Ten reasons to get a pda and GPS

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

If you need a PDA, a GPS for car and mountain bike usage, why don't you buy:

Pack iPAQ (any of them) + TomTom Navigator 3

http://www.totalpda.co.uk/TomTom-Navigator-III-with-iPAQ-4150-and-TomTom-Car-Kit.aspx

GPSMAP 60C WITHOUT Nav Kit

http://www.aspidshop.com/export/store/product_info.php?cPath=3_7_10&products_id=2

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

Now that give me some food for thought. I like the idea of the 30 hours or so from the batteries. And obviously this is only using AA batteries, so I could change em as much as I want. you mention only for small journeys, why is this?

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

Because this Garmin 60 unit has only 56 MB internal memory, not upgradable using memory cards (maybe because unit is waterproof).

Major European countries take more space than that. But it's certainly fine for 200-300 kms for ex.

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

The thing is that you can select areas you want to download on the unit at a quite granular level.
So, you could plan a much longer journey if you consider only the route between point A and B.

In Europe, largest countries take nearly 250 MB.

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

Andy, will your wife use the GPS?

In my case, I have a compatible PDA (iPAQ 3970 Bluetooth) but won't go for a PDA-based GPS.

Why?

Want a stable, quick, 100% reliable solution.

My wife has a PDA, but different OS (Palm). Her Palm is not even compatible with TomTom Navigator 3 as only the latest Tungsten 3 has enough processing power to cope with GPS application.

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

Andy, where (country) do you live?

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

Where do you travel? Important to know as some units come without maps. In Europe, some come with all Europe (case for Garmin) but others are loaded with only one country (case for TomTom).

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

east midlands, UK. I visit the derbyshire peaks and the lake distrcit mainly

I like the idea of the garmin dedicated unit, but to be honest there is no way on the planet I could get my wife to agree to that. I would have put the mountain bike usage as a secondary consideration. So I'll probably have to compromise. and just use a pda that is well concealed in the backpack, occasionaly coming out when i get lost (well actually not that occasional)

P.S. thanks for all the advice. it it wasn't for your help i would have probably broken my new PDA within the week

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

Andy, do you already have the PDA? Not yet if I understand correctly.

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

If you have a PDA and want to keep cost at its lowest level possible while still having a decent in-car GPS, I would consider TomTom Navigator 3 Bluetooth with GB maps for £169, without PDA
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/viewprod.php?product_id=351&category_id=14

You can always upgrade to detailed European maps later at an extra cost of £106.
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/viewprod.php?product_id=1738

If you do not YET have a PDA:

TomTom Navigator 3 Bluetooth with GB maps + TomTom CarKit + iPAQ H2210 (Bluetooth) for £435
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/viewprod.php?product_id=352&category_id=73

Spotlight Navigator GB for Palm T3 with Car Kit + Palm T3 for £445http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/viewprod.php?product_id=698&category_id=73

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

Differences Palm / Pocket PC

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/products/pocketpc/default.mspx

http://www.palmsource.com/

Additional software:

www.handango.com

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

Until Navigator 3, TomTom PDA-based GPS were dedicated to Pocket PC platform.

You might check if Palm allows all functionalities supported by TomTom Navigator 3, like POIs (Points of Interests, traffic)

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

For PDA usage,

Palm is quick, plenty of 3rd party softwares, some free, stable.

Pocket PC is more powerful, allows or did allow before Palm Tungsten T3 better graphical applications like maps, has a proper Windows Explorer (reason why I switched from Palm to Pocket PC) but is less stable and slower.

No easy choice.

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

Pocket PC has now plenty of 3rd party softwares, although rarely free.

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

No I haven't got one as yet, but im close to buying the Mitak mio 168, with tom tom and 128mb for £374( global positing systems). I really like the idea that the thing has an integrated GS unit. espcially given the frequency at which I lose bits of kit!!

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