Only reason they have been around so long is because that's all there have been.

Remember, they were just bicycles before they were motorcycles... :lol: :lol:

Horses before cars. Choperbob has a point... Map and map reading skills should be all we need. Should know how to use these tools before we pick up the laptop, pda etc etc. I keep the atlas and phone handy at all times. Who knows when my laptop takes a crap on me, rendering my GPS useless. here is what I use..

http://www.pdamax.de/fotos/holux_gm-212_kl.jpg

Holux GR 213 Sirf Star III mini GPS Receiver
Connects via USB.

No need to worry there, I have more than enough maps with me, but I find maps too time consuming now. My GPS tells me exactly where to turn long in advance..then reminds me again as I get to the corner. When I get to my destination I'm then told which side of the street the address is on....can't get much better than that! :)

Technology definitely has it's place....and for now, I'm just amazed at how simple they've become for basically anyone to understand and operate them.
Sure works well for me!

I love all the anti-gps arguments... Come on people, this is the 21st century. Accept it - technology has arrived.

As far as relying soley on maps & the shipper/reciever directions, I won't do that either. I've picked up loads late Friday that had to be delivered to a small consignee on early Monday. The drive is 900 miles. Ok, wait, when I called the receiver for directions, they're already closed and won't open until I'm due there. Hmmm, they didn't give directions to my company/broker. Oh crap - their town isn't even in the MCA. Now what?

Well, 1st thing I check between the 2 mapping programs I've got on the computer. Can't find it there? Ok, let's jump on the internet and see what the maps there have.

All said and done, the load will be at the consignee's door when they arrive on monday morning.

And, yes, there are small towns that do not appear in the MCA. Before you say 'get a local state map for them', what if you're in North Dakota and heading for a delivery in Texas. You won't find a Texas map until you reach Texas. The town isn't listed, so which part of the state do you head for?

I'm sorry, if there's something that'll make this job a little easier, I'll take it.

:lol: :lol: :lol: Bunch of big words,dont have the foggiest idee what they mean,but sound advice,roadhog,sound advice. :P

Yea... the world used to be flat, too.

I have a Garmin GPS V that I had bought for 4 wheeling... it can be mounted on the dash or any where for that matter... all the highways and gas stations/resturants along the highways are pre loaded and updatable, the local streets can be loaded through my lap top.

Question is should I just use it or get Microsoft S&T and a gps antenna for my lap top.

I just ordered a Garmin C530

I have a friend who just bought that model after having a GPS V. He loves it, don't have to upload the maps and he likes the display better than the GPS V's little screen.

i too have two on my laptop i have S & T but i don't like the way the interface is setup on it the one i use all the time is DeLorme 2007+ it works great and the usb-gps will work with all gps programs ( it will work with up to 3 at the sametime. the 2007+ has the yellow, white, and blue page phone book for the usa so you can find a shipper by the phone number as well as find things like walmart or someplace to eat
"don't leave home withot it"