Great idea. Problem is I need a laptop. Unfortunately I need a MAC laptop
and they are pricey, even used. Wonder if Streets and Trips works on a MAC>?

Mike

On 7/30/07 5:20 PM, "Stuart Jeff" <stuart@STUARTJEFF.COM> wrote:

> I just bought a USB GPS receiver off of eBay for $35 and then hooked it up to
> my laptop with Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007 installed. MS Streets and
> Trips retails for $49 or you can get it with a USB GPS receiver for $99. The
> 2008 version will ship in late August just so you know.
>
> I'm a big fan of the system because I carry my laptop with me on trips for
> general Internet access and movie watching so I might as well use it for
> something else. I put a suction cup on the front windshield, clipped the
> receiver to it, and then I put my laptop on the small table that swings out
> between the driver's and the passenger's seat in my Westy. Not only do I get
> voice navigaion and huge auto-updated maps centered on my position but you
> also get all of the features from Streets and Trips that you just won't find
> on a regular GPS system.
>
> Here's an example of what I can do with my setup. I was thinking about driving
> from Baltimore to just north of Vancover and I wanted to see how much time I'd
> have to take off of work. So I was able to enter my start point and end point
> just like on Google Maps or something similar but then I was also able to tell
> the system what time I'd like to get on the road each morning, how fast I
> drive on various road types, how often I want to stop for rests, what kind of
> fuel economy I get, and finally what time I'd like to wrap up the day. It then
> broke my driving time down into days with precise end points. I was then able
> to select the end point at the end of each day and search for campgrounds
> within a certain radius that I could stay in each night. It generated a
> precise list of locations for me to drive to, when I will need to stop for
> fuel, how much I should anticipate spending on fuel, how long I will drive
> each day, etc. etc. etc. and if I were to decide
>  I want to change the route while I'm driving it then I can just adjust the
> plan in the computer and I will see exactly how the rest of my trip will be
> impacted. If I have an Internet connection then I can even get updates on road
> construction along the route and alternate routes to avoid delays. I was
> impressed to say the least.
>
> Enjoy,
> Stuart
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: mike <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 7:04:52 PM
> Subject: GPS
>
>
> Vannuts,
>
> I've been wanting to get a GPS system for my van for a while now. Frank's
> post really got me going. I'd like something like that if it had remote
> entry.
>
>
> However....today I got an offer from my cell phone company, Verizon. They're
> offering voice and picture GPS guidance on my cell phone for $10/month.
> Anybody have any experience with this system?
>
> Mike