I've been using MS Streets 2007 for about a half year now and have to say that I'm pretty impressed with it. There are times (maybe .05%) that it won't be able to find the exact address or that the streets have changed but it's a very rare occurence. It also has Windows Live which means that if you have an internet connection, with a click of the mouse, you can see an overhead view of your area via satellite.

One of the things that I like about Streets is that it is so customizable. You are able to set up your own points-of-interest. There are databases out there for all the truck stops, weigh stations, wal-marts etc. I also put in my company's terminals. So when you plan on driving 'x' amount of miles for that day, you will know what's near by when you're ready for a break.

I don't think that there is any gps program out there that is meant to truly stand alone as a truckers only navigational device. You will always need to reference the truckers bible (aka mc atlas) to verify restricted roads, etc. But that's another thing you can program into streets. If there is an area you travel thru that does have a restricted route, you can tell streets to avoid that area.

As far as securing the laptop goes, mine is a pretty sophisticated system:

* Place laptop on drivers seat facing you
* Secure in place with seatbelt

 

place laptop on seat
put bungie cord over laptop

(here is bit more expensive option http://www.surveillance-spy-cameras.com/TFT-monitor.htm
then you can set the screen on your dash)

 

As for the Microsoft Streets & Trips antenna only working on S & T's - that's bumpkis.

I used that antenna on: ALK CoPilot, Delorme Street Atlas, some weird add-on for Google Maps and a few others. It's a standard NMEA antenna.

 

as i said "the last time i checked" ms S & T antenna was proprietary.. I WAS TOLD THAT BY MS TECK SUPPORT it would only work with sm S&T that was back in 04 i havn't checked after that as i bought the delorme system and sm s&t w/o gps

when we got them sm s&t w/gps was $129 and delorme w/ gps was $119 side by side on the shelf and sm s&t w/o gps was $19 and delorme w/o gps was $39 so it was less money to get delorme w/gps and ms w/o gps and the pair was $138 and we have both but like everything some people will like one over the other

we can plan a trip fester with delorme and it will do everythng ms will. we just like the gui better

 

I used a combination of PC Miler and Google Earth. PC Miler is TRUCK SPECIFIC (got it from limewire first, liked it and so bought the latest version) and worked well while Google Earth let me SEE the actual route and "fly over it" to SEE on/off ramps, bridges, driveways, and more.
My laptop rode shotgun and rested on a SOFT, plush pillow which shielded all hard drive killing vibrations. A THIN bungee type strap laid over it where the screen meets the keyboard then down through the back crack in the seat and forward to under the seat front.

 

Where can I find these downloads, are they free? (Do you sit on your laptop while driving, looking at it with the 3rd eye? :lol: )

 

Duct Tape always works!!!1 :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol: :twisted:

 

a piece of 1/4 or 1/2 inch plywood cut to fit the passenger seat with loops or a board on it so you can hold it inplace with the seat belt and velcro works great and is easly removed and stored. not to mention you can use the velcro to postion your lap top in several different ways to make better veiwing. velcro works to hold flash lites on your dash, gloves the works, just about any lite weight item you want handy.

 

My truck killed my Toshiba in about 6 months,so I bought a Durabook and it has been fine,I just sit it on the passenger seat and leave it propped up a little bit to get air circulation and I run MS S&T and like it as well.I have PC miler to give truck specific routes and use the GPS to find addresses after arriving.

 

Yeah I velcro'd the entire dash. When Fido wanted to see the sights, I just stuck him on the dash...worked like a charm. :roll: :lol: