Don't have a clue as to how you do the thing with the laptop. But I've had Magellan(a couple) and Garmin hand held units. I'd never buy anything but a Garmin again. And if you frequent outdoor sights like I do the opinion pretty well holds that if you are serious about a good GPS go the Garmin route. FWIW, Jeff

 

Ok, to simplify things....
The DeLorme Earthmate is what you need.
That ebay auction looks good, do a Buy It Now and get it done with, it's a good price.
Get a USB extention cord so you can put the head unit on your rear window.
Run the line up to your laptop up front and plug it in. You'll want to install all of the maps on the CD so you don't have to keep the CD in the laptop.

Get yourself a little converter you can wire in or just plug into the lighter so you can charge the laptop. If you plan to use it a lot, just hard wire the converter into the battery with a proper sized fuse or breaker. (so you can hide the wires)

Next, look at police cars from different agencies and ASK them to show you their laptop stand. Get the brand name and model you like listed on the stand on a sticker and buy one.

Mount the stand, laptop and wires and you are done. Do NOT permanently mount the laptop, too tempting to thieves.
If you want internet also, get a wireless data card from one of the major cellular vendors and plug it into the laptop. T-Mobile has an excellent rate for unlimited data transfer, see if you have coverage though.

If it's war-driving you want, Oronico makes a good card ($50) that you can use an external antenna with.
I use an Oronico ported to a Directv dish and point it at a friend's wireless network when I'm out on the island fishing and camping, good for about 4 miles.

Anything else?

Steve...

 

I have the Garmin 60CS i freakin love it, i use it mostly out in the desert to keep from getting lost.

 

I ordered a Rayming TN200 TripNav USP GPS Receiver. Here’s a link to a cheap source: http://www.gpsonsale.com/vehiclenavigation/products/TripNavTN-200.htm
And to a PDF of the User’s Manual: http://www.mobilegpsonline.com/downloads/TN200_Users_Guide_v1.3.pdf.
I mounted the unit in the front windshield above the rearview mirror and keep my laptop in the back seat – I pull over to look at it.
I also bought “backroads Explorer” by National Geographic for mapping software. This map application has 7.5 minute maps of the entire US on thirteen CDs. I copied all the Western US to one DVD and run off that otherwise you’re always swapping out CDs.

 

**UPDATE-->I have since acquired a Garmin GPS II+ and have the serial cable hookup. Can I use that product as the recieve with the Delorme program?

 

Yes, you can use a garmin with just about any software. Just make sure the COM settings are right in the program and on the GPS unit.

I have a Garmin GPSMap76 and use it with DeLorme, National Geographic, and Microsoft Streets.

Works Great...

I like the Delorme Software the best....

The GPS is mounted on the dash using a RAM mount (got it at Bass Pro Shops)

 

Excellent....thanks. Think I am pretty settled on the Delorme.

 

Delorme is a good choice. and the garmin GPS is an excellent choice although i really like the GPS V but i'm sure the GPS II is good too

 

If i buy the DeLorme EarthMate,is there anything else that i need to make it work with my laptop.Do i need to subscribe to something?Is there a monthly fee or something?

 

Earthmate comes with Street Atlas. No subscription, nothing else required. I used one for cross-country navigation.

 

have a Tom Tom that I got at Sam's. Is accurate enought to take out of the X and use in the boat to mark fish on the lake. bonus

 

All i have ever had was Garmin units,other than the Lowrance units on my Boat. I had the GPS V,ETREX Legend,76, and a couple others i have probably forgotten. Now i have the Streetpilot 2660 in my SD,,Awesome to say the least. Where I live is mostly County Roads,and the streetpilot shows everyone of them.The detail is incredible. I was told that any of the garmin Streetpilots could be used with a Laptop. My favorite feature on the Garmin is the remote Control..