Boys and their Toys
Over the last year or two I’ve been checking out nav systems for the 4WD trips I undertake, waiting patiently for a system that would aid navigation in, say, the Simpson Desert and also take me to an address in the city.
Tom Tom, Garmin, Navman, Uniden and the like do the city thing well but not both, thus the surge of in-car nav systems is no good to me once I’ve left the bitumen…”Turn right after 750 kilometers”, no matter how sexy the voice, doesn’t cut it.
I’ve had Oziexplorer loaded on my Laptop for years which allows me to navigate in the bush but whenever my wife comes along she is less than impressed with the invasion of her space. “Well, don’t come then!” wasn’t an option and besides the companionship, there are kitchen duty considerations. Laptop holders are still too intrusive on space so I needed something smaller.
I reasoned the best answer was to find a tablet computer; load it with Oziexplorer and a city navigation software package and secure it on the dash.
On to eBay. I found a FUJITSU Stylistic TABLET PC LT C-500 that seemed to fit the bill but at $999 was a bit pricey for this little pensioner so I Googled and found them in the US for US$275 ($AUD309) plus $70 Airfreight at J&K Sales Inc
Ordered straight away and waited with baited breath for the system to work. I opted for a US Post email tracking system that dutifully told me where my package was at specific times during it’s travels;
With inbuilt wireless I had the tablet on the web in minutes on my home network. This will allow me to post with regularity when I’m on the road. Being a computer and not just a specific-to-purpose navigation toy I have a full range of options. Email, music, pics and movies. The touch screen eliminates having to carry a mouse and the tablet comes with a wireless keyboard.
All I need now is a good city navigation software package…..any tips?
Otherwise, I’m on a roll and ready for my next trip bush
Enroute JAMAICA NY 11499 09/21/07 1:24pm Enroute LOUISVILLE KY 40231 09/20/07 7:02pm Enroute CAMPTON KY 41301 09/20/07 5:39pm Electronic Shipping CAMPTON KY 41301 09/19/07 11:25am Info ReceivedI wonder if the Aust PO offers such service? Doubt it! The package arrived on the 23rd within the five days promised and is as advertised!
With inbuilt wireless I had the tablet on the web in minutes on my home network. This will allow me to post with regularity when I’m on the road. Being a computer and not just a specific-to-purpose navigation toy I have a full range of options. Email, music, pics and movies. The touch screen eliminates having to carry a mouse and the tablet comes with a wireless keyboard.
All I need now is a good city navigation software package…..any tips?
Otherwise, I’m on a roll and ready for my next trip bush 
Two men armed with a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher and machine-gun have fired on members of the Overwatch Battle Group – West (OBG(W)) during a patrol in Dhi Qar Province.
No Australian soldiers were wounded in the weekend attack.
Anti-Iraqi Forces gunmen fired an RPG round which hit the bar-armour of an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV). The grenade did not detonate and rounds from the machine gun failed to damage the Australian vehicles.
Australian soldiers returned fire with their rifles and the ASLAV responded with its 25mm main armament. The attackers fled the scene.
OBG(W) Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jake Elwood said his soldiers reacted well during the brief engagement.
During a patrol in southern Afghanistan last week, an SOTG vehicle was hit by an IED, wounding two soldiers. The wounds were assessed as slight.
A spokesman for Defence, Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said the wounded soldiers were provided with first-aid by their fellow soldiers and evacuated to a nearby ISAF hospital for further treatment.
“One of the two soldiers received specialist medical care but due to nature of his injuries is to return to Australia for further treatment,” Brigadier Nikolic said.
The remaining soldier is expected to make a complete recovery and will remain on duty in Afghanistan.
During a later route clearance task an EDD and his handler encountered a second IED.
The bomb detonated on discovery, resulting in the slight wounding of the handler and the death of the dog, who was named Razz. The handler continued with his duties.
Defence Spokesperson Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said Razz was a veteran of the 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. He joined Defence after beginning his career with Customs.
Brigadier Nikolic said the actions of Razz and his fellow EDDs had saved lives.
The pic is of Razz during training in Australia
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