laptop - small or large - is how to fix it safely into a position where you can also access the keyboard when you need to make re-routing changes, etc.

 

With the latest TomTom Sat Navs costing under £150 (less if you don't need Continental maps), I'd go for a dedicated SatNav every day.

 

Mel E

====

[tonyishuk]

Thanks to all for your views.

 

The link is intresting, makes my m/homeing quite mundane.

 

rgds

[jenkothewanderer]

Hi Mr Grumpy, have read your article via the link with great interest. I too am interested in using my DELL Laptop (INSPIRON 6400) with a suitable GPS receiver. I run an A Class Hymer which has a large windscreen and wide front shelf which I would think would be ideal to pick up good reception. My laptop uses Autoroute 2007 with GPS SOFTWARE and I have already downloaded sat co-ordinates via push pins of all UK & French campsites. I have my eye on a GPS receiver from a UK source on E Bay which is a Bluenext BN-905GR 51 Channel Bluetooth GPS Receiver.

I understand Autoroute 2007 has a driving guidance function does it work has effectively as say Tom Tom ? Is PC Navigator 7 superior ?

I would appreciate any comments you may have.

Regards

Jenko

[enodreven]

Hi,

 

We use Autoroute 2006 with GPS on our laptop and find it great, the laptop sits on a shelf mounted on passanger side dash and the GPS receiver is just laid in the window and it works fine.

 

I would just say that we use a USB cabled GPS receiver that came with Autoroute which gets its power from the USB socket on the laptop, but if you go for a bluetooth receiver you will need to power them separately which may not be as easy or as handy as the cabled version

 

hope that helps

 

jenkothewanderer - 2008-11-05 7:51 PM

 

Hi Mr Grumpy, have read your article via the link with great interest. I too am interested in using my DELL Laptop (INSPIRON 6400) with a suitable GPS receiver. I run an A Class Hymer which has a large windscreen and wide front shelf which I would think would be ideal to pick up good reception. My laptop uses Autoroute 2007 with GPS SOFTWARE and I have already downloaded sat co-ordinates via push pins of all UK & French campsites. I have my eye on a GPS receiver from a UK source on E Bay which is a Bluenext BN-905GR 51 Channel Bluetooth GPS Receiver.

I understand Autoroute 2007 has a driving guidance function does it work has effectively as say Tom Tom ? Is PC Navigator 7 superior ?

I would appreciate any comments you may have.

Regards

Jenko

[jenkothewanderer]

Thanks for the reply, it is a good point you make about the bluetooth version a USB powered device would be more appropriate. Do you use the voice guidance option on Autoroute 2006, if so how good is it and what happens if you take a wrong turn etc.

Regards

Jenko

 

[Guest Tracker]

It is illegal to have a TV or similar screen in view of the driver and I wonder how Mr Plod would react to seeing a laptop on the dashboard?

 

It may well be showing a route and technically be a sat nav at the time, but due to it's size and the potential for it to show just about anything on screen there might be an issue with the law?

[enodreven]

Hi,

 

The voice guidance is the same as a normal GPS system albeit you have a choice of male or female the male sounds a bit robotic, if you take a wrong turning or miss a turning it tells you you need to turn and it tries to help you with the best place to make that turn you can also press one of the "f" keys and it will recalculate a new route. it also tells you your altitude and speed etc etc.

 

As for having a screen in view of the driver there is a question of the legal position regarding any screen including GPS devices, and i think the position is if it can be proved that you were driving without due care and attention due to looking at one of these devices then you will probably be prosecuted just the same as you would if you were putting your make-up on or eating smoking etc

 

We don't have it directly faceing the driver its my navigator (the wife) who controls it.

 

hope that helps

 

jenkothewanderer - 2008-11-05 8:18 PM

 

Thanks for the reply, it is a good point you make about the bluetooth version a USB powered device would be more appropriate. Do you use the voice guidance option on Autoroute 2006, if so how good is it and what happens if you take a wrong turn etc.

Regards

Jenko

[Guest Tracker]

Whether or not a passenger controls the laptop, if it is capable of being seen by the driver by not being fixed at a certain angle or permenantly shielded from his view you may have a problem especially if Mr Plod is having a bad day or you are captured on camera.

 

And then there is also the issue of part of the drivers visibility out of the windscreen being blocked?

[enodreven]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the tips but it actually places less restriction on view than a window mounted GPS, and as i said above anything that can be shown to adversely affect the drivers concentration and ability to control the vehicle could legally render the driver in a court e.g viewing a GPS screen big or small, eating, smoking, having an argument the list goes on.

 

 

Tracker - 2008-11-05 8:44 PM

 

Whether or not a passenger controls the laptop, if it is capable of being seen by the driver by not being fixed at a certain angle or permenantly shielded from his view you may have a problem especially if Mr Plod is having a bad day or you are captured on camera.

 

And then there is also the issue of part of the drivers visibility out of the windscreen being blocked?

[Guest peter]

That's funny, I thought the thread was concerning the merits of a laptop v's dedicated GPS. Not the legalities of using them. You can now get GPS with a 7" screen, the same size as my Asus Eee PC. You always seem to get the armchair legal experts piping up when thy've got no useful input to a thread. If you've got no constructive input, then why bother posting?. >:-)

[jenkothewanderer]

Thanks for your comments which are most helpful, I feel we are on the same wavelength. We usually get around very well with my wife reading a map from pre-determined routes but occasionally we slip up and as I usually take a laptop anyway so I thought why not use the technology available especially as it is quite cheap to purchase a GPS receiver.

Regards

Jenko

Ps As for the legallity aspect I think a little commense and discreet use of the laptop is all that is necessary.

[Brian Kirby]

peter - 2008-11-05 9:16 PM That's funny, I thought the thread was concerning the merits of a laptop v's dedicated GPS. Not the legalities of using them. You can now get GPS with a 7" screen, the same size as my Asus Eee PC. You always seem to get the armchair legal experts piping up when thy've got no useful input to a thread. If you've got no constructive input, then why bother posting?. >:-)

Your liver's playing up again, Peter.  Would not one of the demerits of using a laptop in lieu of a GPS, be it's potential illegality?  If illegal, it couldn't be used, so not much of a useful comparison.

It is not legal to have an obstruction to the area of the windscreen swept by the wipers, when viewed from the driver's seat. 

The proposed position for the Inspiron (presumably 15") laptop, on the extended dash top, would appear likely to obstruct that area of the screen.  It is surely reasonable to raise such a matter as a possible disadvantage, rather than just leave folk to rely endlessly on "discovery learning"?

It is unsafe to assume that all police forces will behave as the UK police do.  Some see an infringement, brook no argument or excuse, book you, fine you, and sometimes confiscate the offending item.  Far better to be warned, in my opinion.  Then you can check the facts yourself, if the matter is likely to be important to you, or take an informed risk if you so choose.  At least that way you have choice.

[Guest Tracker]

peter - 2008-11-05 9:16 PM

 

That's funny, I thought the thread was concerning the merits of a laptop v's dedicated GPS. Not the legalities of using them. You can now get GPS with a 7" screen, the same size as my Asus Eee PC. You always seem to get the armchair legal experts piping up when thy've got no useful input to a thread. If you've got no constructive input, then why bother posting?. >:-)

 

What is it with you Peter?

Why should I have to put up with continuous insults and verbal abuse from you? Do I ever have a go at you?

Why not take a leaf out of your own book you argumentative old codger!

If you can't see the point of remaining legal you are perhaps not as bright as you claim to be!

[bigal55]

here we go again,abuse

has anybody compared a laptop against a dedicated gps, i use a laptop with autoroute for route planning and a tomtom when driving, mounted on a swivel mount were we both can set it. i haven,t found anyway of putting p.o.i.s on the laptop whereas i.ve downloaded 1000s for the tomtom so when we fancy a cuppa can instantly find a aire, viewpoint, m/home parking(THANKS AGAIN GRAHEM),etc etc, can this be done with a laptop, thanks

 

[Brian Kirby]

If you read jenkothewanderer's post above, he says he has Pushpins (i.e. POIs) for all French and UK campsites, so the answer to your question must be yes.  Why not PM him and ask where/how he got them?

[bigal55]

Brian Kirby - 2008-11-06 9:00 PM

 

If you read jenkothewanderer's post above, he says he has Pushpins (i.e. POIs) for all French and UK campsites, so the answer to your question must be yes.  Why not PM him and ask where/how he got them?

brian i have these pushpins, as i said in my post, can you download pushpins/pois for aires, m/home parking,supermarkets etc etc, we discovered Han Sur Lesse in Belgium with its caves by searching for pois on the tomtom while having a break on our way south. the advantage of the tomtom for me is the 1000s of pois which do not appear to be available in autoroute, unless anybody knows different.

[Guest peter]

Brian Kirby - 2008-11-06 6:19 PM

peter - 2008-11-05 9:16 PM That's funny, I thought the thread was concerning the merits of a laptop v's dedicated GPS. Not the legalities of using them. You can now get GPS with a 7" screen, the same size as my Asus Eee PC. You always seem to get the armchair legal experts piping up when thy've got no useful input to a thread. If you've got no constructive input, then why bother posting?. >:-)

Your liver's playing up again, Peter.  Would not one of the demerits of using a laptop in lieu of a GPS, be it's potential illegality?  If illegal, it couldn't be used, so not much of a useful comparison.

It is not legal to have an obstruction to the area of the windscreen swept by the wipers, when viewed from the driver's seat. 

The proposed position for the Inspiron (presumably 15") laptop, on the extended dash top, would appear likely to obstruct that area of the screen.  It is surely reasonable to raise such a matter as a possible disadvantage, rather than just leave folk to rely endlessly on "discovery learning"?

It is unsafe to assume that all police forces will behave as the UK police do.  Some see an infringement, brook no argument or excuse, book you, fine you, and sometimes confiscate the offending item.  Far better to be warned, in my opinion.  Then you can check the facts yourself, if the matter is likely to be important to you, or take an informed risk if you so choose.  At least that way you have choice.

Gone off at half cock again Brian. I was refering to a small laptop placed in front of the Co-Pilot. Who said the laptop would be placed in the direct view of the driver?. Answer.....Nobody. So would not be ilegal.

[Guest peter]

Tracker - 2008-11-06 6:23 PM

 

peter - 2008-11-05 9:16 PM

 

That's funny, I thought the thread was concerning the merits of a laptop v's dedicated GPS. Not the legalities of using them. You can now get GPS with a 7" screen, the same size as my Asus Eee PC. You always seem to get the armchair legal experts piping up when thy've got no useful input to a thread. If you've got no constructive input, then why bother posting?. >:-)

 

What is it with you Peter?

Why should I have to put up with continuous insults and verbal abuse from you? Do I ever have a go at you?

Why not take a leaf out of your own book you argumentative old codger!

If you can't see the point of remaining legal you are perhaps not as bright as you claim to be!

Not insults or verbal abuse Tracker. Merely an observation and it's not directed soley at you either.

[Brian Kirby]

bigal55 - 2008-11-06 9:29 PM

Brian Kirby - 2008-11-06 9:00 PM If you read jenkothewanderer's post above, he says he has Pushpins (i.e. POIs) for all French and UK campsites, so the answer to your question must be yes.  Why not PM him and ask where/how he got them?

brian i have these pushpins, as i said in my post, can you download pushpins/pois for aires, m/home parking,supermarkets etc etc, we discovered Han Sur Lesse in Belgium with its caves by searching for pois on the tomtom while having a break on our way south. the advantage of the tomtom for me is the 1000s of pois which do not appear to be available in autoroute, unless anybody knows different.

Don't think I made myself quite clear Alan.  All Autoroute programmes have pushpins, they are part of the programme.  However, it is possible to download pushpin sets, which I suspect is what jenkothewanderer has done.  I doubt he will have input all those sites on his own - there are more than 5,000 campsites in France alone! 

Will they tell you about caves?  No.  But a decent guide book will, and generally in enough detail for you to decide if the experience will be worth the effort of driving there!

[Brian Kirby]

peter - 2008-11-06 11:27 PM

Gone off at half cock again Brian. I was refering to a small laptop placed in front of the Co-Pilot. Who said the laptop would be placed in the direct view of the driver?. Answer.....Nobody. So would not be ilegal.

Peter

I think the following quote from jenkothewanderer, above, is what raised the issue of legality of having a laptop in front of a driver.  Make of it what you will, but it appears to suggest having a computer sitting on the extended dashboard top of an A class van.

"Hi Mr Grumpy, have read your article via the link with great interest. I too am interested in using my DELL Laptop (INSPIRON 6400) with a suitable GPS receiver. I run an A Class Hymer which has a large windscreen and wide front shelf which I would think would be ideal to pick up good reception."

[Mel B]

To lighten the mood a little ... have a look at this little gem ... it shows another 3 men having a p***ing contest!

 

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ahNr4U-BAvQ

 

(lol) ;-)

[tonyishuk]

As always thanks for your thoughts

 

Having started the thread,

 

I think I'll spend a few pounds more and use it as a TV / DVD player

 

Rgds (lol)