Model 1372 - Microsoft Navigation Gps 168

Found one in a thrift store? Here is how to resurrect it.

The Good:

The Bad:

In an era where navigation technology evolves rapidly, Microsoft has long been a quiet force behind the scenes—powering GPS systems in vehicles, aviation, and augmented reality (AR) applications. A fictional Model 1372 might blend Microsoft’s strengths in AI, cloud computing (Azure), and software ecosystems to deliver a next-gen navigation experience. Here’s what it could look like:

The Microsoft GPS 168 is not a collector's item because it is powerful. It is a collector's item because it represents the "Wild West" of GPS. microsoft navigation gps 168 model 1372

Today, you can find these units for $15–$30 on eBay, often with 2008 maps that still think the Twin Towers exist or that a certain stretch of road is a dirt path.

For tech preservationists, the Model 1372 is a perfect example of Windows CE hardware. It can be hacked to run emulators (Doom on a GPS?), serial terminals, or custom Linux builds. Found one in a thrift store

For its time, the internal hardware was high-end.

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0 (Serial Port Profile). It connects wirelessly to laptops and PDAs.
  • Battery: Built-in rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery.
  • Charging: Uses a legacy proprietary connector (often PS/2 style or early mini-USB variants) and usually came with a 12V car charger.

    • The "Model 1372" only works with:

    It is not compatible with smartphones, MacOS, or modern navigation apps (Google Maps/Waze) without a complex NMEA-to-Bluetooth bridge.