Why Did I Do It?

Background:

Since about February of 2005 (about a year now), I have used a portable GPS Navigation unit (Magellan RoadMate 700) in my truck. We travel travel with our RV rather extensively around the Midwest and farther during the 6 month Midwest camping season. GPS navigation served us well. It really allowed us to "take the road less traveled" when we felt like it. Sure, we stay on expressways and such when pulling the house on wheels but once we set camp, we can explore with peace of mind knowing that we'll always know where we are and how to get back to camp!

So, that was 2005. Early in January 2006, we flew to the Knoxville, TN area to look for land to purchase. Land that we hope to build on one day. I brought my laptop with Microsoft Streets and Trips and their GPS receiver / antenna. I had already inserted a few pushpins on an area map (within Streets and Trips). While this was my first time using the program outside of my house, I quickly learned what a great planning tool it is. As I found land in the MLS to look at, I added prospective properties to the map. Then when we went out each day, I just routed us to one of the locations from our current position. The entire trip, I had the program log our traveled route. When we learned more about a property, I added the information right on the map. With the file saved, I can now review everywhere we traveled as well as the information we gathered.

The Future:

So with that, I was intrigued if not hooked on computer-based mapping/navigation systems with a GPS receiver attached. Thus began my thoughts on building a mobile PC for such a task and more.