Auto Nav 2000 Plus, Inc. - Laptop vs. In-Vehicle Nav System
Vehicle Navigation systems use multiple sensors to provide essentially an inertial guidance system that is COMPLETELY independent of the GPS. It is crosschecked when possible, but can provide accurate guidance information for many miles between fixes. This is something GPS only systems are completely incapable of. This guidance either comes from obtaining this information via an onboard gyro, vehicle speed and reverse sensors (which are on the vehicle as inputs to things like cruise control, and the engine management computers that are on virtually all vehicles built since the mid 1980's. Some of the later versions of Vehicle Navigation systems have eliminated the need for these inputs from the vehicle, by incorporating all of the components of a true inertial guidance system much as you would find in a commercial airliner. These sensors are able to detect movement and measure acceleration in all directions.
The laptop computer does not have additional needed sensors to guide the navigation system if the GPS signal is lost. Most In-Vehicle navigation systems incorporate the use of a Gyro, Speed Sensor Input, Reverse Circuit Input, and map matching software along with Dead Reckoning Technology to keep the user on course, even if the GPS signal is lost. A laptop computer does not have these extra sensor inputs. When only 1 out of the 4 sensors are available, the laptop unit would become crippled if it loses its input from that sensor. A laptop computer using GPS map software is just that. It only uses GPS signals to position the vehicle, and if the GPS signal is lost, users are lost!
Most laptop GPS map software is not aware of turn restrictions like, ”No left turns between 9-5PM”. Or other restrictions like, one-way streets, speed limits and, stop signs compared to stop lights. Another problem you will encounter with laptop GPS map software is that sometimes streets or highways that are shown to cross each other on the map don't necessarily merge together in reality. This might be due to the fact that the road is above you, like an over pass that crosses a main road 60 feet above the road, and no physical entrance exists to merge on to the overpass! Nor are they aware of things like divide roads like parkways, where there may in fact be a median strip between you and the left turn it tells you to take! Vehicle navigation systems need a lot of data that isn't strictly GPS map data. If your generating maps, you show roads, and where they go. Maps generally don't tell you if there is a median strip, a no left turn sign, or a one-way street, yet this information is absolutely essential to a vehicle navigation system.
Most laptop GPS software will have these errors due to a lack of information in the map database. However, NAVTEQ maps already have this information and utilize it!
Without the knowledge of speed limits, turn restrictions, stop lights vs. stop signs, most laptop GPS software will not be able to determine the quickest route, shortest route, most or least use of freeways, or avoid toll roads! In-Vehicle Navigation Systems use NAVTEQ map software that is specially designed for use in these systems. NAVTEQ map software already contains this type of information to help users navigate their vehicle correctly and more efficiently.
A laptop takes up 5 to 6 times the space that an In-Vehicle Navigation system does. This is space the passengers need or use. A laptop is much more cumbersome to use and in the way most of the time. It takes the driver much longer to navigate through the map software program because the keyboard is not design to be used as a vehicle navigation input device. It takes the drivers full attention to use the laptop program. The aftermarket In-Car navigation system normally takes only a few clicks of the input keypad to navigate quickly and safely to the programmed destination.
An even greater concern is how do you securely mount the laptop so it can run, and you can see the screen? A slight error here, and when you make a hard turn, or have to stop short to avoid an accident, your laptop goes sailing. A short review of the cost of repairing a laptop should convince most just how bad an idea this really is unless you like spending money. The laptop was priced competitively, however they figure once you own it, it is like a car. The parts are not priced competitively. If, for instance you break the display, on many laptops, the cost of replacing the screen is nearly as much as you paid for the entire laptop...
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