Opinions on mapping software + laptop

[StarkRavingSimmo]

Hey Dudes,

I'm looking to setup a laptop + mapping software for my 4WD.

With all the recent netbooks coming out, I'm thinking that one of them would be the go. I'm thinking of probably going with a Asus EEEPC 900A with the Intel ATOM processor and 1GB ram. I was thinking that one of the ones with the solid state hard drive would be awesome too but the big thing is that theres only 16GB to play with. I reckon I can get XPHOME to be reinstalled to take minimal space but how much room does most of the mapping software take? Am I going to have enough space? And is 1GB enough to work with?

Also, what are the suggestions on the best mapping software. I've heard a lot of talk about the OziEplorer software with the HEMA maps but then i've also had ppl say that its crappy and that the maps aren't detailed?

Would love some opinions

[festy]

Solid state storage is a good idea, I have had hard disks die due to rough roads.
Ozi runs fine with 256Mb, so 1Gb will be plenty.
Ozi is really small - maybe 10Mb, but you'll want at least 4Gb for maps.
My NSW mapset is about 1.5Gb, then add the Natmap rasters and a UBD style of mapset for towns, and you'll use all of that 4Gb.
There's no reason why you can't run all your maps from a USB stick though.

re: ozi being crap and bad detail - the application is about the best available. There's a few other (memorymap etc) but they are no better, and everyone uses Ozi so stick with it for compatibillity. It's also about the cheapest.
The map detail is nothing to do with Ozi, it's up to the maps you use.
If you use a large scale map of australia, it will be useless. If you use a small scale map (like a 1:25k) you can easilly tell which side of the road you are driving on from the map.

[StarkRavingSimmo]

Solid state storage is a good idea, I have had hard disks die due to rough roads.
Ozi runs fine with 256Mb, so 1Gb will be plenty.
Ozi is really small - maybe 10Mb, but you'll want at least 4Gb for maps.
My NSW mapset is about 1.5Gb, then add the Natmap rasters and a UBD style of mapset for towns, and you'll use all of that 4Gb.
There's no reason why you can't run all your maps from a USB stick though.

re: ozi being crap and bad detail - the application is about the best available. There's a few other (memorymap etc) but they are no better, and everyone uses Ozi so stick with it for compatibillity. It's also about the cheapest.
The map detail is nothing to do with Ozi, it's up to the maps you use.
If you use a large scale map of australia, it will be useless. If you use a small scale map (like a 1:25k) you can easilly tell which side of the road you are driving on from the map.

Ya, I thought SSD would be worth the extra $$ in the long run. The largest on the netbooks so far is only 16GB :(

Okay, sweet, Ozi is okay thats grand

I'm a little behind with the maps, Natmap rasters?

Yeah, I was wanting to get the 25k:1 maps, I saw you can get the HEMA maps with Ozi, are they any good?

What GPS receiver are you using with your laptop and where did you source it?

[festy]

Well there's a set of 1:25k and 1:100k topo maps covering NSW that are free, a similar set of 1:50k maps covering Vic, and you can download the set of 1:250k maps from ga.gov.au for free too (but it's a bit tedious)

Have a look at the GPSAustralia.net forum for where to get lots of free maps.

Hema maps are good for touring, but are usually a 1:500k or larger scale, so not much use for trying to follow a firetrail.
You can buy the Hema set together with the Natmap 1:250k collection for under $150 from memory.

I've used a variety of GPSrs - bluetooth, serial and USB 'mouse', as well as handheld units cabled in.
By far the best is the USB mouse, you don't have to power it, and you don't have to turn it on or off.
Most people recommend a SiRFstarIII chipset, but that design is getting on a bit. They use a lot of power because of their good correlation engine - but more modern chipsets like the MTK or Numerix have higher sensitivity so don't need the power-hungry correlation engine like the Sirf3s.
Ebay ones are usually fine, but you can buy online in australia for not much extra and actually get a warranty.
Something like this for $89 - http://www.gpsaustralia.net/shop/produc ... cts_id=420

[StarkRavingSimmo]

Okay, I'll check out the forum cause at this point i'm mainly after the 1:25k maps. Though I see that theres a deal when buying the OziExplorer to get the HEMA maps as well, So i might grab them.

1:250k isn't great for a fire trail either.

Thanks for that link to the GPS receiver too. Thats pretty much the sort i'm after but i'd much rather pay a little extra and buy it here Sweet.

Its all falling into place, just need to source the 25k maps

[festy]

Its all falling into place, just need to source the 25k maps

individual maps - http://maps.festy.org/downloads/ozi/NSW/
individual (zipped) http://maps.festy.org/downloads/ozi/NSW/zip/
one big tar/bzip2 file - http://maps.festy.org/downloads/ozi/NSW/NSW.tar.bz2

[StarkRavingSimmo]

Thanks chief, i'll use works net to get that now

Awesome!

I'd love to checkout your laptop setup in your truck sometime. It sounds pretty sweet.

[Steve F]

I have a EeePC 900HD, I looked at the solid state but the laptop is so much more usefull with a hard drive, mines 160GB, and my fullsize laptop has never had a problem.

For mapping I run Ozi with Festys maps but I also run Garmin Mobile PC for the street mapping. On top of all this I use Centrafuse as the front end, just need to get a touch screen so the EeePC can go in the glovebox out of the dust etc.

Here's a couple of screen shots of the front end. With this setup I can use it for all my MP3's and chuck some videos on there as well etc. Cntrafuse does heaps more like connects to reversing camera.





Cheers
Steve

[macca81]

i really like ya frontscreen. running linux i presume?

[Steve F]

i really like ya frontscreen. running linux i presume?

Nup, since I run the hard drive EeePC I run Windows XP, much easier to get navigation apps etc for it.

Cheers
Steve

[RN]

I have the 700 EEE PC running linux and most of the good stuff is written for Windows. Pity as I wouldn't mind getting it to run GPS stuff.

[macca81]

i really like ya frontscreen. running linux i presume?

Nup, since I run the hard drive EeePC I run Windows XP, much easier to get navigation apps etc for it.

Cheers
Steve

so what app ya using for that page? or is it a theme? either way, i like it and want it

[Steve F]

i really like ya frontscreen. running linux i presume?

Nup, since I run the hard drive EeePC I run Windows XP, much easier to get navigation apps etc for it.

Cheers
Steve

so what app ya using for that page? or is it a theme? either way, i like it and want it

It's just another App running in full screen, Centrafuse for that one, you can also use RoadRunner or FreeIce, plenty to choose from.

Cheers
Steve

[GU-ish]

in reply to the laptops.. i just got a Dell Mini and i love it
good size for in the car and awsome for surfing the net. only i wouldnt be writing any essays on it lol
havnt got any mapping software yet but iam looking too soon so any extra info would be great

[coxy321]

I have the 700 EEE PC running linux and most of the good stuff is written for Windows. Pity as I wouldn't mind getting it to run GPS stuff.

Why dont you stick XP on it?? We put XP on ours at work, replacing the FAT XP-Home with a stripped out XP-Pro (nLite). Works a treat, and they're reasonably fast too (for SSD anyway ).

[blade828]

Hey Steve F how did you embed Ozi into Centrafuse? I have been waiting ages for this but apparently it wasn't doable?

[Steve F]

Hey Steve F how did you embed Ozi into Centrafuse? I have been waiting ages for this but apparently it wasn't doable?

Add as an application, call the Application name OZI and the window name OziExplorer and start it in fullscreen mode. This works for me 100%,

Cheers
Steve

[Fishin' Dave]

I assume you're using a mouse to select programs - you mentioned going to touch screen - what options do you have to get touch screen - a new laptop?
What mini notebook has touch screen capability?

Thanks
Dave

[davew]

I've written an XP app for touch screen use with Ozi, it sits over the top of the Ozi screen and lets you enter waypoints, set the zoom, goto a waypoint and a number of other functions using big on screen buttons suitable for finger operation.

I've put it together for competition use mainly but it might be of interest to others too. You can enter new waypoints quickly using a touchscreen number pad and it also gives an overlaid direction pointer and distance for the current waypoint you are travelling to, similar to the "big arrow" screen on a Garmin GPS.

If anyone's interested in beta testing send me a PM and I'll ship you a copy of the next version (the current version only supports GB grid and Irish grid, am about to add UTM which should make it more useful outside the UK). The release version will be available as freeware.

[Steve F]

I assume you're using a mouse to select programs - you mentioned going to touch screen - what options do you have to get touch screen - a new laptop?
What mini notebook has touch screen capability?

Thanks
Dave

The touchscreen will plug into the VGA port on the eeepc so I can have the eepc in the glovebox out of the dust etc. You can also get touch screen overlays for the eeepc on ebay for around $100 if you dont want to run a seperate monitor. You take the beezel off, fit the screen and put the beezel on, do a seach on youtube there are a few videos of this install etc.

Cheers
Steve