Mobility Site - View Single Post - Pros and Cons of Major PPC GPS Systems from Users

sbddude · 07-25-06, 12:09 PM

Axim X51v and Belkin BT GPS: iGuidance 3 vs. TomTom 5

iGuidance 3.0
Pros:

Very accurate maps
Easy to read "next turn" at the top of the screen
Able to use PPC for other tasks at the same time (i.e. Mortplayer for music)
Quick program load time
Automatic Night time color mode
Tells you what highway number to take (example: Enter freeway on the right onto 101 south)
Tells you what side of the road your destination is on
Names of exits on highway are on screen
Can give you directions when GPS is not connected, mapquest style (useful when indoors giving friends directions, etc.)
Can tell you elevation in GPS info screen.

Cons:

Much harder to control without stylus than TomTom
Dated interface
Display is not as pretty
Non-customizable voices
Non-customizable menu
Difficult to set up GPS
Bugs you with "proceed to the nearest road" when in parking lot

TomTom Navigator 5
Pros:

Intuitive and attractive interface, menu, and map
Automatic zoom in on turns
Shows GPS signal strength
Easy to customize: add voices, POIs, menu, etc.
Easy to use finger (no stylus needed)
Often tells you the next direction (i.e. Make a right and then make a left)
Maps cover the entire west region in the space it takes for just CA for iGuidance.

Cons:

Outdated maps (The new highway on the way to my office was not on there)
Does not tell you number of highway and south vs north
Does not tell you what side your destination is on
Exits on freeways are only numbered on screen (no names)
Cannot route unless GPS is connected and has signal (unless you go to advanced planning and set both start and end points)

Summary. TomTom wins on interface, but iGuidance wins on accuracy. If TomTom could use iguidance's maps, it would be the ideal software.

07-25-06, 12:09 PM	#25 (permalink)
sbddude Aximsite Minor League Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 177 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Axim X51v and Belkin BT GPS: iGuidance 3 vs. TomTom 5 iGuidance 3.0 Pros: Very accurate maps Easy to read "next turn" at the top of the screen Able to use PPC for other tasks at the same time (i.e. Mortplayer for music) Quick program load time Automatic Night time color mode Tells you what highway number to take (example: Enter freeway on the right onto 101 south) Tells you what side of the road your destination is on Names of exits on highway are on screen Can give you directions when GPS is not connected, mapquest style (useful when indoors giving friends directions, etc.) Can tell you elevation in GPS info screen. Cons: Much harder to control without stylus than TomTom Dated interface Display is not as pretty Non-customizable voices Non-customizable menu Difficult to set up GPS Bugs you with "proceed to the nearest road" when in parking lot TomTom Navigator 5 Pros: Intuitive and attractive interface, menu, and map Automatic zoom in on turns Shows GPS signal strength Easy to customize: add voices, POIs, menu, etc. Easy to use finger (no stylus needed) Often tells you the next direction (i.e. Make a right and then make a left) Maps cover the entire west region in the space it takes for just CA for iGuidance. Cons: Outdated maps (The new highway on the way to my office was not on there) Does not tell you number of highway and south vs north Does not tell you what side your destination is on Exits on freeways are only numbered on screen (no names) Cannot route unless GPS is connected and has signal (unless you go to advanced planning and set both start and end points) Summary. TomTom wins on interface, but iGuidance wins on accuracy. If TomTom could use iguidance's maps, it would be the ideal software. Last edited by sbddude; 08-07-06 at 06:45 PM.