Laptop based Systems
Laptop based GPS Systems
Laptop based GPS systems are relatively cheap compared with other standalone GPS units. In these systems the map and software are loaded into the laptop hard drive. The only accessory that you need is a simple receiver that can connect to your computer (via USB or serial ports).
The mapping software loaded into the computer will be able to perform the navigation. Most laptop systems come bundled with a GPS receiver. Compared with other GPS systems, a laptop system is bulkier.
But the advantage is that you are leveraging the laptop CPU power, memory and hard disk capacity for your navigation needs.