These are image files (raster graphics) so they are just like a jpeg in a way they don't contain any embedded information like POI's and names of land features that appear when you hover over with a mouse or pointer. The ON uses seamless USGS topo maps of varying scales depending on the zoom level. So, comparing Overland Navigator to Mapsource Topo:
So when you get home from your trip, you can transfer the files or archive them and they're all there one for each day of the trip. (Like "Save as: choose a filename, choose where to save, Do you wish to overwrite?" etc etc). There's really no input from you necessary. You either turn tracking on or off, and it automatically saves a running track file from each day using the date as the file designator. There isn't much file info to keep track of. Unless you are actively using the few toolbar buttons, they disappear from the screen, maximizing the map display. You just plug your GPS in (or connect via BT), turn on the program, and go. There is no steep learning curve and no deep collection of toolbars, menus, and input prompts to deal with. Overland Navigator is very much "plug and play". If under pressure for one reason or another, this exercise in patience can be trying.
Unless you memorize exactly where each tool is and how to open and close it with speed and accuracy, you'll likely waste time fumbling with it looking for what you want, and then fiddling with the stiff hinge mechanism to open and close it unless it's used frequently and is well broken-in. In the case of the knives, the multi-tool can be heavy and cumbersome. Both have advantages and disadvantages over the other, so it's simply a matter of choosing what suits you best. With a single blade, they are renowned the world over for their timeless simplicity and strength, able to perform a multitude of tasks in the hand of a skilled owner. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have something like the Bushcraft knife. On one hand, you have the multi-tool with every kind of implement imaginable for every conceivable task you may encounter. An analogy, although maybe not the best one, would be to consider knives.
It is important to understand this, because this is what makes the program unique when compared to many other mapping software programs. Let me start by presenting what I see as the main advantage of Overland Navigator: Simplicity. 2 gig SD cards for my PDA are so cheap these days.
I also run tomtom on my PDA - so I can use the same setup (BT GPS mouse etc) to have full street level routing - I have US and Oz maps loaded in addition to OziCE and the topo maps and some google earth data. This would give me days of continuous runtime. I've used the PDA and bluetooth GPS standalone (their own batteries) to go on hikes and bike rides - for longer ones I have made some plug/cable converters to use my 14.4V li-ion bike light battery pack to power the PDA and Bluetooth GPS. This allows topo and google earth stuff to be available while navigating - very handy to "see" what the lay of the land is versus a straight topo.Īnyhow, if ON has similar capabilities then the combo of your own topo's, google earth satellite/aerial imagery and a laptop/PDA are hard to beat. There is also a program on the internet that allow you to 'harvest' google earth satellite/aerial imagery data at whatever resolution you need and then convert that into Ozi friendly files. No huge mess of wires, no large lumbering laptop and full navigation capability. I run a bluetooth GPS mouse and that means just one small USB cable to 'power' the mouse long term (internal battery runs about 6 - 8 hours) and one small power cable for the PDA. Full topo capability (and also in the US with the free topo downloads) and the ability to transfer data easily to/from the laptop version as needed.
So, with the PDA mounted on a nice flexarm in good position for the driver to view I now had it all. Then I started using OziCE on the PDA, all the same capabilities (in a shrunk down format) and compatible with Ozi on the laptop. The laptops never complained, but they are just large and cumbersome regardless of how they are mounted. The only issue is the large laptop an being offroad with dust & bumps etc etc. With topo maps of the entire Oz on the laptop and Ozi running I had full topo capability with all the tracklogs, routes, waypoints etc etc that one could wish for. Ozi on a laptop works great, in oz it is basically the only way to go (Ozi) because of the lack of decent topo maps on handheld GPS units. I've also been running OziexplorerCE (on a PDA) for a good 5 years or so. I've used Oziexplorer for a long time (> 10 years). Anyhow, I'll give you my take on using a laptop or PDA with a navigation program that allows you to use your own data - versus commercial handheld GPS units that require vendor specific maps. Just as another option (oziexplorer) - not sure how it compares to ON.