PDA or small PC

MIOMap is just as good if not better than Destinator 6 IMHO

Good to know that Bonz,

I'm trying to justify the PDA solution and the MIO 550 looks a good deal, all up $660 from Prestige Comms, including MIOmap.

I'm just a little troubled about the size of the display when travelling.
(e.g. Ozi moving map display)

Well my eyes are far from what they were when I was a youngun and I have no trouble using a much smaller screen on the GPS, the PDA is pure luxury. Dont be troubled IMHO about the screen size.

Sand Man,

I use an old Jornada PDA with Ozi moving map and don't have too many problems reading it. It's just a matter of getting used to the display and positioning it correctly regarding your driving position and sunlight etc.

I run a Dell Axim X50V PDA with a Globalsat BT338 GPS reciever. Software is Tomtom6 and Ozi.
With the PDA I'm able to get emails on the fly using the Nokia 6255 CDMA phone as a modem (provided there is a CDMA signal).
Also use the PDA to feed MP3's to the car radio.

I have the same PDA as Richard W (since Xmas 05) we use the Hicom card slot GPS ($150? our shop) with OziExplorer CE and maps to suit situation. We use it both in car, and on boat. Performs very well on boat, but prefer larger screen laptop for long distance driving, routing calculations etc. Good wireless, mp3 etc but limited by no phone so still carrying around 2 devices. Bought various options, good Dell cradle, chargers etc. Use wireless mostly, but only problem with Windows Mobile is no upgrades available? Stupid daylight savings option is not available for WA zone (trial) so when calendar is syncronized with desktop computer (XP) appointments are out by 1 hour! Can't find solution and never sure which appointments were entered on PDA or desktop. Like everything, need to upgrade to a new model every 2 yrs or so to keep up to date. Would never consider using voice activated navigation - remember most of these tools fine for cities, limited for outback.

Yes,

Thanks for that balance Michelle.
I also have previously justified the expense of setting up the Laptop running Ozi, etc., while travelling.
The moving map display is very good and I agree, when entering waypoints such as creating a new Treknote, or checking an existing one, I just couldn't see how that could be practical with a PDA.

I guess I'm looking for a compact "on-line street directory" while in the Metro area with the added advantage of running Ozi when in the countryside, without having to go "full hog" with the laptop.

As far as other functions the PDA would give, I don't think I'd utilise them.

My Nokia GSM Mobile Phone has an inbuilt calendar/contacts function which interfaces very well with MS Outlook, via a bluetooth dongle, so I already have that facility covered.

That's why I'm having such an internal conflict.
Do I really need the PDA solution for the cost of it's implementation, given what I already have?

"Would never consider using voice activated navigation"
why
in post 41751 Pajman Pete says its us mere males who tune out to womens voices...

Sand Man,

"when entering waypoints such as creating a new Treknote, or checking an existing one, I just couldn't see how that could be practical with a PDA"

Two taps on the screen to create a waypoint and one to go back to moving map on PDA. Can a laptop be any quicker ???

I line up with Michelle and Richard with the Dell and Ozi. I use Tom Tom too which is great for turn by turn navigation except with my patched in voice John Cleese has lost his voice.

I use a Bluetooth GPS - a Holux 256 GPSlim the size of a matchbox behind the Exploroz windscreen sticker. Using the 1gig SD card for Tom Tom and a 4gig CF card for Ozi maps. I tend not to use MP3s but there is plenty of room. The 4 gig CF card came off eBay just recently at $68.50 (SanDisk UltraII) landed so they are coming down in price

Michelle the upgrade to Windows Mobile 5 has been available but I think some were rendered useless paperweights with the upgrade, but others said the upgrade wasn't as good as the OE one. There is a lot of teriffic software for them at Aximsite and Site Link but the Axims need you to download the software for the Arm processor.

The Axim links to the Nokia and the LG by Bluetooth for emails but it doesn't then download the important documents to the laptop I may need. It of course just gets the headers for you.

Incidently the Axim X50v have been selling round $300+ even before Christmas.

Thanks Gramps,

With that sort of Navigation capability (screen taps) you are starting to convince me again.

Ozi on the PDA and setting waypoints is just that easy, tap and away you go, when u stop u can rename the waypoint easy as pie

Hi Signman ,
Sorry but OT . Where do you turn off the expressway to get to Kemble Grange ? Is it the main Pt Kembla turn off ?
Thanks ,
Willie .

Bear off the expressway signpost Warrawong (onto Northcliffe Drive). At the roundabout T/R toward Kembla Grange. There is signs & banners with info.
Might see ya there!!!

Iagree the Asus is a quality unit, screens a little smaller than the 4700 but its good none the less, and its about to be updated with a tad faster processor.

I run a PDA and a etrex (yellow one) ozi ce on PDA, works fine, have ran it for 4 years now and no problems.

The pen thing get easy to use, the pda has more uses them just a map, I have other programs on it as in engineering stuff and use it a work and about, even have a small sd camera for it.

you can get roll up keyboards for them but I don't

Hope some of this may help

Regards

Richard

Cheers it does help.

Equinox, I have had three palm systems PDAs and now the Dell but have never had a keyboard. Until the Dell I have never 'typed' with it, though I occasionally find the 'keyboard' useful. The stylus and 'graffiti' handwriting is just a dicipline that works ;-)

Let us know your first impressions when you get it all set up. I am going through the same process at the moment and looking to upgrade my old iPaq with the 5700 or 5900 (gotta love salary sacrificing).

Matt.

What do you think of it Equinox?

I bought an RX5965 to replace a 4150 (and spoke about it in a similar post about it a week or two ago). The more I use it, the less I like it.

Spent this avo doing a bit of geocaching and the 5965, compared to a 4150 with bluetooth gps, is slow. The device is very slow to start up, doesn't update the position as quickly or accurately, and with a resonable number of waypoints loaded, it's even slower.

I consequently had to continually soft-reset the device as it froze when changing zoom levels, or tried to start/stop navigating to a waypoint.

It should be a great little device for navigation (gps & pda in one), but I'm inclined to think my 2 or 3 year old 4150 was superior, or at the least on par.

Hope that doesn't put a dampner on things Matt! Mind you, if you've not had one before, you won't be comparing them like I am!

Not at all John. Good to get opinions and experiences before spending up. I have a 2210 with a CF GPS and Ozi Explorer which has been great. Time to upgrade the PDA for tax reasons and thought these looked good. Might keep looking for a bit.

Matt.

I like it.

I have already installed Oziexplorer CE and it is working fine. As you have to manually convert the Map files to another format I have only done Perth so far (Natmap). Moving Map is working fine and I can not foresee any problems. I have activated the tracking and that seems to be working.

The internal GPS is a treat which means the Extrex has become the backup unit.
That Tom Tom software can work concurrently with Oziexplorer as well; you can switch between the two.

There seems to be a lot of memory, with the Perth map taking only a fraction of available memory. I can imagine though I will be buying the memory card which will give me 850mb more. The more maps I can sqeeze in, the better.

Thanks Equinox. Let us know how you get on after you have a chance to give it a good road test.

Matt.