As small print gets harder and harder to read, so does the small handheld GPS.  I started looking for a solution and was really pleased when I discovered that Microsoft Streets & Trips has a GPS edition that comes complete with a GPS receiver.  This system turns a laptop computer into a large screen GPS, trip planner, travel expense estimator, etc.  It also shows you where you can find 1.8 million points of interest including ATMs, national monuments, rest stops, fuel, lodging, food, and anything else you could want to find while traveling.

Video tour of Microsoft Streets & Trips

 The above video will give you a better idea of just how powerful this tool really is, and you'll see why no other GPS system can compare.  I played with Microsoft Streets & Trips for weeks and still learned useful tips and proper setup and procedure from watching the video.

The only downside to using this system was securing my laptop while driving.  I began a search for a quality mount that would secure and steady my laptop enabling me to safely use it while on the road.  Whether I'm buying a truck, a tool, or a toy anyone who knows me knows that I only purchase the absolute best that I can find.  I'm not afraid to spend money for quality.  Over a period of several weeks I searched for the best laptop mount that I could find, and I compared a dozen or so different setups.  I looked at the $30 rigs floating around the online auction sites and after studying the design and materials used I determined that "you get what you pay for" certainly applied.  I looked at the more expensive setups on those same online auction sites and didn't find them to be much better than the $30 setups.  I browsed a few message boards and found pictures of several different homemade designs, but I wasn't about to put a "Sanford & Son" laptop mount in my $45,000 truck.  After nearly giving up I decided to talk with those who use mobile laptop setups more than anyone; police officers.  I spoke with several different officers who all recommended Jotto Desk as the premier laptop mounting system.

Video overview of the Jotto Desk

Just as important as the product is having the right vendor who will be there to support you after the sale.  Once I found the product I needed I began to look for a vendor with a reputation for and a dedication to customer service.  I contacted Ted Stephens of Diversified Products who owns the Laptop Desk Store with many questions and found his service and professionalism to be absolutely first rate.  Mr. Stephens promptly shipped my order which arrived 3 days later.  As I unpacked my order I was impressed by the quality of the design, as well as the quality of the structural materials used.  Installing the Jotto Desk was very simple, and should only take a couple tools and about 20 minutes.

Step #1- Slide the passenger side seat back as far as it will go.  The Jotto Desk doesn't prevent seat movement, this just gives you more room to work.  Remove the two bolts with a 15mm wrench.

Step #2- Slide the link arm under the seat, between the two seat brackets as shown.  Slide it all the way until the mount base meets the mounting holes on the brackets.

Step #3- Mate the mounting base over the two front bracket holes and replace the bolts you removed in step #1.  Tighten to spec.

Step #4- Remove the passenger seat left side rear bolt with an 18mm wrench, and place the link arm over the hole.  Reinsert the bolt and tighten to spec.

Step #5- Tighten the bolt that mates the link arm to the mount base using two ½" wrenches.

Step #6- Place the vertical tube assembly onto the mount base and tighten it using the provided ratchet handle.

Ratchet handle video

Step #7- Place the articulating swing arm over the vertical shaft and tighten it using another provided ratchet handle.  Adjust the height of the vertical rod using the soft touch knob.  Notice all the adjusting points you have to assure comfortable placement.

Step #8- Attach the desktop to the end of the articulating swing arm and tighten it using a ratchet handle.  The upper ratchet handle shown is used to adjust the desktop pitch, and the lower ratchet handle shown is used to adjust the rotation of the desktop.

Step #9- Experiment a little with placement and clearance.  Its important that you not block access to your climate controls and other knobs in your dash.  Find a location that's comfortable, convenient, and above all safe to access.  Make certain that the soft touch knob as well as all five ratchet handles are tight to minimize vehicle vibrations.

Articulating swing arm video

One accessory that I definitely recommend is the laptop screen holder.  It does a great job of stabilizing the screen when the road gets bumpy.

Step #10- Simply pivot the desktop forward to get access to the bottom side, and attach the screen holder using the three screws that are provided.

Step #11- Place your laptop on the 6 foam shock pads on top of the desktop, and secure it using the two nylon coated aircraft cables attached to the spring latches.  Adjust your spring latches to fit your particular laptop, per instructions in the video below.

Cable-Dock system

Step #12- Connect the laptop screen to the screen holder by loosening the top adjusting screw to slide the screen holder open enough for clearance.  Slide the arm down over your laptop screen, and tighten the adjusting screws.  The top screw adjusts the position, and the lower screw adjusts the screen angle.

A wireless mouse is very beneficial to whomever is using the laptop.  The above Microsoft "notebook wireless mouse" is about $25.

In the center or driver's position, the laptop creates no obstruction for a full size passenger.  The center position also works great for when the passengers watch DVD's.

The articulating swing arm gives you the flexibility of moving your laptop to a comfortable position regardless of where you're sitting in the front, while not blocking your range of motion.

The final step is to load up your GPS software!  The Jotto Desk is very versatile, and is easily moved from one vehicle to another (by purchasing just the base plate for the additional vehicle).  I didn't want to cut any corners just to save a few bucks, I just wanted a quality solution to fill my needs and the Jotto Desk exceeded even my very high standards.  Once I've successfully adapted a generic base plate to work with my Yamaha Rhino I'll be able to use the Jotto Desk there as well and I'll publish a detailed installation write-up on it.

For your mobile computing needs you just can't beat the knowledge, experience, and customer service you'll find every time at the Laptop Desk Store.   Many thanks to Ted Stephens and the entire staff at the Laptop Desk Store for providing me with the perfect solution for my needs, as well as a sincere "thank you" for sponsoring this site.