Using Handhelds, GPS and Eastern European Maps?
RedDork asks: "I just graduated with a BS in Comp Sci and am planning a trip to Europe this summer with a Computer Engineer friend. We are renting a car and driving around much of eastern and western Europe including Croatia and the Czech Republic. We were originally intending to use a GPS and a handheld (iPaq 3870) to navigate, but are now having trouble finding maps for the previously mentioned countries. Additionally, we don't know what software or GPS units are behave the best with the iPaq platform. We were wondering if any of our fellow Slashdotters have done this kind of thing, and what recommendations they have for software/hardware/map combinations."
Nope, maps of that area of the world DO NOT exist. I lived there and, well, when they see you guys coming they're going to firing up the kettles 'cause the fresh meat done arrived in town.
Here's some advice from an old timer.
Instead of taking a GPS and fiddling with it all the time, you could (HORROR), try a service station after you arrive in Central Europe, or (SHREIK) try local language portals like www.seznam.cz or (EEEEE!) even call their national tourism offices in New York and Washington DC.... or the most dastardly thing of all..... order a European road atlas from Amazon.co.uk.
Low tech, but effective.