Laptop mapping software

^^^^^^Too true. I can't imagine trying to plan a trip on a GPS. They work great for what they do, but trip planning wouldn't be one of their strong points IMO.

Hopefully you're not trying to watch the screen while you're driving. Even a big screen can be hard to use if you have to take you eyes off the road long enough to navigate.

Adiabatman wrote:
... I tried a Garmin, but found the small screen hard to see and I had a bad time trying to plan a trip on it. ...

I can't believe anyone would plan a trip on their GPS, that's crazy. There's plenty of ways to do trip planning on your PC then transfer the completed route to the GPS.

I'm using Streets & Trips 2013 on an old XP laptop. I was sorry to see MS end S&T's run, for I have found it very easy to use. I have it installed on both an old XP machine which is mounted on my console and serves as my navigation aid, as well as my main laptop. I do my trip planning on that machine and then just copy the trip to the other laptop with a USB memory stick. Being 3 years old, it occasionally sputters when I'm on a new road not in its DB, but that is fairly seldom. I tried a Garmin, but found the small screen hard to see and I had a bad time trying to plan a trip on it. The 12" screen is very easy to see and I like the ability to quickly and easily zoom in and out using the plus and minus keys.

We have a passenger side laptop (navigator) and an external 10" monitor (pilot side), running Garmin Mobile PC. While GMPC is plenty long in the tooth, it can still use all current map updates. For me, the important missing features are the posted speed limit and the lane assist graphics.

The iPad Garmin version will not, under any circumstances mirror to an external monitor, making it totally unacceptable for us.

The iPad version of Copilot ($10 one-time voice guidance, $10/year map/traffic updates) will mirror just fine using an Apple TV ($150-200), and I expect (though have not confirmed) that it will work with the Apple Digital AV adapter ($50). Copilot will not speak street names, but neither does GMPC under Windows 10. There is an android version, but I don't know how the mirroring might work (or not).

The laptop version of Copilot ($100) says it does full street names, but there is apparently no trial version, so have been hesitant to go that way since the iPad version is free to try/use, and minimal to maintain. Also the laptop version does not seem to offer vehicle profiles (RV vs car), which are offered in the iPad version. The Truck version for laptop is there, which checks bridge height but is $150, which again, is hard to justify given the tablet version cost.

For now, we will continue to parallel iPad Copilot and GMPC. While not crazy about Copilot (most of the time an internet connection has been required to set up a particular destination as many POI's seem to be missing, and most speed limits are not displayed) it seems to be the best alternative right now.

Will certainly be following this thread. Good luck to the OP!

Diann,

I just got a reply to several questions I recently asked Delorme.

Apparently, the consideration of SA is on the docket. I would have to guess that there won't be a 2016 version. SA can already use just about any GPS puck that is available. I would have to suggest that unless you can get a 2015 really cheap, that you wait and see. The 2015 price won't go up and if they do a Garmin/Delorme team on it --
Hang On Girls, This could be an interesting ride!!

Matt - A professional navigator that uses both Garmin and Delorme.

I use Google Maps website to plan my trips. Once planned, the route can then be sent to my phone for the actual navigation.

sorry if already mentioned, but Garmin base camp is what I use to plan routes. Not all Garmin GPSs can get downloaded routes. I haven't used it recently, but I just fired it up (windows 10 laptop now, windows 7 previously).

I like the Good Sam trip planner. I use it to plan our trips, and then download the route to the built in Rand McNally gps in the motorhome. It works pretty good for us.

An additional ideal requirement would be some software with world wide maps. I do have AutoRoute (which is fine) but have not used with any GPS receiver.

No matter where I go, my laptop comes with me AND I do like to know where I am even if I can't control how I got there or where I go next.

Diann

P.S. It would be okay if you have to 'buy' the maps by continent or whatever as long as basic software (commands, look and feel) is the same or similar.

Matt_Colie, I wonder if I hold off for another year DeLorme and Garmin will come up with a useful solution for me. I am intrigued.

We are 'on the road' now with extremely loose itinerary; I may go ahead and order Street Atlas 2015 when I get home and talk to DeLorme about which GPS they recommend.

Thanks, you have given me food for thought.

Diann