jsmoriss
Explorer
Hi everyone,
I've been trying to decide between a Laptop and a full-size GPS install for several weeks now. The different setups I'm considering are:
- IBM Thinkpad X41 w/ docking, mounted on RAM vertical mount, Garmin 76CSx, Garmin nRoute and AutoEnginuity OBD II software.
- Lowrance 9200c or 9300c HD with external antenna, etc., mounted on a RAM vertical mount.
The advantage of the laptop is I already have everything!, where-as the Lowrance stuff is a good chunk of cash. All I had to buy for the laptop is a smaller profile battery and a second power adapter (I already have 2 dockings!). I can also plug the laptop into the OBD II port - I don't think the Lowrance can do that. The Laptop also gives us access to WiFi if/when we find an open access point on the road.
The big DIS-advantage to the Laptop is dust, water, and the extra space for the keyboard. We have a Jeep JK, and although we leave the top up (mostly because we have a roof rack and it's a pain to lower/raise the top), we sometime take the doors off. I'm not sure how long the Laptop would survive in these conditions. Not to mention the general shaking involved with off-road driving. The Lowrance has a definite advantage here.
So I guess my question is, to those of you with Latops in your vehicles, is dust, vibration, and water a problem?
js.
I've been trying to decide between a Laptop and a full-size GPS install for several weeks now. The different setups I'm considering are:
- IBM Thinkpad X41 w/ docking, mounted on RAM vertical mount, Garmin 76CSx, Garmin nRoute and AutoEnginuity OBD II software.
- Lowrance 9200c or 9300c HD with external antenna, etc., mounted on a RAM vertical mount.
The advantage of the laptop is I already have everything!, where-as the Lowrance stuff is a good chunk of cash. All I had to buy for the laptop is a smaller profile battery and a second power adapter (I already have 2 dockings!). I can also plug the laptop into the OBD II port - I don't think the Lowrance can do that. The Laptop also gives us access to WiFi if/when we find an open access point on the road.
The big DIS-advantage to the Laptop is dust, water, and the extra space for the keyboard. We have a Jeep JK, and although we leave the top up (mostly because we have a roof rack and it's a pain to lower/raise the top), we sometime take the doors off. I'm not sure how long the Laptop would survive in these conditions. Not to mention the general shaking involved with off-road driving. The Lowrance has a definite advantage here.
So I guess my question is, to those of you with Latops in your vehicles, is dust, vibration, and water a problem?
js.