I am new to this forum and have been lurking and searching as I am contemplating the Axim 51v along with the soon to be released Garmin Mobile 10 (mobile XT software and BT GPS Sirf III) solution as a replacement to my, aging and in need of repair, iQUE 3600.
One of my primary concerns is how viewable is the Axin’s screen going to be in my car on sunny days, or with sunlight streaming in to the car? The iQUE was dismal in this respect.
As I am a low vision person, this is important and the Nuvi 660 seems a bit too dumbed down for me, despite it's excellent screen and GUI
The other question is how loud is the Axim’s built in speaker? I was thinking of getting the Seidioonline.com G4500s mounting kit to deal with sound & power (both the Axim’s and the Garmin BT GPS) when in the car.
Yes, the axim screen becomes hard visible under the direct sunlight. The best solution that I found is to mount axim below dashboard, vertically. Be sure that you dont see any window reflection on the axim screen when axim is in mount.
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I agree that it is best out of direct sunlight, but then again all computer screens suffer when exposed to sunlight. I'm not sure what you mean, by a "low vision person" but I wear very strong glasses and can usually make out the relevant Icons even when I'm not wearing them. Generally If you are able to see well enough to drive then you will certainly be able to read the Axim screen. However if your vision is such that you are a passenger you may have a problem.
Sound is generally a bit low, I find it better with one ear bud type ear piece stuck in one ear when I really need to hear the directions over the car or stereo. One ear bud doesn't really affect the ambient sounds but does allow you to hear the directions clearly, and if you are using it for GPS you don't really need to see the screen if you can hear the directions.
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God used to be my copilot but we crashed in the mountains and I had to eat him to survive.
My brother has an iQue and the X51V is not going to measure up with even a half of the iQue's visibility when used under sunlight (more noticeable with backlight off). If you find iQue's visibility under sunlight dismal, then you will not find the X51V any better, you will just be disappointed. Better get a standalone GPS unit.
My personal experience. My Ipaq 4150 under sunlight is better than my X51V (more noticeable with backlight off). It is hard to view the X51V at an angle, you have to tilt the screen so that it is directly facing you. With backlight on, tilt it at a 30 degree angle vertically and it's like reducing the brightness 50% , 25% when angled horizontally. Compared to my 4150, the sound volume of the X51 is a lot louder. I'm using ROM A06. Volume has been reduced to comply with french regulation in A12. Since, I'm using an amplifier, the difference (bet. 4150 and X51V) doesn't bother me. Just like someone mentioned, I also rely mostly with voice prompts and view the screen no more than 5% from start to finish.
I moved this to the GPS forum as your question has more to do with using the Axim for GPS navigation and the folks here will be able to answer your questions better.
The best way to improve visibility in the car is to get a non-glare screen protector to cut down the direct reflections. I use my X50v for navigation all the time. The screen is generally pretty good, but in the worst conditions (high sun angle, light going across the screen) it is hard to read. It's actually easier to see if the sun is more directly shining on the screen with the non-glare protector.
My axim is mounted on the passenager side of the car, via a window suction, right next to the roof support struct.
I have not have problems seeing the screen, except for poor color choices by vendor (iGuidance with White Roads on Yellow background).
I generally run around town with Mapopolis, and its voice prompting makes it so that I seldom have to look at the screen while driving. Also the bird's eye view (2d) with it color choices (also a white/yellow but with black edges!) make it easy to find bypasses when there is an issue.
Best thing to do, it take a GPS system out for spin and see what you like and dis-like. Mapopolis comes with 10 day free use of the maps.
Thanks, I was really looking forward to the larger screen of the 51v to serve my needs for a PDA with a large screen as well as serve as a GPS that would be viewable in bright light.
Seem more are pointing ouit how the 51v is ot the right choice in this regard than those that say it is OK in bright light.
Anyone has any alternatives to suggest, Palm OS or WM5, please feel free. The screen must be large and vieable in conditions that one would encounter in the car. I am almost set on using the Garmin Mobile XT software in the Obile 10 that is due out soon.
I will repair and keep my iQUE but will need another unit. as well.
Thank you all, please do not stop posting as I appreciate all your input on the Axim 51v or whatever.
Don't take the critical statements too much. I use an X50v, with the same screen as the X51v, for GPS every day. 90% of the time it's perfectly readable. The other time I may have to adjust it slightly to reduce the glare, but almost all of the time I'm able to use it as a navigation aid.
err, you must be referring to my post. The OP mentioned that he finds the iQue's display dismal when sunlight is streaming into the car. iQue's are designed to be more transflective since they are meant as GPS devices. I've seen both and I can honestly say that the iQue is more visible under direct sunlight even with the backlight off. If you can guarantee him that the X51V's visibility under sunlight is better than the iQue then by all means, convince him to buy it. About tilting the screen, tilt it left and right, view it from the top and bottom and tell me that the brightness is the same no matter what angle you view it. This is important in navigation since an angle can spell a difference in visibility. My post wasn't meant to be critical, it was meant to inform so that he can get a different opinion in a forum filled with Axim fanatics.
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Hey dvmed, I don't think he was specifically refering to you, just saying that, although most of those who have commented have said that it's not great in sunlight, the ax is still good because, what the heck, you don't need to see the screen all the time.
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God used to be my copilot but we crashed in the mountains and I had to eat him to survive.
Hey guys, thanks for the input and effort, I visit this site daily as I try to get a grip on what to do. Let me explain if I can be more verbose here.
I currently use the iQue 3600 to navigate almost anywhere as I am a low vision driver. I always say "If you see me driving down the road, get behind me, it's safer" :)
Actually I am a good driver but cannot read street signs, see old ladies and the like. Hence the need for a GPS to get around and visit our client base in Long Island and Manhattan. I recently acquired a Cingular 8125 hoping to use it as my new PDA. It is a great device, truly stupendous after one does a ROM upgrade to one of the customized ROMS and loads MS Voice command, which is a powerful voice activated solution that requires no voice training and is NOT a voice tag system. HOWEVER the screen is FAR TOO SMALL for these meager eyes to use as a PDA and if it weren't for the power of MS Voice Command, I could not use it as a phone, however I no longer need to use the keypad as I can tell it to call anyone of my 1000 contacts or just dial any spoken number or tell me my next appointment without looking at the screen or touching anything except the button on my BT headset.
However I find I still need a GPS/PDA. In other words I am stuck having to carry 2 devices with me. As much as I was hoping for a Phone\PDA\GPS, I seem to be stuck with caring a PDA\GPS and a phone. Along with the Jabra BT250 I am often referred to as Matrix or Cyborg which works well as my company is into high level network support.
Hence my need for another PDA with a large screen that can also serve my GPS needs, can be tethered to my 8125’s EDGE data netwrok to access Garmin’s traffic alerts, visit the Internet and allow me to look at the screen on those occasions when "turn right in 500 feet" just isn't enough information requiring me to look at the screen while driving.
am reading elsewhere that I can successfully have the Axim connect to Cingular’s network reliably via my 8125, correct?
The Garmin Mobile XT software seems to meet my needs and the Axim, although not the only large screen PDA out there, does seem to have NO COMPETITION as far as bang for the buck at present. About $345 delivered, including tax was what I was quoted from my small business Dell rep.
Screen visibility is important, unless someone knows something about another PDA coming to market, in short order, that has a 3.5 or 4” screen and is sun-readable. I need to consider the 51v very seriously.
I also have caught some other threads speaking of getting the 51v for $269. Is this truly possible? If so how?
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