Ten reasons to get a pda and GPS

andyblissett · Regular Visitor Joined: Jun 20, 2004 Posts: 65

Hi... Im trying to convince the wife that I should get a PDA and GPS system, and I would like some help from you lot. Im trying to get a really convincing argument together for me outlaying £400. So far I have

1) with GPS I wont get lost on the way home, so I'll be able to spend more time with her.

2) getting ordnace survey maps on the thing will increase my likelihood of me going out on my mountain bike more, and hence get much fitter (OK this does not work in conjunction with point 1)

Could I ask for some help on this, for great ways it gonna help me and her. (I really really want one :D )

Tim Buxton · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 10:34 am Post subject:

Of course (2) works! Get her a mountain bike to, then you can get fit together. Wink

(3) Stress-free journeys. No more getting lost or stopping for directions.

(4) Games to play when you're stuck in traffic! Embarassed

_________________
Tim

BadBoy · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 01, 2004 Posts: 40

with pocket gps speed cam it will save you from getting flashed by a camera and these alone cost £400+

andyblissett · Regular Visitor Joined: Jun 20, 2004 Posts: 65

I like those, cheers guys, keep em coming, only 6 to go Smile

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

7- With a PDA, you can maintain your personal calendar, put some icons or colours depending on category, set-up some alarms and corresponding message.

You could imagine how you would set-up event for 'mother-in-law'

Colour: Red
Icon: Twisted Evil

Recurring alarm:
Every Sunday lunch time -> 'go to mother-in-law for Sunday roast'
Every Wednesday afternoon -> Go to pub as mother-in-law comes from dinner

You won't forget any event involving her. Laughing

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

7bis: In next years, you could imagine to put a small RFID tag in mother-in-law's handbag to spot her 24/7...

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

8- Price: Package GPS+PDA is same price or even cheaper than corresponding dedicated in-car GPS

If you take examples with TomTom products,

TomTom Navigator 3 + medium-range PDA is less expensive than TomTom GO (£450)

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

9- Set-up recurring alarms 1 week in advance for the wife's birthday and for mother's day

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

10- No more POST-IT left by you all over the place for your mates' numbers or to dos you constantly forget to do.

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

You have 10 reasons.

Now, let's try to find the right system for you.

1st question: Operating System (OS) used by PDA.

I can't help for GPS but am happy to advice you for PROs/CONs of Windows Mobile Pocket PC (PPC) and Palm OS...
I have been using and still use both.

andyblissett · Regular Visitor Joined: Jun 20, 2004 Posts: 65

Well....

I use outlook pretty much all day long, for email calander etc, and I work from home, so I VPN in to work. I would need it to sync with that easily. Im not much of a gamer, so real high end processors etc aren't my thing. I have had a look at PPC and it seems really easy to use, so thats good. I dont want a car only system, cos I alsway get lost in london when I pop up out of the tube system, so walking portbaility is required. I have a wireless network at home, and would like to be able to use that.

I have had a look at the mio 168, which seems ideal for me, especially beacuse the GPS is linked to the main machine- I like the idea of not having to takes loads of extra kit around with me. The big problem with this is that it does not have Wifi enabled, but I could get a SD card with it on. Only problem is that take the slot for extra storage/memory. So i Think Im gonna go for it, and just learn to live without Wifi.

The other problem is that the Mio does not allow addtional batterie to be installed which could be a problem whilst out mountian biking, but I have thought about external batteries etc

Pros - Inbuilt GPS, and only 299 quid
Cons- No addtional battery, and lack of connectivity (except IR whic I dont like)

Why doesn't some manufacturer make a PDA with Built in GPS, additonal battery support and Wifi- It would be a killer I think
Ant thoughts?

andyblissett · Regular Visitor Joined: Jun 20, 2004 Posts: 65

Oh by the way, keep the ideas coming. Im putting together a powerpoint presentation for the wife when she gets home from work, and the more material the better.

It's gonna be entitled 'Please let me have a PDA or Im gonna divorce you'

Perhaps I might need to work on the title a little

Did I say I really wanted one? - ah yes I did :D

BadBoy · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 01, 2004 Posts: 40

You could always just get rid of the wife Smile

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Andy, do not be too focused on initial purchase price.

Do not forget that hardware is only part of the cost.

Do not forget that if you try to have your unit make things it is not designed to do, you could lose much money in time...

I would advice to buy one system for your car and a different one for mountain biking, that would be waterproof, shock-resistant.

If you don't travel huge distances, you might consider Garmin GPSMAP 60CS + Nav Kit :

http://www.aspidshop.com/export/store/product_info.php?cPath=3_7_11&products_id=28

Waterproof, shock-resistant, does a good job of in-car and walking or biking GPS.

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Make no mistake, you won't use a PDA-based solution on a mountain bike.

	PocketGPS
	Web