Hey guys i was wondering if any of you is currently running a gps system that is wired straight to your laptop. I tried a search on a few sites but came up empty. Thanks.

I know Microsoft makes a Streets & Trips (?) program that you can get with a USB GPS receiver. Never seen it in action, but I've seen it on ebay for $60 or so.

Definitely a cheaper alternative to a full GPS system, just awkward to use while driving

If you want laptop in your car, Streets & Trips is way to go.

I use the DeLorme Street Atlas with their GPS on my laptop. You can buy the software with the GPS for about $100.00. The system works well, with audio alerts. You can enter your destination and the system will "talk you in", advising you of upcoming turns and exits, etc.

I have been running Microsoft Streets and Trips on a laptop for work for about 3 years or so now. It is worth it's weight in gold to me. I had been using a Garmin handheld unit for my GPS, but I just recently switched to the GPS antenna that comes with Streets and Trips. You can buy the software with an antenna for about $100. The thing that is great about using a laptop vs. one of the little GPS unit is that you not only have a map with GPS you also have a laptop that you can use for other things. I would never buy one of the stand along GPS units that they sell for $500-$800. They have a very small screen and can only be used for GPS and nothing else. You can buy a very capable laptop for around $500 now at places like Best Buy or Circuit City and for another $100 get the software and GPS antenna. In other words, you have the same investment in money but get a more useful electronic device.

Oh yeah, I forgot you need a power inverter to run the laptop in the truck or car but they are fairly cheap.

thanks guys, i went out and bought the street and trips. I'm about to check it out right now.

i am. keep in mind that your store bought laptop will not survive for long in there....

Here's (http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Code=DLB+EARTHMATELT&JRSource=PriceGrabber.datafeed.DLB+EARTHMATELT) the one I got. Works great. Here's a thread I did a while back.

http://www.clubtitan.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14768

thats a sick set-up bluewater. Do you guys know if a delorme software is compatible with a microsoft gps? asking because i found a great deal on the topo-map from delorme. Thanks.

i bit the 200$ and bought the ram mount.. along with the screen support. i've actually routed my gps antenna to the outside via the side.

i'll probably regret this in the am since i am somewhat broke as is.. sigh but i love this truck

Ever play with Google Earth? I think it is amazing! Is there any system that uses the graphics of Google Earth for GPS locating? How cool would that be!

thats a sick set-up bluewater. Do you guys know if a delorme software is compatible with a microsoft gps? asking because i found a great deal on the topo-map from delorme. Thanks.

Should work fine. The GPS antenna is actually a 3rd party vendor. Not made by MS. Hope this helped.

Ever play with Google Earth? I think it is amazing! Is there any system that uses the graphics of Google Earth for GPS locating? How cool would that be!
Yeah, I have Google earth on my desktop, and could use it on my Notebook to coincide with my gps, although the program is not contingent upon a gps antenna. It uses a web-based data server with all the coordinates already available, so I would need a dial-up connection in the truck. I'll most likely forego that avenue.