PDA with GPS sat nav!

[sgrewal]

Anyone ordered (thinking of ordering) this new product from Evesham Technologies - a portable PDA -pocket PC with GPS sat nav capabilities which enables you to have a portable Sat Nav - ideal if you have more than one car in the family!
They retail at £445 - but currently are out of stock - cheaper than car sat navs and they are yours for life regardless if you sell your car!

[S Warren]

I think it's a much better idea than having the standard sat nav fitted to your car, as you get to keep the Pocket PC, and you get to keep the centre speedo, (and all for half the price!)

I've got an HP Pocket PC myself, but don't have the nav program as I don't really have a use for it at the moment.

I saw an advert in PDA Essentials for a package of an HP Pocket PC with Tom Tom for around the same price (I believe Tom Tom is the best program?)

S

[SteveM3]

The other advantage with a PDA based GPS nav system is you can add
a camera database to it (provided you use the more popular software
like Tom Tom). See www.trafcam.com for examples of what is available.
I'd was hoping by now to be able to report to the forum how well this works
out but neither my PDA or software has been delivered. It's starting to vex
me .

[Brushy]

I have Compaq ipaq with pocket Co pilot, mine has postcode recognition, works wewll although it does take you on the most direct routes. This may not be the quickest due to congestion but it always gets me to my destination.

[CurtP]

I tried the PDA GPS solution in my last MCS and it was OK, but not as good as a solution as the factory fitted satnav IMO. I have a total of 4 GPS solutions - a stand-alone Garmin GPSV, Destinator2 for Pocket PC's, a Socket Bluetooth GPS setup (also for Pocket PC's) and the factory fit GPS in my new MCS. They all have their pros/cons. Biggest con with the PPC GPS solution is the placement of the device - it's either in the way of line-of-sight in the windshield or too low on the dash (using the Brodit mount and the MINI cell phone holder downtube).

[ToreB]

Take a look here
Regards,
Tore

[LordWinslow]

I have a Garmin: iQue 3600 PDA/Sat Nav. I love it, it is great got all the benifits of a Street Pilot 3, and the functionality of a Palm Computer. It runs Palm OS 5 and comes with just the basic Palm software (no real goodies) and the Garmin GPS package. For the package here is a run down if you really want to do it right:

iQue 3600 = $500
Car Mount = $50 or so
Non-US Power plugs and portable USB cables = $50
256Meg SD/MMC memory card = $80

That will give you the PDA and the ablity to use it on the road, also I suggest that you setup the palm and mapping software on every computer you have. That way you can adjust your map data and save it to the PDA.

The PDA only comes with 32Megs of memory, good amount for a palm machine, but not much when you start doing maps. For example, all of New England and parts of NYC take up amost 40 Megs. I got a 256Meg SD/MMC card and I store my maps on there. That should be enough to store your enough of the US for your trip. (You can get other maps too to install, I just have the United States). Also the SD/MMC slot can only take up to a 256Meg card in it.

Also one of the best features is when you put an address in, you can map it out and on your map it will show up as a little waypoint flag. If you go off route, the device will re-route and re-calculate your route. You get voice prompts and the screen is large enough so you should have no problem.

On the car mount I have it right behind the Tach on the dash, and it puts the PDA/GPS at the right level so I can check the map quick enough to keep my eyes on the road.

http://www.garmin.com/products/iQue3600/

If you have any more questions please feel free to PM me.

Winslow

[Beastmaster]

Quote: Originally Posted by sgrewal

Anyone ordered (thinking of ordering) this new product from Evesham Technologies - a portable PDA -pocket PC with GPS sat nav capabilities which enables you to have a portable Sat Nav - ideal if you have more than one car in the family!
They retail at £445 - but currently are out of stock - cheaper than car sat navs and they are yours for life regardless if you sell your car!

I have this and am pleased with it see my comments

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...hlight=sat+nav

[le19h]

HI guys, I use the Compaq iPaq, with the Rikaline hardwired GPS and Tomtom 2 software, and had no really problems. If you install it cleverly and use the Aux input into the Stereo, you can use the ipaq has an Mp3 player, whilst the sat nav is running and directing through the Mini sound system.

If you already have an iPaq, pick up the Rikaline GPS equipment from ebay - priced around £70. ( If your lucky you'll get the mount and power cables as well!) - Working in the IT Industry, i can get a copy of the Tomtom 2, CoPilot 3 or any games / applications, supplied with all the relevant details to allow them to work. PM me if anyone's interested.

[Stoo]

I've just bought what is probably the bargain of the century PDA/GPS system, from ALDI of all places

Medion MD41800 bundle for.. £270!

It's a nice little unit (Mitac clone apparently) very nice screen and performance, includes a 256MB sd card with the software preinstalled, the GPS unit TomTom compatible if you don't like the installed software (Navigon Navtech), and comes with a car mount kit too..

Now the other point of my post (first one on these forums too.. be gentle ), the car mount kit is one of those nasty suction cup things, and as such doesn't really fit anywhere that isn't in the way of things (view, gearstick etc).
Does anyone know anywhere I can purchase a more elegent solution, ideally one of those ones that bolts into the side of the cd head unit (like the mobile phone mounts)?

[TonyB]

Thansk LordWinslow for the info and link on the Garmin iQue 3600 PDA/Sat Nav. I've never had a PDA, but have beeen wanting one for the longest time, as well as a portable GPS. Garmin is #1 in that arena, well, maybe Magellan...

Like yourself, I like the idea of something that can put into multiple vehicles so I don't have to order NAV on all of them, plus when I get somewhere, I can take it with me. For anyone that has ever gone meandering in downtown SF, you will want one to get around, and to even find where you parked your car I also do a fair mount of mountaineering, so I need to find-out if this baby can download detailed mountain maps, do bread crumb trails, etc. I'm guessing not though...

Would anyone know if there is such a device yet that also includes cell phone capablilites? Just trying to lighten the load of stuff to carry around.

TIA guys.

[LordWinslow]

Quote: Originally Posted by TonyB

Thansk LordWinslow for the info and link on the Garmin iQue 3600 PDA/Sat Nav. I've never had a PDA, but have beeen wanting one for the longest time, as well as a portable GPS. Garmin is #1 in that arena, well, maybe Magellan...

Like yourself, I like the idea of something that can put into multiple vehicles so I don't have to order NAV on all of them, plus when I get somewhere, I can take it with me. For anyone that has ever gone meandering in downtown SF, you will want one to get around, and to even find where you parked your car I also do a fair mount of mountaineering, so I need to find-out if this baby can download detailed mountain maps, do bread crumb trails, etc. I'm guessing not though...

Would anyone know if there is such a device yet that also includes cell phone capablilites? Just trying to lighten the load of stuff to carry around.

TIA guys.

Yeah the Garmin has a walk about function that allows you to set it either in a car or as your walking around. It can also simalate directions so you don't have to have the GPS part active.

Winslow

[a.s.allen]

The combined GPS / PDA devices may be great but watch out for the standard of service this company provides. My dispute with them over a failed unit ended in Salisbury County Court, where a deal was struck between myself and Evesham. They almost immediately sent me an e mail going back on the agreement. Evesham More like Eveshame I would advise people not to deal with.
A.S.Allen
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