RE: [ST] Non-ST, Computing on the road

[Brad Turner <bturner@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Doug,

It sounds to me like you really should look at a GPS instead of a handheld.
A GPS is designed for the vibrations and is typically waterproof as well.
Specifically I'd suggest looking at either the a Garmin GPS-V or a Garmin
StreetPilot III (they do a motorcycle version of the StreetPilot sold
exclusively through BMW dealers). The GPS-V has 19Meg of memory I believe it
is fixed, and designed to be a "handheld". The StreetPilot III is larger and
uses memory cards which means you could very easily swap out cards
w/different maps. The thing I like the most about these 2 Garmin products is
the auto-routing feature. With auto routing you can simply plug in a
destination and the software generates the turn by turn directions. If you
miss a turn by accident the auto routing software will re-compute a
corrected route. Or more importantly, you can take an interesting looking
side road that you come across or that a local person refers you to and the
auto routing will figure out how to get you to the destination, in other
words you can ignore it's suggested route and when you get ready to pay
attention to it has self corrected in real time and will be guiding you to
your destination.  As you can tell the auto routing in my opinion is a key
feature. I'm not sure what type of memory card the StreetPilot uses but
regardless the cards are getting pretty cheap. Fry's, a local electronics
house, was selling 128Meg cards for $39.99. Considering the fact that a
CD-ROM has 630Meg on it you could load an entire map CD by spreading it
across 5 memory cards which isn't too bad IMO. You could also simply carry
the map CD and the card programmer widget w/you and stop at a local
Kinko's/internet cafe etc. while traveling and rent a PC to do the updates
as needed. 

For mounting a GPS take a look at http://www.ram-mounts.com they have mounts
that are good and work with specific GPS bodies. RAM also makes PDA mounts
if you decide to go that route. A helpful distributor of the RAM products
that I have used are the folks at http://www.cycoactive.com

later,
- -brad-


- -----Original Message-----
From: Bailey, Doug [mailto:DBailey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 5:30 AM
To: Sprint ST (E-mail)
Subject: [ST] Non-ST, Computing on the road


I'd like to do route planning, like MS Streets and Trips, on the road during
a ride around the US.  

I'd like to use an Ipaq because they are light and small.  However, all the
mapping programs I've found can only handle at most a couple states to a
card.  So If I want to plan a route from Maine to Illinois to Florida I have
to use multiple cards and plan the route from state border to state border.


If I step up to a notebook I'm a bit concerned about vibration/bumps and the
durability of the components on the motorcycle without using an entire bag
full of padding.

So my question is, has anyone found a PDA with sufficient software or good
durable notebook to take on the road?  Thanks.

Doug Bailey 



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