New Portable Computer and GPS System

[Romer]

Since My Garmin M3 Pocket PC was stolen, I decided to upgrade. The M3 was a great unit, but today's technology will allow me to do a lot more. I decided to get a Pocket PC and then add a GPS receiver separately. This will reduce the proprietary issues associated with the Garmin or another standalone products and allow me to have the latest technology with more functonality.

After a lot of research, I narrowed the choice down to two similar units; HP Ipaq 2495 and the Dell Axim v51. Both units met my criteria of having integrated wifi and bluetooth. Both, also take a CF AND SD memory cards.

I read a lot of reviews and people either loved them or hated them; "Best PDA ever" or "don't buy this Junk".

In my research, I found a lot of forums like this one that provided a lot of information. I came to the conclusion that most of the issues were operating system related. Some of the Dells in particular shipped with the Windows 2003 mobile and they were being converted to the new Windows Mobile 5.0. There were a few hardware issues on both models and both seem to have great customer service.

I ended up selecting the Dell Axim 51V




Microsoft® Windows MobileTM 5.0 software with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
Powered by the Intel® XScaleTM PXA270 Processor at 624MHz
Brilliant 3.7" color TFT VGA display with 640x480 resolution Integrated Intel® 2700G multimedia accelerator with 16MB video memory
Integrated 802.11b and BluetoothTM Wireless Technologies
Packed with 64MB SDRAM and 256MB Flash ROM
Integrated CompactFlash Type II and Secure Digital / SDIO Now! / MMC card slots provide flexible expansion
VGA-Out Support with optional VGA Presentation Bundle
Removable Primary Battery with optional High Capacity Battery
3.5mm Headphone / Headset Jack for Headsets to support VoIP and voice recognition applications
Built-in microphone and speaker for easy recording on the go
USB Cradle including Battery Charging Slot
Sleek, stylish design

The reasons I selected this one is it met my criteria of the integrated wifi, bluetooth and SD and CF memory cards. It also has a faster processor, a video co-processor and it has a 640x480 VGA resolution, while the HP has CVGA at lower resolution. In addition, it had more onboard memory to store programs and run multiple things at once.
People use these for watching movies, TV, Gaming, MP3, Business applications (Much improved in Mobile 5.0) and lots more.

The forum I found http://www.aximsite.com/boards/index.php being like this one and the Dell replacement policy of sending you the replacement before you ship the old one back also were pluses in Dell Column. I figured the forum would offset having to talk to Mujabar in India when I call. In other words, I am going into it with low expectations of their technical support. They always answer the phone and are polite, but the outsourced folks tend to follow flow charts without really knowing the product.

Dell is always running deals on the web site. Through the axim forum, I found out the best deals are through the small business portal rather than from the Home portal on Dell.com.

I found a great deal for $369 that included $119 of other stuff; larger spare battery and 3-1 cable set. http://www.dell.com/content/products...=04&l=en&s=bsd

I am now a small business named "Romer Associates". Use the web site, the phone guy wanted to create an account. The web site doesn't make you and allows you to pay with paypal.

Now that I have my base system selected, I bought an 8GB Compact Flash Card with the intent of using it for MP3's, Video, etc. I also bought a 4GB SD card at an amazing deal for $69 before the $17 rebate. http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4962201 Awesome deal.
I had almost 25 Hours of MP3's on 1.7GB in my Garmin M3, this should allow at least 100 hours.

Now to decide on which GPS Receiver and software package. I wanted to make sure what I bought used the newest SIRF 3 chipset for more sensitivity. I also wanted blue tooth so I could carry it in my pocket if I wanted to while out walking or traveling. I selected the Globalsat 338 Bluetooth receiver.

The next key item is the software package. After a lot of research, iGuidance and TomTom seem to be the two best. I selected the iGuidance based on the reviews making it seem a better fit for me. This will take care of all the road driving. http://www.inavcorp.com/products/iguidance21.html


The reviews on the site say that backcountry navigator http://www.backcountrynavigator.com/...ategory/67/46/ seems like a good product to try. There are others listed that can be tried, some for free. They give you up to date topo maps and aloow more views than the Garmin topo products did.

I bought the GPS receiver and software as a bundle, and going through the Axim forum, received a discount. Start with this link to evaluate all kinds of bundles or separate GPS items:

http://www.buygpsnow.com/aximsite_di...or_members.asp

Remember the coupon code for checkout. I didn't care for the deals on that page, but the prices once you move past are pretty good.

So, I should be getting all this stuff this week and hooking it up next week to test it out.

[reffug]

Damn that theft almost turned out to be a blessing in disguise so to speak.

Did insurance cover you on the loss Ken?

[Romer]

Originally Posted by reffug

Damn that theft almost turned out to be a blessing in disguise so to speak.

Did insurance cover you on the loss Ken?

No, just below the deductible, even then it would have had to be a lot higher than the deductible to make it worth it to me to file a claim.

Yeah, I'll have some nice toys. I am out some cash and the feeling of safety. I wasn't going to get new stuff because money is a little tight, but the Mrs's said I needed to do that

[offroad_nomad]

Ken,
Whenever you have your system together, could you please post some pics of your install along with your review? I'm still debating going with a pocket PC, PDA or laptop. Thanks.

[Romer]

Originally Posted by offroad_nomad

Ken,
Whenever you have your system together, could you please post some pics of your install along with your review? I'm still debating going with a pocket PC, PDA or laptop. Thanks.

Sure.

I had a garmin PocketPC Ique M3 for over a year and was real happy with it. I liked the extra functionality and the portability of the system. One advantage for the Garmin PDA's is they are an integrated unit. I have elected here to get a PDA and BT GPS Receiver as separate units to have newer technology and increased functionality.

I liked being able to put the PDA in my pocket and take it with me. I liked being able to open, read and edit MS Office files if I needed them. I liked having my contact lists. I liked being able to use it to play MP3's (In the car and as a potable unit). I even had an SDIO card that allowed me to web surf with it. So you are able to check your e-mail or Mud when you are driving about and find an "available" network. The only down side was the screen was sometimes hard to see in bright sunlight.

I am sold on the PDA/PocketPC approach. The extra functionality I am going for is lots more memory (Internal and removable storage), integrated wifi and BT (don't have to pull my SD card out to get wifi with an SDIO card). Newer software (Windows Mobile 5), better graphics and an open system that isn't proprietary to garmin.

[Land Speeder]

Next time you shop dell through your 'small business', send the shopping cart to your assigned rep, they should discount the price even more...
I'm the configurer of my company and they always reduce the price over 10% of the already reduced small business price. The Dell Small Business plan is nice.

[spressomon]

Even more versatile...unlike the Garmin PDA which will not allow (per Garmin) 3rd party topo software (NG Topo, DeLorme, etc) to be installed/run on their PDA the Micro Vaio is a regular PC...doesn't care what software you want to install and use:

http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/subcat...ooks/ux-series



Garmin needs to get their head out of the dark ages and start marketing products that are not so limiting to the user (when is the Serial connect going to die? Sheesh would they still be using floppy drives if given the chance?!!)


Sorry for the rant.......

[Romer]

It's been a while since I posted about my selection. I had problems with Dell's delivery and ended up getting it from one of their authorized dealers for $335. I bought it from www.leobarnet.com. I also bought the Globstar 338 Sirf III Blue Tooth Reciever and iGuidance mapping software from http://www.buygpsnow.com/aximsite_di...or_members.asp. There were a few issues at first and using the forum at www.aximsite.com, I figured out to turn the autosync off (by creating a dummy server) and also turning the Blue Tooth off when I turn off the unit.

I did not like the window mount for my Garmin or the custom bracket that I made (Too low and a distraction). The genric (Universal) units seemed to be too junky and I was concerned about breakage. So I spent some extra $$$$ on a two piece setup from proclip. You buy the bracket specific to your vehicle and it clipped into the dash easily and does not shake or rattle. I then bought the mount for my Dell and it fits like a glove.

[Romer]

The iGuidance SW is superior to the Garmin software that was on my Garmin M3 Pocket PC. It got us to Flat Nasty Missouri and back with no issues. I haven't taken any daytime pics, but the screen is easier to see than the Garmin was. There are lots of different windows and views. It was easy to add places and drive to people in your contacts list

[Romer]

The only problem I had was with the MS Media Player 10 on the PPC. It does not remember where you are in your list, mine is 65 hours long, it pauses occasionally during a song as well. The Axim site listed this as a known problem and I downloaded a freeware player called GS Player. I like it a lot better than Media Player.
I also took a DVD movie (We were soldiers) and converted it via the instructions on the AXIM site, compressed it to 500 MB's and can watch them with a great picture on the VGA screen.

I have the 8G Compact Flash Card with 6.5G of MP3's and 1.5G available for Movies. The iGuidance maps only take a few hundred MB's of the 4GB SD card (Love that memory).

[Romer]

I still need topo software. An in-expensive version is called backcountry navigator. However, after lots of research, I think I will pop for a more expensive package called memory-map http://www.memory-map.com/

I would definitly recommend this. Without the forum I mentioned above, I may have been frustrated and felt differently. They help there just like we do here

[e9999]

nice job

what's also interesting about this approach is that the cost is lower than some / many of the higher end self-contained portable gps units.

[Romer]

I thought I would post daytime shots that I took today.

[reffug]

Very cool Ken.................

Is there a convenient way to clean up the wires running everywhere or is that something you just sorta have to live with? I'm kinda a neat freak. One of the things I love about my Garmin V is how clean it installs and everything is hidden so that it looks like it came from the factory.

[Romer]

Originally Posted by reffug

Very cool Ken.................

Is there a convenient way to clean up the wires running everywhere or is that something you just sorta have to live with? I'm kinda a neat freak. One of the things I love about my Garmin V is how clean it installs and everything is hidden so that it looks like it came from the factory.

I just did that yesterday to route the wires clenaer using little stick on things

[davegonz]

Romer, could you also set up your gps software to work in landscape mode? Nice setup..I've always considered doing the same.

[Romer]

Originally Posted by davegonz

Romer, could you also set up your gps software to work in landscape mode? Nice setup..I've always considered doing the same.

Yes you can, I had to test it before I could reply.

[Spydaz]

Nice set-up ya have there. I love my Garmin 478 GPS/XM/XM Sat Weather unit.

[reffug]

Originally Posted by Romer

I just did that yesterday to route the wires clenaer using little stick on things

This comment is worthless without pics...................

[davegonz]

Did some horse trading and got a new Dell X50v for my 1 year old ipod video...the dell is sweet. Wifi rocks on it and the screen resolution is incredible (640x480).

I did get my old bluetooth gps unit (Microsoft/Pharos bastard) working with Pocket Streets...works fine, but lacks features that iGuidance and Destinator have. I just need some new software and a mount and I'll be set.

[slick621]

Originally Posted by Romer

I also took a DVD movie (We were soldiers) and converted it via the instructions on the AXIM site, compressed it to 500 MB's and can watch them with a great picture on the VGA screen.

Didn't know you could do that . . . could you give a little more info. please? Thanks!

[Romer]

I followed these instructions and it worked perfectly. All the software is free and it's really nice on the VGA screen.

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=70567

[Beowulf]

Ken,
Does your BT GPS receiver have provisions for an external antenna? I'm using the Holux GPSlim (also a Sirf-III device) with an external antenna. The antenna is on the cowel between the wiper blades and the GPS receiver is in the glove box. No wires from the GPS to the PDA that way.

Still have to find a way to power the PDA without wires.....

-B-

[slick621]

Originally Posted by Romer

I followed these instructions and it worked perfectly. All the software is free and it's really nice on the VGA screen.

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=70567

Thanks!