Okay, so I'm (Tom) a techno-geek, right? I admit it. GPS-based navigation has long been a part of my travels. Last year I ran my tablet PC with a couple different programs on it, each one with its own flaws. Read last years blog if you're a geek.
Before this trip I wanted an updated mapping program. My old standby is Garmin's "NRoute" - it works great in and around Ventura County. I used it for 2 years on my old P.O.S. laptop in my work truck. But it cannot be updated, it will not import POI files, and it has a clunky interface. To top it off, it will display only the most major highways, and at a false scale. But if you route using it, it "magically" learns the correct route and displays it. To me, that means it has the real roads in it, but only displays a "dumbed-down" interface. Lousy design.
Last year I tried Microsoft Streets and Trips, but hated their interface too. This year I found the latest Delorme Street Atlas 2008. I've liked Delorme in the past, so we bought SA08. It even had the extra benefit of understanding my 'hockey puck' Garmin GPS18 USB antenna - last year nobody other than Garmin could use it, until I installed a hack.
The trip planning functions on it work well. You can tell it what roads you prefer. You can add POI (point of interest) files. Some nice people out there have created lots of these files. I can add in the locations of Super WalMarts, Cabelas (my favorites), even low-clearance warnings. All appear if you want them. It updates road construction information (although it has been wrong 100% of the time so far).
BUT...
The damn thing has problems communicating with the Garmin antenna. Every once in awhile it just shuts down and swears to me that no antenna is attached. Or, it will say, "Yup, antenna is working just great, boss" while claiming I am moving down the freeway at 0 mph.
Then to top it off, first I dropped the damn tablet PC. The screen still works, you just have to look behind the cracked glass. Then the tip fell out of the stylus somewhere in Minnesota. Now I am using a mouse with it. And it still drops the antenna.
So here is the current setup: Use the tablet with Delorme SA08 for trip planning each night. Have it map out several options for distance and travel. Pick our final destination with it. The next morning, pull out the POS laptop that just keeps slugging along. Fire up Garmin's NRoute software, type in the final destination derived from SA, and drive on down the road. If we need to find out the location of FlyinJ, CampingWorld, etc we have to pull out the other one or rely on the mark1 eyeball (enhanced by binoculars from the copilot seat).
We have succeeded about 80% with teaching Miles what "silent cockpit" means. When entering an area of maneuvers (interchanges, cities, etc) he now knows to keep silent (mostly) in the back. If he ever goes flying with Uncle Dave or Grandpa John, he might just behave.
