Which PDA for car Navigation

[Talbot]

At present I use my laptop with Autoroute as my in-car nav platform, but it is a tad cumbersome! Decided that it is time to consider a more user-friendly approach, especially one that will help me avoid speed cameras (cant think why).

I have decided that Tom Tom 3 is the right software, but cant make up my mind on the appropriate PDA so can I please have the benefit of your advice? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[trouville]

Ive juat bought a new X30 from Dell,they are fast reliable,have changeable and afordable batteries,and dont loose date when you change over,

I was tempted to go for the X50 but as i was happy with the old X30 ive bought a new one 648 processor and Dell are offering 25% off at the moment!!!

Now im trying to decide which and if its worth it, SD card GPS adapter??

The Dell has Bluetooth and wi-fi,

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi

I agree that TOMTOM3 is fantastic and really works well. If you can get a HP2210 as they have CF and SD slots. Not made anymore but you can pick them up from Ebay for under £200. I ve tried lots and must admit the HP2210 is very good.

Regards Steve Birch

 

[Birdseye]

The best set up for in car nav (IMHO) is the Garmin 2610 which comes complete with car mount, maps and software. Voice prompts and a touch sensitive screen. Designed for the job. And you can use on your motorbike if you have one - its waterproof and shock proofor so they claim

Incidentally there are any number of Palm or PC type pdas which have gps built in.

Having just bought a Dell X30 to replace my faithfull old Psion I have to say - its crap! Dont go that way. How Psion failed to conquer I really do not know. The EPOC software is way better than the equivalent form MS. And Outlokk which it syncs with is also poorer than Lotus Organiser for general use, so I am not very impressed at the mo. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[DutchDan]

I agree, the garmin 2610 is perfect. It's very quick with findng adresses, also when you change your route. I've got a 256 mb that fit's four countries' Holland, belgium, france, luxembourg. In the software that's included is all of Europe and it's very easy to transfer.

you can also ues it for the boat, Garmin has great software for boat charts. 'bluechart'.

good luck

 

[Talbot]

I already have a Navman 5500 with C-Map for the yacht.

I know that Garmin make decent equipment and have a good reputation for support of the hardware, however their reputation for support of the software, especially for superceded navigation products sucks /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
(hence choice of C-Map)
I also have a laptop and appropriate nav products for passage planning and as a backup for the plotter. Thus a PDA approach seemed to be the correct answer - hence decision on Tom Tom 3.

I have an opinion against the Dell, and one for the HP2210 - what about higher numbers in the HP range?

 

[Birdseye]

Just seen a post on a bike forum to the effect that Tomtom are releasing a new integrated unit in the summer here

 

[trouville]

Dear Birbseye! As you were useing a psion i can see why you not pleased with PPCs or Palm, and agree with you, i used to have a Phillips Velo which "then" was useful.

I would have bought a Psion but i couldent find one with wi-fi? nor as fast a processor,nor at the price ive paid for my dell £210 with wi-fi blue tooth I will be installing my own chose of browser and email client,and other.

I looked at a Nokia 2500 but at 3x the price i couldent justify the telephone nor the asus which only had a 400 processor wi-fi sd and cf card 3 band telephone and tiny key board again more than twice the price of the Dell.

I wish i could plug the Dell into my old Compaq and use the key board and screen--but thats just wishful thinking.

Price and performence the dell for my needs is the best i dont use it for work nor writing letters,but saving and sending images.reading PDA friendly info from an SD card calling family via portable skype, and checking my emails, reading the morning paper(really!!)when im away from my laptop.

I like it as well as it dosent have a hard disc starts and stops at once and can be use best with my lap top,to save the start up shutdown just to see if an email has arrived or not!!

If its only wanted for nav only then a second hand HP or Palm??? But at the price a new dells hard to beat???

 

[BlueChip]

I use TomTom3 with a Fijitsu Siemens Pocket Loox 720. This is up amongst the best toys I ever bought (and I have bought a lot over the years)

Its got wireless and bluetooth with slots for SD and CF memory cards, you will need at least one memory card for maps

The screen resolution on the Loox is 640X480 although TomTom does not support that resolution yet, that resolution makes watching DVD's which can be downloaded to the PDA great and other applications are much more useable.

I got a bluetooth GPS and powered cradle on eBay and this is a great combination for in car navigation. My son picked up a set of USA maps and just came back from a trip over there where he used it extensively for getting around and said it worked well

Whichever PDA you buy I would recomend you get a VGA resolution model, I previously had an older Compaq Ipaq and the screen on the later models is just so much better

There is a good Forum at http://www.firstloox.org/

 

[Birdseye]

Trouville - how do you use it with skype? Presumably via a mobile, but I would be interested to know.

 

[cozy]

I have used a HP Ipaq h1940 for some time with TomTom Navigator and would recommend it without hesitation.

 

[silvertop]

Hi one and all

I use HP with Navman Jacket Navman software for touring on motorcycle and Maptech for marine navigation. the only fault I found was while touring france the charger connection seperated, battery went flat and it loses all added software, had to revert to road map. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[heerenleed]

Have had my HP Ipaq 2210 for a yearnow

and it works very well. You need to be on the handy side with computers, as setting up and downloading using your PC is not that straightforward.
Once it is all installed it works a treat. Can even get free of charge POI software, gives you warning for traffic cams...
cheers

 

[paulskent]

I have an Orange M1000 which has:

My email on it.
My Diary.
Is my mobile phone.
Has a copy of Belfield Tide plotter on it.
And I Use Tom Tom 3 for street nav.

I worry about how dependant I am becoming on what is a crappy piece of electonic kit. But it has all hung together for about 6 months OK.

My gripe with Tom Tom is that you can't enter a 6 digit postcode into it. You can enter the first 4 digits of a post code and then you have to get into streetnames and numbers.. Not Ideal !

PK.