On Board GPS units - Laptop or Chinese GPS units?

[bakerboy]

Ok so I'm looking at adding some form of GPS system at the moment, run OziExplorer and some nearmap sat images

Two trains of thought at the moment
Run an old laptop purely for GPS, store the laptop out of the way and run a moniter to the dash.
Pros being a larger memory, better processor etc
Cons being where to store it, sourcing a suitable monitor, possible damage to HD due to vibrations

Or run one of these bad boys, http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ws/eBayIS...m=230713230243, standalone, comes with street navigation, compact and stores maps etc on an sd card, and you get a wireless camera thrown in too, which I'll mount under the car to check for clearance.

I'm leaning towards the chinese gps unit, but is there anything that would/should sway me to using the laptop?

[my.paj]

I was thinking the same but I was looking at one of these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270807540...ht_5027wt_1344
but the one in your link looks better, what would be the difference of the 2.
Rick

[bakerboy]

if your unit can run ozi, then I'd say yours is probably better, bigger screen etc

[bakerboy]

Looking into it I think the tablet would be the way to go at this stage, although I'd like to hear more feedback about the android side of things

[mrbitchi]

I have 2 setups. A laptop for when I need to run full Ozi and a Chinese GPS from China for running IGO Primo street nav and OziCe.
I have the 5" model but some of my mates have the 6" and 7" versions and they work well.

Be warned, any of the "Chinese" GPSs require a little bit of PC know-how to configure and maintain. You have no official support for any of the software/maps on them.

[aquanaught]

Hi Bakerboy

I have a unit that looks exactly like the one you linked, with the same basic spec. I don't have the bluetooth and rear camera option, however, and the installed software looks to be different too.

I run the supplied IGO software and have set it up to run OziExplorerCE. It works pretty well and for the price ($85) am more than happy with it. One drawback is that on really bright days the screen can be difficult to see due to reflection. It would benefit from a brighter screen but do not have anything to compare it to so don't know if it is good, bad or indifferent in this respect.

If you want to run 3rd party software such as OziExplorer make sure that the installed software interface allows you to change the executable that is run when the 'navigation' button is pressed, or that the winCE operating system can be accessed so that you can run the 3rd party software directly. Apologies if you know all this about the software setup already.

[mrbitchi]

If you want to run 3rd party software such as OziExplorer make sure that the installed software interface allows you to change the executable that is run when the 'navigation' button is pressed,or that the winCE operating system can be accessed so that you can run the 3rd party software directly. Apologies if youknow all this already.

Or find a utility called "GPS Menu"

[sharkcaver]

Looking into it I think the tablet would be the way to go at this stage, although I'd like to hear more feedback about the android side of things

If your mounting it in your header go the pc If in the paj, consider the tablet.

Note, ozi android is only a beta version at present. Used it on my pnone a couple of times. I like it better than Ce.

Having said that, if tablets were around when I got my netbook, I might have gone this way. SSD's were only up to 32Gb when I got my hard drive netbook, too small for me. I must have 1/2 that in maps. I've suffered no HDD issues to date on some pretty rough stuff. The netbook just gets put under the pass. seat.

As for your original question, First up I would look at your mounting. If space and convenience in mounting a tablet, netbook and/or external monitor is going to be an issue, the 7" standalone unit might suffice. But I think the biggest monitor of whatever flavour is the best. The standalone is probably running Ce, if so it can be hacked to run ozi Ce anyways.

I have an 8" touchscreen attached to my netbook. I have 20/20 vision and I wouldn't like to go smaller. I put it to good use around the sw last weekend. Its nice to be able to drive whilst navigating. Something only a bigger screen can do!

[HSV Rangie]

I use OZI Explorer as well.
OziExplorer GPS Mapping Software running on your laptop with a USB Mouse GPS Receiver connected showing your current position on a Hema Map from the latest Australian 4WD Raster Map Collection Maps - all you need to get real time tracking operational in your 4WD. (That's OziExplorer + Hema 4WD Map Collection + additional Australia Map + GPS Mouse Receiver (USB) BU-353).

My current set up is the laptop but its a PIA to use in the car.

Have purchased a 10 inch touch screen to mount and will keep the lap top in rear pocket of front seats.

Touch screen.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200677588015?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Michael.

[iGBH]

I've got a 10' Asus Transformer tablet mounted to the dash of the Pajero using Pro-Clip system running Ozi CE. Fantastic setup.
10' screen real estate is awesome although where i have it mounted it blocks access to radio and ac controls. No big deal as its on flexible arm which can be moved easily.

[Silver Streak]

I've got a 10' Asus Transformer tablet mounted to the dash of the Pajero using Pro-Clip system running Ozi CE. Fantastic setup.
10' screen real estate is awesome although where i have it mounted it blocks access to radio and ac controls. No big deal as its on flexible arm which can be moved easily.

Any photos of the mounting system.
Any of the above has got to better than the usless GPS on the MMCS, a lot of us have.

[iGBH]

Nothing to hand. Might be able to organise something in the next couple of days...

[mrbitchi]

This is my home made job. Bolts under the front set mount bolts.
The top is a RAM unit.
That particular laptop has gone to the gods. Corrugations killed the screen..

[iGBH]

Apologies for the poor photographs....

[Downunder35m]

There are a few things to consider when using a laptop in the car, especially off road.
I think a HP mobile workstation would be ideal for that the 8440 goes for under 400$ on Ebay.
They offer proper protection against vibrations for the HDD and screen, as well as a 1920x1200 pixel screen (15") which is not very common even on top end modern laptops.
A normal laptop is simply not suited for the harsh handling in a car.
A way around that might be to fit a protected HDD or solid state drive and to include a holder for the scren in the mount. These mounts are hard to find and can cost you than the laptop.
From experience I can say that a good 6" or 7" GPS with 128mb Ram and a fast processor is mor than enough for OZI - it even runs on my old Navman ICN 520 which in fact is a dinosaur in GPS terms.
My main problem with a laptop in the car is that for proper use you have to add too many extras.
Try to use a mouse/touchpad or keyboard while driving...
The scren is the next problem, an intergated screen is usually too big and located in a postion that makes it hard to keep an eye on the screen and on the road.