Laptop Navigation Software

[ashardin]

I just got a little Panasonic Toughbook mini-laptop and its all ready to go with a GPS receiver.  It came loaded with Microsoft streets and trips but its pretty clunky for what I want.  It works, but its many steps to get from the basic screen to enter the address and give you directions, and I haven't gotten real-time directions yet (the GPS works, I can located myself and it follows me on the map, but the software doesn't do what I want).  It wants to plan a large trip, schedule stops, etc.  Useful software for family trips, but not really what I'm looking for.

I'd like something that emulates in-car navigation systems...i.e. big map, simply enter the new address and go, with large directions and easy to follow turns. Of course I'd like it to be reasonably priced.

Anybody had any luck with readily available software that will do this?

[GGKoul]

The company I used to work for used to sell routing software for trucking companies.

The problem with off-the-shelf systems is that they only do A--B--A.  You'll need a custom system that will allow you to go from A--B--C--D--A and give you the best route to do that trip.  And as of right now, there is no off-the-shelf system that does that.

[ashardin]

In those terms what I want to do is:

Autosense Location A (current location) -- directions to B.

Like I said just like in car navigation systems do it now

[JoyMonkey]

I'm sure I saw a site that concentrated on 'Build Your Own In-Car GPS PC', but I can't remember what it was.
You're probably looking for something like TeleType, right? I think the site I'm thinking of (or imagining) had a selection of shareware and even freeware software that did the same thing. I could have been smoking crack again. 

[SirPoonga]

There's a good linux based one.
http://gpsdrive.kraftvoll.at/

If you want to try it without installing linux it's on this liveDVD
http://aamorimsrv.fis.fc.ul.pt/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php?page=PaiPix_EN

[patrickl]

I use a PDA for this. TomTom Navigator is pretty good. I don't think they have a PC version, but a PDA doesn't cost that much and is probably a lot more practical for an application such as this.

[clanggedin]

The best Laptop GPS software hands down is Delorme Street Atlas 2005. It does route calculation and has voice turn by turn voice prompts. Even if you decide you want to get off the highway for a bit it will recalculate your route for you.

You can have it set up with a number of stops along your route too. I use it all time time in conjunction with Street Atlas 2005 Handheld. I have tried Garmin map software, Microsoft Streets and Trips, TomTom, and a few others and this is the best one out there for your laptop.