Does anyone have a suggestion for a PDA that will be used primarily for GPS mapping using a Bluetooth GPS? The Bluetooth GPS unit I have came with PPC software, but if the PC version is any indication, it's functional but not good. Software suggestions would help, too.

Just thought I'd add that by mapping I mean driving routes.

Also, it seems that TomTom is finally available software-only (for $149), and I've heard good things about it. So if someone could just recommend a Bluetooth PDA, I'm good.

I had an ipaq 1940 which had bluetooth, it worked with my bluetooth gps mouse and tom tom. I was really happy with it until some theiving bastard stole it.

Looks like they don't sell that model any more. Maybe I can find one on eBay for cheap.

Nope. Not cheap, anyway. I can get a new Dell Axim one for about the same price as a used one of those with the same amount of memory.

I might just get a Tungsten T3 since the resolution's better and I dislike MS in general.

My boss just got the new Dell Axim, very very nice it of kit, he has the one with WiFi and BT built in, he has got me thinking about dumping my iPaq 2210 and going for one of those!!!

I wouldn't bother with the Navman software, the maps are way better than anything else out there, but the front end is just too pig awful to use out and about. There are major bugs in almost every part of the software. I wouldn't buy NavMan again, Tom Tom looks to be the best all round to me, but the maps seem a little comical to me (if that makes sence)

Cheers

Cris.

Cartoony? I agree, but to me that makes it look like it'd be easier to understand at a glance.

I have a Tungsten T3 with TomTom (wired GPS) and I think it works quite good. I don't know if you can buy only the software for the Palm version. You had to buy the whole kit when I bought mine...

Stig

I'm using my PalmOne Zire72 with a Holux GR-231 BT GPSr and Mapopolis auto-routing/mapping software. Great combo for USA and Canada, and they also sell maps for UK/Europe.

The GPSr was US$99 or so, ditto for the Mapopolis maps (though I now know how to crack the freebie maps to full functionalitiy..). The only (trivial) complaint I might have is that Mapopolis is ever so slightly PocketPC-centric, and doesn't "live" the PalmOS paradigm as well as it could as a result. But on an "extended input area" Palm unit (T3), much of that complaint would vanish.

Cheers!

Oh, and definitely get a BT GPSr, rather than a plug-in SDIO GPSr for the Palm. With a plugin, the Palm really likes to be positioned for a good view of the sky, which conflicts with having a good view of the display for the driver.

With separate units over BT, both desires are easily met.

The Holix 231 has BT and serial built-in, and a $20 serial-to-USB cable is an option -- but don't plan on actually using the serial, since the firmware folks goofed: the unit powers off after 10minutes without a BT connection, regardless of whether the serial is in use or not! Great for BT, though, and it uses a replaceable LIon cellphone battery (Nokia 7xxx series) when not plugged into the (included) lighter adaptor. The Xtrac firmware is awe inspiring.. nearly instant fixes under all conditions -- way better than my dedicated Magellan GPSr that I use for cache finding.

Other modern BT GPSr units are likely every bit as good, and the new chipsets now appearing mean they're getting a lot better for next year's units!

Cheers

If you get a BT GPSr, you can try out Mapopolis for free (free download of s/w, free limited-trial maps from their web site) before deciding on TomTom or whatever (or email me for other freebies..). I just had a peek at the TomTom s/w web site, and they also seem to be assuming a 480x320 screen (rather than the Palm standard of 320x320).

Cheers

Thanks, Mark! I will have to check out the Mapopolis site. I like the way that TomTom looks for driving, but you can't beat the price for Mapopolis.

I never did. I'm too lazy and cheap to get around to it.

Oh, and Mark, the TomTom web site mostly shows the long Palm screen on the web site, probably because it looks better, but it certainly works with the square screens, too; the display is just different.

TomTom's 320x320 display is optimized for 320x320, I think,, not just an afterthought. A Google Image search has a number of 320x320 screenshots.

Still, I'm not sure what your complaint is. They have to make a 320x320 screen somehow. There is by definition less screen area. How does having to deal with that restriction make them "PPC-centric"? Regardless, they've been making TomTom since before 320x480 Palms were available. Is the fact that they used that extra real estate once it became available what pisses you off?

Hey, I'm not complaining about Tom-Tom -- I've got no experience with that. Just more a general caution about considering using PPC-derived mapping s/w on a 320x320 (Palm) screen. If Tom-Tom "got it right", then Great!

Cheers

I've only had great experiences with TomTom on my ipaq h4150 and bluetooth navman receiver.

I ended up getting an Axim x50 on which Tom Tom runs even slicker. I just picked up the cheapest BT GPS receiver I could find on ebay which was a GlobalSat unit. Very reliable (survived several drops onto concrete) and great battery life. I'll be keeping my eye out for Tom Tom 5.

I don't know how you come to the conclusion that it's PPC-based at all. If anything, it's likely to be Symbian-based.

Oh wait. I forgot that they didn't produce a Palm verision of Navigator for a few releases. Hmm. I suppose your notion is possible, but I don't think so. The TomTom guys have been writing cross-platform handheld apps for over a decade.

Mostly from my experience with Mapopolis. Their s/w is obviously not PalmOS native -- they avoid the Palm paradigm for most functions, grafting their own buttons/menus in place rather than using the same common keys/methods used by native Palm apps. And their screen layouts are obviously designed for larger than 320x320 (aka. PocketPC devices, since very few Pams have that yet).

All of the screen shots on their (Mapopolis) site are actually from PocketPC, and the s/w looks (and is) great on a large screen. Okay on a 320x320 screen as well, but not quite as good as advertised.

For Tom-Tom, I'd just advise finding some 320x320 screenshots of the navigation mode (turn-by-turn direction arrows overlaid on 2-D map) before assuming it's as great on Palms as on PPC devices. None of the screen snaps Bitt linked to show this for 320x320 -- there are other 320x320 shots, but none of the navigation overlay, so one doesn't know if they've done that right or not.

Anyone got one to post a real operational photo of?

Regardless, I'm very happy with Mapopolis on my 320x320 Palm, even if they messed up the UI more than a good native implementation would have.

The nice thing is I knew all that before buying, since they have free s/w and free map downloads for trial.

Cheers