Co Pilot Truck?

Hmmm. Danger, Will Robinson... Must tread lightly Daniel-san...

Here is how I can answer that:

- How often a new model is put on the market verses how long a previous model are supported are two different things. What I meant by the 12-18 months "rule" is simply an observation of the market that I am a part of. For instance there have been 3 different "series" of stand-alone style truck GPS bearing the "PC*Miler" brand in a little over 4 years (x30, x40, x50.) The first number is the screen size and the middle number is the generation. As far as "map" updates (which is what I assume you mean by supported) the x30 received maps only twice, but the unit was "supported" for warranty purposes for 12 months after purchase unless they got an extended warranty regardless of when they put out the second map update. The x40 series got only 2 map updates because it again had to happen with mailing someone an SD card but was supported for warranty purposes for 12 months independent of when maps were released. The x50 series uses an online updating method so it has gotten like 6 or 7 map updates in the last 18 months because they were doing them quarterly. It will be "supported" as far as warranty for 12 months from the date of purchase unless an extended warranty is bought with it.

Similar statements can be made about Rand McNally, Garmin, and Cobra (again I only refer to truck-specific models) with TND500, 700, 510, 710, 720, 760 and Nuvi 465, Dezl 560, 760, etc. All of them have or will "end-of-life" models as time goes on.

Now, as far as the company structure as relates to PCM Navigator. ALK Technologies is the software maker for lots of different mapping and transportation industry software for over 20 years (PC*Miler for back office, CoPilot Live, CoPilot Truck, etc.) The PCM Navigator series of GPS is running a Windows CE version of their "CoPilot Truck" software. The hardware is developed by a partner called Noetic Inc out of Minnesota. But the maps and software features are entirely controlled by who ALK. They have them also for laptops, tablets, iPads, iPhones, Android. Magellan GPS company has a model that runs it too.

ALK was recently acquired by Trimble. I have ZERO insight into their corporate plans. However, anyone thinking logically will agree that the REASON to buy ALK is because of their position in the transportation industry mapping, routing, and fleet management software area. What ALK/Trimble decide to DO with that GPS program going forward I do not know. If I were forced to bet, I would say that they will expand the fleet management segment by securing deals to put the navigation and dispatching programs into large fleets and truck-makers as a standard option. I also know that the smartphone market has been very good to them, so I would bet that they continue to develop there. Also they have a big share in the European navigation markets for the same reasons.

Whether they renew or create a new licencing deal with Noetic or some other PDA maker remains to be seen. But the x50 (or possible "new" PCM models down the line) fate lies entirely on if ALK continues to licence a PDA version in the future. I know that when I was a cog in the "corporate machine" in my earlier life that when a company got acquired or merged - all bets are off no matter what you were "told" as a worker there during the first 1-2 years.

 

As a current user of a Trimble GPS (my company uses their GeoManager), I would say that it was so Trimble would have a decent routing system to put on their GPSes. The current system that I'm using is BAD. As in go five miles past your turnoff, and then do a U-turn bad.

 

Do any one uses the new copilot for the laptop

 

I also have a question about the copilot software. I am currently running copilot truck for android on a pos archos tablet with a ram mount connecting up the same place as the Qualcomm. I finally got tired of the android tab crashing oom manager problems etc. (archos/android problems) and went whole hog and bought a surface pro tablet. The plan was to run copilot for Droid through bluestacks android emulator but this does not work. So it looks like I will be forced to drop another 150 to buy a windows version of the software because my new tablet runs windows 8 pro (it is basically a touchscreen laptop without the keyboard). My question for dieselboss is this: does the copilot for laptop software run correctly on windows 8 as it states on your website or do I need to wait for the win8 version slated to come out this summer. Also, do you know what the difference is between the current version and the one that will be coming out. I tied to get these answers from ALK but so far have not had a response. I appreciate any help you can give me on this since you may have tested it on win8 and may have more info being a retailer for them.

 

Yes - I have installed it on several Windows 8 machines now. The only thing that went badly was when a driver installed the 32-bit version on a 64-bit machine. Other than that, all is well.

I did find a new thing today while installing Eclipse Log on a Slate. Windows 8 does not have previous versions of .NET framework turned on by default sometimes. I have to go to "Control Panel / Programs and Features / Turn Windows Features on and Off" and turn on ".NET Framework 3.5" for it to work. (MS article here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh506443.aspx) I have not had to do that previously for CoPilot though. HOWEVER, it's a very good tip for those running Windows 8 because lots of programs - the majority in fact, will possibly need .NET 3.5 or lower to run and Windows 8 doesn't necessarily have it turned on by default.

 

Good info. Thank you very much for the help. I now feel safe tossing alk another 150 bucks lol. 450 rather than 300 may have made me angry enough to start using the GPS on the Qualcomm lol.

 

By the way, do you have an Android phone or other Android device? Because if so, then you could use the "Change Device" function in CoPilot to transfer the droid version onto the phone or to a different Android tablet at some time and technically have a backup.

Once you have the product key, you can transfer it as many times as you like.

 

I actually purchased the android version through the play store so I am able to (and have)install on multiple android devices I have linked to that Google account. This is just the way Google set up the store so alk has no way to prevent multiple installs on android devices if you purchase via Google. Just an FYI for anyone considering buying it for android.
Thanks again for the help I went ahead and bought the windows version through your site since you were far more helpful than all was lol.