Topic: Computer Connection
Presenters: (vendors of the products mentioned below)
[Note: This is PC/Windows information only. Mac owners won't find anything interesting here...]
Laptops are far more useful in RVs because they are far smaller than desktops, and they are portable. The portability is similar to the difference between a hard wired phone at home and a cell phone you can take anywhere.
Cell phone internet connection. Nokia 5000 or 6000 series are the only one that will provide easy access to the internet. The best cell internet connections can handle both digital and analogue. Motorola StarTech is the other, but requires an extra accessory.
An external antenna for cell phones will greatly enhance the signal -- by a factor of 3-400%.
The laptop brand favored [by this vendor of same] is Panasonic, which is not commercially available. Reportedly a better build quality, and can better withstand RVing environments. Failure rate is 3-5% in the first year, versus nearly 25% on many other popular brands. They have the best warranty in the business -- 3 years from date of sale. Don't need to be the original owner, and don't need to have registered.
Most laptops will offer more capabilities than we will ever use. 90% of buyers will never use more than 10% of the laptop's capabilities. However, Pentium 450, 10 gig hard drive, 128 megs of ram and 24X hard drive would be a recommended minimal configuration. The newer applications are so large that unless you have enough memory (e.g. as usually not found in older laptops) it will quickly use up available RAM and ROM.
Navigation Software: CoPilot is probably the most (automatic) user friendly of the offerings, though it is not the most bells and whistles option. It gives direction through synthecized voice, so you don't need to watch the screen; and it has voice recognition, so you can ask it a limited number of questions. Examples of questions it will understand: "Where am I?" "What's my next turn?" It has either a driver or passenger setting. On "driver" setting, above 10 MPH the maps disappear, and are replaced with large type statement of next turn. Price $350 including program, GPS receiver, and maps of entire U.S. Copilot will only work with its own proprietary GPS receiver -- whereas most others can use various types of GPS receiver input. He sells a generic brand from Australia.
Map 'n Go is a $24 software program that is GPS enabled, and has (non-street level) mapping for US, Canada and Mexico. No program has street level detail for Mexico.
Street Atlas has poor quality voice, at least through version 7.0. But maps are good.
[Note -- all these things could conceivably put you into a low clearance (e.g. low bridge overhead) situation. Products in development will find optimal routings for large vehicles, e.g. trucks and motorhomes. But it isn't there yet.]
Some programs will identify truck stops and RV parks. None would be as detailed as the specialty information resources, such as Trailer Life Directory. You can get a list of WalMart locations, plug in the street address of the one you're looking for, and it will take you directly to it.
Built in GPS mapping systems such as Alpine, Phillips and Garmin lock you in to that manufacturer's maps and technology. Moreover, you can't pick it up and take it with you in the towing or towed vehicle.