Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS
Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS How to find your way - traditional map, compass and road signs, or GPS and more
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia




Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 21 Mar 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
Posts: 1
Rugged Laptop - Ideal for GPS

A rugged a useful means of running GPS in your truck on road or greenlaining.

The CF- 27 is one of Panasonic’s now legendary “fully ruggedised” laptops designed for use in the construction and utility industries. With an almost indestructible Mag alloy case, processor floating in shock absorbing gel, a protected hard drive and a waterproof, dustproof case they’re designed for extreme operating conditions.

I use Fugawi 1:50,000 mapping software, linked to a Garmin handheld GPS unit mounted on the dash. The laptop sits on the centre seat and runs on a power lead from the lighter socket.

The CF- 27 has a 4 gig hard drive, which I hold the whole of the south of england 1:50000 with the whole of the country available on 1:250,000, 1:800,000, and 1:1.M at the same time with plenty to spare.

The CF- 27 is the most fast or sophisticated as modern laptops, but it it’s a great little machine and a swiah laptop hard drive and processor wouldn’t last two minutes in a landrover!

There are 3 PCMCIA slots, and an internal modem which gives Internet access, either via a phone line and dial-up, or a Local Area Network Broadband connection. Connection leads are included.

The Laptop has a DVD ROM Drive and USB connectivity

The machine comes with Windows 2000 Professional installed (Stable and reliable)

Screen size 12”
Processor Intel MMX
Hard Drive 4 GB
Chip type Intel Pentium 1
Memory 160 MB
Primary Drive DVD
Features PCMCIA Card slots x 3
PS2 Port
Serial Port
Parallel Port
Printer Port
Infrared data Transfer
Internet ready via Dial up or LAN
USB
Very strong Magnesium alloy case. All covers present. Screen in perfect working order.
Battery Li Ion

Comes in its own Carbon Fibre style Samsonite case with a Olivetti printer and if you get stuck you can always watch DVDs!

£225 to include P&P in the UK
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 21 Mar 2006
Wheelie's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 658
Even this rugged beast doesn't like vibrations much, no harddrives do. Although some harddrives are more restitant than others in temrs of taking the occational beating, it is often the repetitous vibrations and shocks to a turning hard drive which kills a computer. One thing is rough transport of a pc which is turned off, another thing is rough transport of one which is running... like a pc with a gps running hours upon hours on the African corrugations...

Even with a tough pc like this, consider taking backups more frequently than you would at home. If you plan to stay on the road for a long time, and the computer is of great importance to you, consider also bringing copies of your software. If your hardrive goes bust, this will need replacement. These are usually fairly inexpensive and easy to come by, your software is not. You may even consider bringing a spare harddrive if downtime is really bad...

One final note, if the reliability of the GPS is absolutely critical, with severe ramifications if it should malfunction (like in the desert), I'd go with a GPS whose software (including the OS) ran on a memory card type storage... and laminated maps and compass ofcourse.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 14 Jul 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: UK/ZW
Posts: 725
Really wish I had the spare dosh...

I use an old CF-25 serial linked to an old Garmin III plus - both work fine for me although the 25 is a bit slow! Sits on the back or passenger seat so it's protected from the worst of the bumps - wouldn't mind one of those RAM laptop mounts though as my wife doesn't like it on her lap all the time.

Good bit of kit.
__________________
Enzo
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:37.