Laptop based GPS navigation software instead of small self contained unit.

Oops my mistake I thought you were looking for the product not info on use. We still utilize the old Garmin pc software on our machines. I do have the co pilot software on my android for times I don't have access to internet connection. The garmin software was easier to use but lately co pilot has been getting real good also.

I don't think you can go wrong with co pilot.

 

They make it for laptops also. I posted the link a few posts ago. Delorme also makes a product for laptops. Guess there are more available then I thought.

 

If you do decide to buy some software and a USB receiver I would make sure the receiver is WAAS capable.

http://gps.about.com/od/glossary/g/WAAS.htm

Good luck and let us know what you come up with. I am interested as our Garmin software is from 2010 and needs replacing.

 

I have the Ram Mount in my truck but I discovered the hard way that an active laptop hard drive will not long survive the punishment in a truck. My next laptop will have a SSD. I use the QC GPS and my Samsung phablet for the satellite view of the customers. I once got grief from a Texas State Trooper about my laptop being on while driving in my construction company truck; as regulated as we are this may be something to check on.

 

The best IMO is Street Atlas ffrom Delorme. Been using it since long before most other companies existed. It runs on a Windows laptops - but you can run it on an Intel-chipped Mac if running a virtual machine, which is what I do.

The mapping software is $40. With a USB-tethered GPS device it is $50. Very reasonable. Very quick. And the maps are terrific.
http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10091

With a secured laptop desk (there are several companies that make these) and an articulating arm you're good to go. I used a laptop in my truck for almost 15 years - various ones.

 

It is not the software alone you need a GPS usb device as well. I have one sitting at home and never use it. Once I got it I realized what a waste of money it was. If you cannot view a GPS on a 7" screen then you are blind.

 

I use DeLorme Street Atlas 2013 on my laptop. Someone else mentioned getting a solid-state hard drive if you'll have your laptop in the truck with you and I agree that's excellent advice.

The reasons I use DeLorme on the laptop rather than buying a dedicated GPS device:
- I already have a laptop that I use for a lot of other stuff in the truck and want to limit the number of devices I'm carrying with me.
- The DeLorme software makes it very easy to customize the route to be followed. This is important to me because the company I drive for gives you a route they want you to follow -- it's often very close to what the GPS software comes up with, but often enough it's not quite the same.

I found that Street Atlas works most reliably with the DeLorme Earthmate GPS receiver puck. I tried using the GlobalSat BU-353 for awhile but invariably the USB-to-Serial device driver that comes with the BU-353 (and which you have to use if you're using it with DeLorme Street Atlas) freezes up every couple hours and you have to stop the truck, unplug the BU-353 from the USB socket and plug it in again. Using the DeLorme Earthmate directly has been 100% reliable.

My only complaint about DeLorme Street Atlas is that they don't seem to be updating the maps like they used to. I buy a new version when it comes out every year and keep running into more and more cases where the highway or road has been upgraded/moved/etc. with new construction and the map still shows the old location. I know of several cases where the change to the road was made two or three years ago and the DeLorme maps still don't reflect that.

Edit: I just noticed that DeLorme now bundles the BU-353 with Street Atlas USA rather than their own yellow "Earthmate" GPS puck that they used to sell. If that's the case I sincerely hope they've fixed the freezeup issue.