At first, I was considering the Verizon "deal."  The problem is that I had
to ask them 20 questions just to get one answer.  The bottom line is that if
you don't subscribe to "V-Cast," each time you use your GPS, it will be
deducted from your monthly minutes.  That really means that instead of
$10/monthly, it will REALLY cost you $25/monthly, or will reduce your
available minutes if you use it a lot...but they don't want to tell you that
up front.

I have a bluetooth GPS paired with my Axim.  Today you can get a good GPS
for $200 or less, with all the maps already on it, and you don't have to
involve your computer at all.

The thing to take into account is that a computer takes time to boot up,
unless you keep it in a standby or hibernate mode.  I am geographically
challenged, and sometimes need my GPS for short distances.  If I had
computer power "issues" to keep in mind, I'd probably end up with either a
drained computer battery or a dead Westy battery.
Patti
*****************************

On 7/30/07, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I tried the whole CARPUTER thing. I have high hopes for someday getting
> one
> in my vanagon but need to "DO IT RIGHT" This time. Check out
> www.mp3car.com.
> Its very enlightening. The idea of most installs is to get a 7inch LCD
> touch
> screen, mount it in the dash somewhere (in our case ideally about where
> the
> ashtry is next to the instrument cluster) and you bust out some fiberglass
> and bondo, make a really fancy box that you paint up to look stock,
> install
> a mini pc or (as i did) a laptop with a busted screen. You then hide this
> anywhere, it doesnt matter....you dont really need it. You thow on a
> Remote
> CD Drive if you want (maybe a cool slot loading one with USB!) and install
> that somewhere in the dash. Wire in a relay to the powersupply to start
> and
> shut down when the car does, configure your OS for fast bootup or
> hibernation......and you have yourself a sick system. $700 worth of STUFF
> could get you the apsolute coolest GPS system with a harddrive full of
> music
> and movies that you could play wolfenstein (or whatever young people like
> myself who have spare time actually play these days) when your camping.
> need
> to watch a movie....BAM. DIVX format saved to the harddrive. WHO NEEDS AN
> IPOD! Its all right there.
>
> Thats the ultimate vanagon GPS.
>
> For Macs try "Route 66" software.
>
> -Craig
> '85GL
>
>
> On 7/30/07, Sudhir Desai <sudhir.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > you are correct on all counts, except that I would urge you to look
> > into anti-vibration mounts :)
> >
> > (smaller hard drives need tighter tolerances, and even if they are
> > superb for handling vibrations well, i would still advice putting more
> > protection around them)
> >
> > Sudhir
> >
> > On 7/30/07, Stuart Jeff <stuart@stuartjeff.com> wrote:
> > > Funny you mention that. As soon as I can find a Mac Mini for under
> $300
> > then I'm planning to install it perminantly into my Vanagon. Those
> little
> > babies would make the perfect car PC. First off they are tiny (just a
> little
> > bigger than a standard car stereo and I've heard that you can install
> them
> > in the stereo slot, they only consume about 20 watts while running, they
> use
> > a laptop style hard drive so vibrations are less of an issue, and they
> can
> > easily be rewired to run on 12V power. I know that the GPS receiver will
> > still work but I'll probably have to find new software to use it with
> the
> > Mac. I'll be surprised if I can't find something with similar features.
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----
> > > From: mike <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 8:49:18 PM
> > > Subject: Re: GPS
> > >
> > >
> > > 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
> > >
> >
>