GPS and Your Windows XP-based Laptop
Published: May 27, 2003
By Joli Ballew, Windows XP Expert Zone Community Columnist
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Over a decade ago, my parents bought a motor home equipped with the most impressive amenities. Now they've added a top-of-the-line laptop computer that's running Windows XP. When Mom bought the laptop, she intended to use it to send e-mail while she and Dad were on the road and attach pictures of their adventures. Now they get a lot more mileage from their laptop and you can too.
A couple of years ago they purchased Microsoft Streets and Trips and now plan their excursions electronically. Everyday, they rely less on the American Automobile Association (AAA) and those large, unwieldy maps and more on their computer. Recently they've added Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to their laptop to help them navigate. This technology tells them where they are, how far they are from their destination and, combined with specialty software, even where the next rest stop is.
In this article, I'll explain why I think some kind of GPS technology is a must for serious travelers. I'll cover what kind of GPS hardware and software might work for you and why it's important to choose Windows XP as your traveling companion.
What Is GPS?
A Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite navigation system that works by continually transmitting high-frequency radio signals containing the time and location of the satellite in relation to earth. A GPS receiver on the planet's surface obtains this information from three or more satellites and the GPS receiver calculates the user's position on the planet. The receiver pinpoints (between 3 and 15 meters) where the device and thus the user is located. With multiple measurements, the receiver can also calculate speed, trip time, distance to destination, altitude, sunrise and sunset, and more.
On average, eight satellites are always within sight of wherever you are on Earth. The more satellites your GPS receiver can contact, the more accurate your readings will be.
In the photo below, my parents are showing off their Windows XP-based laptop with GPS device.
Figure 1
GPS Hardware
There are several types of GPS systems that you can chose from. I prefer Garmin, although there are several just as worthy, including Magellan and NAVMAN. You'll have to decide how much you want to spend and go from there.
If you want an inexpensive unit, consider the NAVMAN e Series GPS receiver for $139.00. It includes a receiver with mobile GPS direction and mapping capabilities that connects by a USB port to your laptop. It also comes with Rand McNally's StreetFinder software, which contains detailed street maps for the contiguous United States and Hawaii, plus over a million points of interest and business locales.
Magellan offers a good mid-range model called Meridian Color, which in my opinion is the ultimate handheld GPS receiver. It costs about $550 and offers 3-meter accuracy and an extensive, 16 MB built-in mapping database. It also stores up to 20 routes, 500 waypoints, and 2,000 track points to make finding your way back as easy as finding your way there. There are additional perks too: data about sunrises, sunsets, phases of the moon, and even a fish and game calculator to tell you if the fish are biting. It's a great GPS tool for the money.
A good high-end GPS is the Garmin StreetPilot III. It costs about $1,200 and offers voice-prompted directions, estimated time of arrival, distance from destination, and the nearest gas stations, exits, restaurants, ATMs, hospitals, and rest areas. It is a full-color model like the Magellan and comes with specialized software that allows you to download maps from your PC and then use the portable system from the dash of your car.
Additional Travel Software
You can use the software included with the GPS and/or purchase additional software for your laptop that will enable you to locate specific destinations such as hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, and shopping malls. For RV and truck drivers, personalized software can be purchased that includes up-to-date information about construction zones, restaurants and shopping centers with large parking areas, and highway exits that have large off and on ramps. Most software allows you to download updates from the Internet for free too, providing you with the most up-to-date information.
My parents like Microsoft Streets and Trips because of its 16.7 million miles of mapped roads. Figure 2 shows what the software looks like when first opened. Using this software, you can plan the trip, decide on a trip route, add rest stops, and locate places of interest. This software includes over a million points of interest, search-by-address capabilities, customizable maps, and GPS system support among other things.
Figure 2
Rand McNally Street Finder and Trip Maker Deluxe Suite is also a good option for mapping software and is reasonably priced. Before purchasing anything though, visit GPS Information.Net to read reviews on all kinds of hardware and software; this site is a great place to look for information.
There are several freeware and shareware programs available on the Internet including GPS Utility, EasyGPS, and GPS Positioner Smart. Each of these work with various GPS receivers and can be used for mapping routes, sorting waypoints, and filtering GPS data on your PC or laptop. Although I haven't tried them myself, they seem to be quite popular.
Visit GameFreaks.net and scroll down to the GPS section for a list of almost 100 links to great GPS sites, including hardware, software, and GPS communities.
Travel with Windows XP
If you are thinking about getting a GPS, make sure you have a laptop with Windows XP installed. Check Mobile Computing with Windows XP for a complete discussion of the benefits of using Windows XP while on the road. Windows XP makes a great traveling companion for many reasons, including the following:
| • | Windows XP offers advanced power management options. |
| • | Windows XP offers support for mobile devices. |
| • | Windows XP offers a warning alarm when the battery gets low or is in critical condition. |
| • | Windows XP includes the Offline Files feature that lets you store files on your laptop and access them while on the road. On your return, you synchronize these files with your network. |
| • | Windows XP includes built-in wireless support, making it easy to connect to public Internet services while traveling. |
Install GPS on a Windows XP-Based Laptop
Installation is the same for almost all GPS models. You just start your Windows XP-based laptop, install the software, and plug the GPS receiver into the laptop's USB port. With Windows XP and Plug and Play hardware, you really can't go wrong. Most GPS systems come with extensive mapping software and that installation is as simple as inserting the CD into the appropriate drive.
Configure Your Laptop's Power Options
After you configure a GPS, install software, and fully charge the laptop's battery, it's time to take off on an adventure, right? Well, almost. You need to configure the laptop for optimal settings before you go.
To configure battery alarms:
1. | Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click Power Options. |
2. | On the Alarms tab, under Low battery alarm and Critical battery alarm, specify the settings you want by dragging the slider, as shown in Figure 3.  Figure 3 |
3. | Click Alarm Action to select the type of alarm notification and power level you want. |
To configure a power scheme:
1. | Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click Power Options. |
2. | On the Power Schemes tab, in the Turn off monitor, Turn off hard disks, System standby and System hibernates lists, configure the time settings you want. (See the list below of how I configure them.) |
3. | Click Save As, and in the Save Scheme dialog box, type Travel. |
4. | Click OK twice. |
When configuring the laptop to run on batteries, I configure the settings as follows:
| • | Turn off monitor: After 2 minutes |
| • | Turn off hard disks: After 8 minutes |
| • | System standby: After 3 minutes |
| • | System Hibernates: After 10 minutes |
That's it, you're ready to go. I'd love to hear about your GPS adventures, so drop me a line from the road at Joli_Ballew@hotmail.com. Happy traveling to you, and if you see my folks, give them a smile and wave.
Joli Ballew is a technology trainer and writer in the Dallas area. She hold several certifications including MCSE, A+, and MCDST. Joli has almost 20 books available, including Degunking Windows (Paraglyph Press), Hardcore Windows XP (McGraw-Hill), and Windows XP: Do Amazing Things (Microsoft Press). Joli is also a regular Microsoft Expert Zone columnist. Joli can be contacted at Joli_Ballew@hotmail.com.
