Tablet PC W/ Nation Geo Topo

[sprocket3]

Just wanted to see if anyone has had good results with a Tablet PC such as the "Fujitsu Stylistic ST4110" selling on ebay for $280ish. Seems like it could run TOPO from a creative mount and be a nice setup and more flexible than GPS stand alone units.

Anyone know how tough these units are?

 

[spressomon]

Just wanted to see if anyone has had good results with a Tablet PC such as the "Fujitsu Stylistic ST4110" selling on ebay for $280ish. Seems like it could run TOPO from a creative mount and be a nice setup and more flexible than GPS stand alone units.

Anyone know how tough these units are?

I run NG & DeLorme with a Holux on a Motion Computing Tablet PC. Works fine...however its too bulky for the 100 cabin for my tastes...unless the co-pilot manages it .

 

[sprocket3]

Great.. Does yours have one of the special "outdoor" screens? Are those needed while still in the truck during the day?

 

[spressomon]

Great.. Does yours have one of the special "outdoor" screens? Are those needed while still in the truck during the day?

Mine does have the brighter screen. I don't think you need it within the cabin.

 

[Scoot Jockey]

I am running that very model Fujitsu in the troopy. It works quite well, with TOPO software, and a Garmin hockey puck style GPS antenna and software. I don't have it mounted, and dont know if I ever will since it is so large. I prefer to keep it on the seat next to me, or in the hands of the co-pilot (my wife).

The pros:
1. You can use actual PC software on it for real TOPO maps, Toyota factory service manuals, Toyota eletronic parts catalogs, MP3s, games, etc.
2. It has a wifi antenna built in so you can get on the web at any hotspots.
3. Large screen for map viewing.
4. Can be used in portrait, or landscape mode.
5. Can be used in the tent for DVDs.
6. You can upload photos to it to free up your cameras memory.
Cons:
1. Screen can be hard to see in certain light.
2. The screen is easy to scratch if it is dirty when using the stylus.
3. Must be monitored in hot situations to make sure you aren't cooking the processor.
4. No internal CD/DVD drive.

I don't think it is the perfect navigation solution, but it works quite well.
Regards,

Scoot

 

[spressomon]

I'd like to try the Baja 540c. Scott Brady uses and likes his...but it's always one of those things: I gotta try it myself to find out I do or don't like it. I'd like to see how detailed the Lowrance Topo's are before going through the exercise!

 

[sprocket3]

Is there anything out there that gives the details of the NG Topo software yet? I looked 3 years ago when i purchased it and my Garmin 60cs. It was the only thing that would give such great detail and show all those little trails and tracks!

Scoot: It seems like the way to go for all of your pros listed.

Questions:

How long has yours lasted in the 4wd on rough roads? Seems like it could toast a hard drive pretty quickly, but i just don't know!

Can you see the screen ok in the rig? I know other make offer outdoor screens that work better in the sun. Just hard to know without using it in the truck!

 

[Scoot Jockey]

For detailed topos, this kind of setup is hard to beat, but I doubt it would be all that great used in a rally/baja type setting. I think the vibrations would kill it pretty quick. It does travel just fine packed away on my motorcycle, so it handles vibrations, while it is off, quite well. Usually my tablet is in sleep mode in the cruiser, and I turn it on every couple of minutes or so for help, or my passenger has it on, calling out turns for me. If you want something mounted and running so that you can use it while driving 90mph down a corrugated track, a dedicated GPS unit with mapping is the way to go. Also, the screen is usually quite easy to read, but not as nice as a dedicated GPS unit that is designed to be in a car.

 

[spressomon]

Is there anything out there that gives the details of the NG Topo software yet? I looked 3 years ago when i purchased it and my Garmin 60cs. It was the only thing that would give such great detail and show all those little trails and tracks!

Scoot: It seems like the way to go for all of your pros listed.

Questions:

How long has yours lasted in the 4wd on rough roads? Seems like it could toast a hard drive pretty quickly, but i just don't know!

Can you see the screen ok in the rig? I know other make offer outdoor screens that work better in the sun. Just hard to know without using it in the truck!

The Baja GPS series (current is the 540C model) utilizes the Lowrance 24,000:1 Topo maps...which are the same scale as the NG Topo maps. However I have not seen them personally to see if the detail for map features (roads, trails, springs, etc.) is similar to NG. I know the DeLorme Topo maps I have (electronic and paper) do not show as much feature detail as my NG or even the Benchmark paper Topo maps. For where I go I need this detail...I'll probably just buy one of the Baja 540C's and try it out...then I'll know. They are shock proof I have been told and specifically made for 4x4 use...and since they don't utilize touch-screen technology they are #1 less expensive and #2 immune to scratched screen from use in thick dusty environments (like Nevada ). My only nit with the Baja has to do with saving a track...it apparently saves it on its internal memory as the track accumulates. But if you want that track on the SD card you need to 'move' if from the internal memory to the SD card...not a biggy but an extra step if you want to get the track onto a PC/laptop...

 

[sprocket3]

Well i would hate to give up any detail that i have with the NG TOPO maps. I think i'll just find a platform that will support the software in the rig. I like that there are plenty of the Sylistic units around pretty cheap on ebay and i could replace parts as needed if it got messed up.

I was looking for the ability to use it while driving on the road though. Not at rally speed, but even 10mph on rough roads can be pretty rough. I guess i will just have to do it, and see how long it lasts. I've got the software so i only need the tablet and some way of mounting it and i'm set.

Other option is one of the "toughbook" style units. Though they seem far more expensive than the fujitsu.

Thanks so far.

 

[rusty_tlc]

The Baja GPS series (current is the 540C model) utilizes the Lowrance 24,000:1 Topo maps...which are the same scale as the NG Topo maps. However I have not seen them personally to see if the detail for map features (roads, trails, springs, etc.) is similar to NG. I know the DeLorme Topo maps I have (electronic and paper) do not show as much feature detail as my NG or even the Benchmark paper Topo maps. For where I go I need this detail...I'll probably just buy one of the Baja 540C's and try it out...then I'll know. They are shock proof I have been told and specifically made for 4x4 use...and since they don't utilize touch-screen technology they are #1 less expensive and #2 immune to scratched screen from use in thick dusty environments (like Nevada ). My only nit with the Baja has to do with saving a track...it apparently saves it on its internal memory as the track accumulates. But if you want that track on the SD card you need to 'move' if from the internal memory to the SD card...not a biggy but an extra step if you want to get the track onto a PC/laptop...

I have Mapsend, not sure what resolution but your welcome to check it out. I've found the topos to have enough detail for anything I've done.

 

[spressomon]

I have Mapsend, not sure what resolution but your welcome to check it out. I've found the topos to have enough detail for anything I've done.

Great...I'll have to take a look at yours to see how it compares to NG.

 

[MSGGrunt]

If you don't need a table and have the room for a small laptop, check out the Itronix IX250 Go Book. They are as heavy duty as you can get. NOTHING beats these for toughness.... I run one with DeLorme Topo and Street Atlas. They are very cheap for how well they are made. They have a full magnesium frame, waterproof, dustproof, shock mounted hard drive, glow in the dark keyboard and even a touch screen. All this for under $200.00... Just my input... Best of luck...

 

[sprocket3]

That's pretty temping now that i look at the prices. Very cheap! Does that unit run the software well enough to get things done?

 

[MSGGrunt]

If you are asking about the Itronix unit it works fine. It could use a bit more RAM for faster GPS tracking while driving 75 MPH on the highway, but off-road while using the Topo program the computer is great. The screen is very readable even in direct sunlight. The only drawback is that it is heavier (Solidly built) than other laptops.

 

[sprocket3]

I just sniped an Itronix IX300 off ebay for $270 plus shipping. It's got the P3 933mhz and 348mb ram.

Do you think that will run things ok, or will i need more ram?

What is the best turn by turn directions type of software? I was told Garmin makes a great product.

Any good ideas on a CompactFlash or PCMCIA GPS card? I was hoping to keep in all in the tablet if possible.

 

[Waorani]

Delorme topo has been mentioned a couple of times. Keep in mind that Delorme has 2 different "topo" products. The TopoUSA or whatever they call it now that gives you the whole US in one package is not very good. However, their 3D TopoQuads is actual USGS 24k Quad imagery. Goes for $100/state but I think they might have regional packages and sometimes they have sales. It used to be sold as a stand alone program but now seems to be offered as data for their stab at cheap GIS - Xmap.

I've used the 3D TopoQuads for years on Panasonic Toughbooks and it works great. Would probably run on the Fujitsu tablet and for the price I might get one just to play with.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Let us know how you like the ix300. I have an Itronix ix250 laptop and am thinking the tablet may be nicer for GPS in my cruiser. I assume the software will have to be load via an external CD drive?

 

[SHP_]

I've also been looking at the Itronix if the price is right. I've got a Magellan Crossover that's pretty nice, but they don't sell the detailed topo maps for it yet.

 

[sprocket3]

So far, so good. Seems to be fast enough to handle it fine. A little more ram would be nice. Also wish i purchased one with the built in Bluetooth radio. Had to add a PCMCIA card that sticks out 3/4 inch on the top now. The small tablet is a nice format for GPS. For a little more money i could have won an auction with double the ram and WIFI/Bluetooth built in.

I can't decide between mounting it on the dash in front of the clock, or on the center console/armrest area. The heads up concept is nice. But it might be overkill on the dash up there.

I'll post a write up when it's all done.