Dashboard Computer & GPS, version 1.0

For navigation, I used a GPS connected to a tiny circa 1998 Toshiba Libretto 100CT notebook computer mounted on the dashboard of my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Libretto was the smallest computer I could find, at only 8.3 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches. The screen is 7.1" diagonally, with a resolution of 800 x 480. It's barely fast enough to run Windows 2000.

With a GPS, software showed my current position on scanned USGS topographic maps.

Yes, the computer mount/sunshade is made out of cardboard. (Let's just call it a "prototype".) It has two metal rods that slide into two hollow metal cylinders secured in the dash above the radio. The only visible modifications to the dash are two holes in the easily replaceable trim piece that borders the radio. For a future version, I'd construct it out of plastic, and add better cooling vents in the bottom.

GPS, Computer, Topographic Map Software Links

• Dash-Mounted Fujitsu P1120 Notebook Computer in a van
• National Geographic Topo! - I used their Utah product.
• Maptech Terrain Navigator - I used their Nevada product.
• DeLorme 3-D TopoQuads - I used their Washington product.
• OziExplorer - Works with any scanned map image you can calibrate.
• DeLorme Street Atlas USA - I used this for my on-pavement travel, but it includes most smaller mining/logging trails too (but without topographic information).
• GPS Maps for Mexico