I got a copy of CoPilot at the Gateway TS outside St Louis for $15 and definitely am going to save up for a legal copy.
It has its shortcomings. Occasionally it will freak out and tell me to make a turn that I know to be wrong, but it quickly corrects itself.
I've found it to be dead nuts on regarding ETA. Its POI database seems to be a little lacking, but it allows for imports of waypoints and the major TSs have waypoint files they continually update.
I don't like the way it handles the short strokes - the critical part between the highway and my destination, but I don't rely on my laptop for that. I put that part into my PDA which is mounted on the dash so I don't have to take my eyes off the road.
I've heard good things about DeLorme, but I've not had an opportunity to evaluate it.
I also use Mapquest. Not for the routing (although I foolishly did when I first started out), but to get a good visual of the streets surrounding my destination. I also study the aerial photo before I go in. It is true that the satellite photos photos are not always current, but I've found that if the satellite photo is showing an empty field, I'm going to a new facility that generally will have ample room to move around.
For me, it really reduces the pucker factor to have a picture in my mind of what I'm going to face when I'm at my destination. I generally am going to be able to determine if I'm going into a crowded urban setting, or a well designed and marked place.
Your mileage may vary. I just never felt comfortable driving down skinny roads clutching a wrinkled up piece of paper.
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