The Four Kinds Of Laptop GPS
It was inevitable that two of the coolest tech toys out today should meet and come together in electronic matrimony. Yes, your laptop and your GPS (global positioning system) want to get together. The resulting union of a laptop GPS combination can reap lots of benefits for you, especially if you have to do a lot of traveling or get lost easily and refuse to ask anyone for directions.
Automotive Wired Systems
Things get a little kinky because your laptop GPS requires your car in order to be completely fulfilled. However, this is one of the easiest of the laptop GPS systems you will find. You plug one end into your laptop and another into a GPS unit you can place near a windshield so it will pick up satellite signals. Some systems require you to also plug into the car's cigarette lighter (do they still call it that)? The only disadvantage is that you have to already have a GPS unit and a laptop.
Bluetooth
This laptop GPS system works on the same principle as above, but there aren't any wires involved. Antennas are used instead, placed on top of your car or on the dashboard. Bluetooth is one of the leading names in wireless technology and is also considered one of the most flexible systems. The antenna is small and helps you get onto a wireless fidelity feed.
Compact Flash And PCMIA Cards
This laptop GPS system is especially recommended for outdoor use and not necessarily in cars. Most laptops have a port or slot for compact flash (CF) cards, which act a lot like software to a PC. You plug it directly into the side of the laptop. A Personal Computer Memory Card International Association card (PCMIA) also works on the same principle. It's usually the size of a credit card. Either a CF or a PCMIA card has to be specialized as a GPS device. The advantage is that you don't already need a GPS device. This usually works with a small antenna.
Mapping Software
Your last alternative is to buy a piece of software that turns your laptop into a GPS unit. If you have trouble reading the tiny screens of most portable GPS devices, this is a great alternative. Mapping software has been out for years and each year seems to get better. You need to be sure that your laptop has all of the required specifications for running any GPS or mapping software.
