You’re probably knew that there are few options you can take to choose the best GPS navigation systems today; OR maybe you’re not aware. Whatever, take my word for; now you have more options than ever before with new options appearing daily.
Among the many options that are available for those of you who are interested in obtaining equipment will assist you in finding your way on long and short trips there are options that can be used along with your laptop or PDA devices.
If you currently own and use on a regular basis a laptop or PDA the software or other devices and receivers that are required in order to utilize your laptop as a GPS device aren’t nearly as expensive as purchasing a stand alone auto navigation system device.
In fact, as far as money savers go, this is a great way to save money on your purchase and receive the same great benefits that some of the top of the line navigation systems has to offer. You will find these types of devices that are geared towards as many different budgets as the actual stand alone systems. Some of the more popular of these tools include the following:
Delorme Earthmate GPS LT-40 with Street Atlas USA 2011 – This is also a little less than $100 and gives your laptop fully functional navigation features. This not only works with laptops but also with Palm OS. You will experience rapid satellite acquisition and you have the Street Atlas software to guide you towards your destination. The software is included with the Earthmate. This software will even recalculate your directions should you miss a turn along the way. It allows anyone with a laptop, netbook, or ultra-mobile PC to enjoy outstanding performance any place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The included Street Atlas USA software lets you turn your laptop PC into a powerful GPS navigator with spoken direction and voice commands.
The Earthmate GPS LT-40 with Street Atlas USA 2011 is fast and easy – just load the software onto your device and plug the five foot Earthmate GPS cable into a USB port, and then place the GPS on your dash. You will see your position updated in real-time on detailed DeLorme maps. The LT-40 draws minimal power from your USB port – no batteries needed. And you will see a wide geographic area showing large turn arrows and directions, easily visible in-vehicle. For the price, I highly recommend this if you have a PDA or laptop already. Nothing extra to buy, no subscriptions needed. Read more Delorme Earthmate GPS LT-40 with Street Atlas USA 2011
DeLorme Earthmate Blue Logger Bluetooth Wireless GPS – This BT GPS logger features an all-in-one, costeffective portable GPS logging solution. It allows you to log your route by setting the interval of time/ distance/ speed. Point of interest can also be recorded by push of a button. Through user friendly utility, it shows your track on Google Earth.
i-Blue 747A+ features:
- Dual mode for both Data record and Navigation
- Push button to record data manually.
- User can record the date by setting the interval of time, distance and speed.
- Record your travels and manage business trip expense
i-Blue 747A+ Bluetooth GPS Data Logger Receiver also have Geo-photo, 125,000 waypoints and you’ll able record point of interest (POI) by a push button. Read more i-Blue 747A+ Bluetooth GPS Data Logger Receiver here.
US GlobalSat BU-353 USB port GPS Receiver
US GlobalSat BU-353 USB port GPS Receiver – The BU-353 GPS Receiver can be utilized in a variety of applications which require GPS signals to be received and decoded in your Windows laptop or tablet PC, and for Mac users, their iBooks or Powerbooks. Compatible with most all NMEA compliant third-party software, the BU-353 is suitable for use in vehicle, marine and aviation navigation, as well as commercial and municipality applications such as fire trucks, police cars, buses, GIS data collection.
The GlobalSat BU-353 Water-Proof USB Mouse GPS Receiver is powered by SiRF Star III chipset is a new-generation GPS chipset that has extremely high sensitivity, lower power usage and more rapid time-to-fix. It works very well even in reduced visibility environment or weak signal tracking such as traveling in mega city and surrounded by tall buildings. This nifty device costs less than $100 and allows you to turn your laptop or pc into a GPS. This is a great feature for finding directions and attaches to your laptop through the USB port. Read more GlobalSat BU-353 Waterproof USB GPS Receiver here
Tom Tom Navigator 6 Bluetooth – If you are looking for feature rich navigation then this is certainly the tool for you. This is useful with laptops and Palm systems. Not only will you find mapping technology that is quite superior but you will also find useful things such as parking garages, fueling stations, and restaurants along the way. Read more TomTom PDA Navigator 6 U.S./Canada Map DVD (Windows or Mac) Bluetooth GPS Receiver
You will notice a great variety of prices and features with these devices. The important thing to remember is that you want the same or better features for less with this type of equipment since you are providing either the laptop or the PDA. If you already have the laptop or PDA you should be able to save a tremendous amount of money over the costs of purchasing a stand-alone auto navigation system. If you aren’t getting an incredible bargain you might want to debate whether or not the system you opt for really is the best system for you.
Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is the fact that your laptop or PDA can become an important tool in keeping you on the right track when traveling. You may be one of the lucky few who has never gotten lost while traveling (or one of those who refuses to believe they are lost) however, if you aren’t then perhaps it is time to seriously invest in either software, equipment, or devices that can help you find your way whenever you are lost. Laptop and PDA equipment offer great alternatives for those who need navigational assistance but need to remain within a strict budget.
