Ive got this errant sense of direction,ok,i get lost,,maybe. so i was wondering if there was a gps system i could load up in the puter? ive seen base maps and stuff and tought it b cool to have a computer to find me when i git on the back roads outback. any websights (besides google earth) that show terrain maps and cool stuff like that?  

microsoft streets and trips with gps navigation, I shoulda showed it to you will you were in the truck!

works great..all ya gotta do is install the disc and plug in the antenna to the usb... Presto..now you've got voice commanded directions..  

I was just going to suggest what Mud did... Street & Trips with the USB GPS antenna.

I also know there is a way to use Google Earth with one of these antennas and map programs to get real time views and such, but how exactly it works I'm not sure.  

yeah, the earth live is a direct link from the streets and trips and gives a birds eye view down to about 30 yards....heres an example of what it looks like...this is the truck stop I stayed in when I met naughtydodge....click on the birds eye view button on the upper left hand side...http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?cp=27.774561%7c-97.667846&style=h&lvl=17&v=1  

soooo.......ever wonder whats in the neighbor's backyard you can't see, now the mystery's over!  

I have a top of the line Garmin handheld GPS and I have high detail Topo maps loaded on it and it shows terrain and such and even cow paths but not houses. I use it hunting and hiking or off roading because you can see the lay of the land and where you are on it all the time.  

That 'birds eye' stuff is freakin' crazy! Right along with Google's street level stuff.  

yep, I use it when delivering POV's to see if the area is tree coveres which can cause dammage to the cars on the truck and whether or not It's accesible for the 83 feet of truck length. It also helps figure out where I can park at some dealers that don't have street side parking.

o...and It's only about 35 bucks for the disc.  

Daaaannnnggggg,,,ggggg. thats about the second coolest thing ive ever seen!as you see ime easy to amuse,but woo hoo thats still cool and the use u put it to,wish ita thought of using that when i ran the fields! thanks a bundle  

ammazon.com sells the streets and trips, along with many department stores....  

Thanks for the help,now here's another,newbee Q.i know theres a card you can slide into the side of the puter,1.has any one gone off road and used one? and how far? just trying to gain the knowledge.
"VERIZON"S brochure shows broadband access round moab,be cool to see pics from there,xmited from someones laptop,hooked via a blackberry,how bout it,any one game? and i'll send you picturesfrom the island,soon as i get out there!  

I currently use a verizon pc card, It works nearlt anywhere the cell phone works, the new thing now is a USB plugin, its waaay faster than the slide in cards,

at&t,verizon, and sprint all are good options the att&t seems to have the best coverage area, verizon a tight second but has more broadband areas...

so as ling as your off road trip is in a coverage area you'll have your navigation....

for off road use the best thing to have is probably the explorist or a comparable hand held gps like snoman mentioned...