Computer bought, now Map program

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SteveB - 21 Jul 2005 22:42 GMT

We bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop computer today. I am happy with the
deal.

Now I need to get a program. Microsoft has a program of maps and streets
for $129. Delorme has Earthmate for $99. There are some others out there.

Is Delorme 2005 the best one of these? Do I need that much?

Steve

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RAM^3 - 21 Jul 2005 22:49 GMT

> We bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop computer today. I am happy with the
> deal.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Steve

Both Delorme's Street Atlas and MicroSloth's Streets and Trips are good and
both have their adherants.

The $129 price for S&T probably includes their GPS receiver and the $99
edition of SA includes theirs. If your Magellan supplies NMEA output you can
save yourself from $50 to $100 depending upon how much you get fleeced for
the software.

If you're planning to restrict your travel to the condiguous 48 then SA has
advantages in that their "Find" function is more selective. If you're more
into global travel then S&T's inclusion of a global database has ITS appeal.

I have both and, of the two, prefer the Delorme.

BTW, which model Satellite did you get?

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SteveB - 21 Jul 2005 23:00 GMT

>> We bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop computer today. I am happy with the
>> deal.
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> BTW, which model Satellite did you get?

MS45-165

It has the Celeron instead of Centrino, but we figure that we won't be using
it on battery that much.

We got it for what we think is a deal, $799. 80 gig hd, 512mb RAM, cd/dvd
burner, 15.2" screen, 1.73 gig processor. We took the four year coverage
because it covers batteries, and accidental damage. Batteries last two
years, and at around $200 per, it is a wash. Plus, if I should drop it or
run over it in the third year and tenth month, it is replaced. ;-) And it
gives a 800 helpline. I am not a fan of extended warranties, but sometimes
they pay off. We went through two trannies on our mh already, and both were
no cost. This one looks like it could be a break even/win situation.

Now, I gotta get it all charged up and configured and all that. I think I
am off soon to Circuit City to get the Delorme 2005 SA software next.

Steve

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RAM^3 - 21 Jul 2005 23:52 GMT

>>> We bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop computer today. I am happy with
>>> the deal.
[quoted text clipped - 43 lines]
>
> Steve

It sounds like you've gotten yourself a good one.

Toshiba's Extended Service Warranty is an excellent one - and one that they
honor.

I got it with mine and it paid for itself when a heavy power drain through a
USB port damaged the motherboard. A call to Toshiba had a UPS shipping box
here the next morning. Dropped off at a terminal 45 mi. away, they had it by
noon of the next day. I got it back about a week after the call.

Considering that this P4 [not "mobile" - the "desktop processor"] has spent
the majority of the last 2 years running 24x7, I'm still very happy with it.

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Robin Brumfield - 29 Jul 2005 19:30 GMT

> >> We bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop computer today. I am happy with the
> >> deal.
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
>
> Steve

SA 2006 is due out Aug. 1st. You may want to make sure that the 2005
version has a free upgrade coupon or wait a few days. There are
supposed to major data/feature enhancements in 2006
Robin
Charleston, WV

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FishWisher - 30 Jul 2005 01:06 GMT

I have De Lorme and love it for trip planning. But for actual navigation
enroute, I have a Garmin Streetpilot 2620 which works out much better there
on the dash.

The laptop is just too cumbersome, but does alright if you have a really
good navigator riding shotgun. As for me and my wife, she's just not 'puter
savvy enough to work it with me. The little Garmin I handle all by myself.
It sure saves a lot of hassle.

Signature

Dale Gillespie

My Homepage: www.FishWisher.com
My RV Site: http://groups.msn.com/CoachpotatosRVHomepage/_whatsnew.msnw

>>
>> >> We bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop computer today. I am happy with
[quoted text clipped - 62 lines]
> Robin
> Charleston, WV

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Will Sill - 30 Jul 2005 02:28 GMT

I see where "FishWisher" <CoachPotatoNOSPAM@comcast.net> contributed:

>I have De Lorme and love it for trip planning. But for actual navigation
>enroute, I have a Garmin Streetpilot 2620 which works out much better there
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>savvy enough to work it with me. The little Garmin I handle all by myself.
>It sure saves a lot of hassle.

I looked for a long time for a self-contained GPS/map gizmo, never
found one with a screen big enuf to interest me. Despite eye-rolling
from wife (who also is . . . ummm.... not a computer user) we got the
deLorme SA with the Earthmate GPS receiver. I built a simple desk
over the doghouse in our B so the laptop screen is easily visible to
bofus. To her surprise she loves it, always hated having to wrassle
paper maps. BTW, it requires NO work on her part.

YMMV.

Will Sill
The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill

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MOMPEAGRAM - 30 Jul 2005 13:10 GMT

>I see where "FishWisher" <CoachPotatoNOSPAM@comcast.net> contributed:
>>I have De Lorme and love it for trip planning. But for actual navigation
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Will Sill
> The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill

That's a great idea. I have the earthmate and we'll need somewhere to put
my laptop when travelling. Your idea might just work! I'll have to look
into it. On my side it's the hubby that's computer illiterate. But then,
he's dyslexic too, so I do all the planning, finances, and of course I'm the
navigator too!

MoM

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Lee - 30 Jul 2005 14:17 GMT

> I built a simple desk
> over the doghouse in our B so the laptop screen is easily visible to
> bofus.

Hi Will

So what does it look like? Plans? or a picture? tilts back or
rotates? I also have mine set up on the dog house of my A but am not
satisfied with it. So much light that sometimes I can't make it out.
My SO does not like computers and prefers maps!

Lee

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Ed - 30 Jul 2005 17:02 GMT

>> I built a simple desk
>> over the doghouse in our B so the laptop screen is easily visible to
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Lee

If you are using Street Atlas you can change the display to Mobile colors
which is much better in daylight.
EdM

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Will Sill - 30 Jul 2005 18:05 GMT

I see where Lee <lbray5032@bellsouth.net> contributed:

Will:

>> I built a simple desk
>> over the doghouse in our B so the laptop screen is easily visible to
>> bofus.

Lee:

> So what does it look like? Plans? or a picture? tilts back or
>rotates? I also have mine set up on the dog house of my A but am not
>satisfied with it. So much light that sometimes I can't make it out.
>My SO does not like computers and prefers maps!

I have a couple of pix but if you don't like yours you prolly won't
like mine. It doesn't tilt, swivel or miraculously become readable in
all lighting situations - it just sits there. Only rarely does
lighting make it unreadable. I have a piece of cardboard folded and
covered with a towel to cover the keyboard and serve as a mouse pad
(optical rodent). I don't have an SO, I have a wife, and she loves
being able to glance at the screen to answer questions like "what is
this town?", "what lake is over there?" and "Is the next town likely
to have a nice restaurant?"

Will Sill
The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill

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dmartin@newarts.com - 25 Jul 2005 13:45 GMT

I have recent versions of S&T, SA, Topo, and RT66.

Of these I like Topo best because of the rendering of the maps.

I do not make much use of automatic trip planning features, audio
in/out etc.

RT66's canada maps are pretty good.

Dave

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