So, I really want to buy the n810 -- and I do know the GPS and its wayfinder software is not all that great. However, does the wayfinder software allow you to go around toll roads? If so I'm sold. I'm about to go on a 12 hour road trip and I don't want to drag my laptop with me wherever I go -- but I need the internet at the hotel I'm staying at. So, this would be the ideal device (as long as I can get an OK lock from the GPS).

Thanks!

When you ask it to calculate a route, if the route contains toll roads, it asks you something like "Route contains tolls..." and if you hit the cancel button, it will re-calculate avoiding tolls roads. That way it presents the interface is somewhat less than intuitive, but it does seem to work.

Just a hint from my experience - if you know some of the route you want to take, do it as a couple of shorter routes with waypoints. When left to its own device to calculate a long route, it can be a bit whacky in it's choices. Although YMMV.

Thanks Doctor Despair -- that's exactly what I was looking for as far as an explanation. Is Maemo Mapper a better choice for planning a long route?

No. The problem with Maemo Mapper is that it requires an internet connection to do routing, and without that (and possibly even with it – anyone know?), can't adapt to unforseen changes in routes, such as roadwork.

The Wayfinder application, on the other hand, is actually pretty good about plotting a new route when you need it (such as when you've missed a turn-off).

Personally, I prefer not to depend on a GPS. Have a look at a decent paper map (or even Google maps) and pick a few waypoints such as towns or roads you want to pass through. Once you've given it a few hints, the Wayfinder app works okay, and isn't likely to try and take you by the scenic route. Failing to do this took me most of the way across the city in peak-hour to get to a road that was only a few km away from my starting point (but I think that was something of an exceptional circumstance).

One thing to consider is that Wayfinder has a reasonably cheep option to take out a one-month subscription, should your trip be too long just to use the free trial. I used it for a trip recently and the $10 or so was a good investment, IMHO.

I would consider Wayfinder GPS as a companion while driving on longer routes.
I would prepare the route myself ahead of the leaving, studying a bit the map and so on.
Then I will let Wayfinder drive me for the toll-free roads and trying to avoid possible mistakes it can make.
For example if you change your path for whatever reason, it usually keeps telling you to do a U-Turn for a while (in the meanwhile you might have missed an important turn. And some of these U-turn might well telling you to go to that missed turn!).

So, to re-cap, have Wayfinder drive you, have MaemoMapper also running with pre-downloaded maps of the whole path (as a always focused map) and, just in case, a paper atlas

Tell us how the trip went and your impressions on the GPS capabilities of the tablet.

Will do, I've ordered it and it should be here on Tues/Wends. I'm rather excited to have another linux device in my possession

The trip is on Friday so I'll post how the trip is going from my tablet

Great

enjoy your trip and new Linux device!

Just FWIW, I went with the N800 primarily because of the A) cost and B) not being stuck with substandard built in peripherals (keyboard and GPS) not to mention the FM radio in the N800 which is quite a nice feature.

That said, I have pretty much quit using the BT GPS for a couple reasons. First is the lack of battery life on the N800 (all of these?) and secondly I have to have an internet connection and play games to get routing (and there are some addressed over 20 years old that I know of that the google stuff can't find - seems not to be a problem on the Garmin). I've gone back to using the Garmin and am a lot happier with it overall (not as sensitive or as fast as the BT GPS, but that is yet to be a real problem). Since I have to carry a PDA that I can easily sync, it is not big deal to haul something else around too :-/.

Here open wireless connections are rare as a politicians morality and ethics. But for around the house (on my WAP) it is a quite handy little device. About 99% used anymore as an ebook reader since I can have sdict (for me WONDERFUL :-). Just wish FBReader was able to call the dictionary with whatever I highlighted. Other than that I am *quite* happy with the arrangement.

I have a cell phone with me wherever I go (just a simplistic slider phone) -- nothing big or bulky. I just want to be able to whip out the tablet instead of opening up a backpack, pulling out a laptop, unzipping its protective case, pulling it out, plugging it in, etc etc...

That would be its main use of the n810. I have a Sony Reader PR505 (eInk reader) for eBook reading, so the main intent of this gadget is to surf the web, and perhaps to do some very basic gaming (and if time allows, some coding). That and its occasional GPS abilities.

So, to sum it up basically: Internet surfing, occasional basic games, and the occasional usage of GPS. I think the n810 fills that gap rather nicely, and allows me to spend more time doing what I need instead of having to cart around my ultralight laptop. Having a backpack wherever I go is terrible.