GPS dilemma - iGuidance v3.0 versus Garmin c340

[defeghan]

Hello All

I believe it is time for me to get some sort of navigation system for my car and walking around. I'm thinking of firing up my good ol' X5 Standard and throwing on a CF GPS receiver + iGuidance v3.0 (or similar software). It would be very friendly on the wallet.

But of course, I'm also considering just putting the X5 away and going with an AIO like the Garmin c340.

What do you all think? The $$$ difference makes me lean toward going with the X5, but from anyone's experience or insight, am I going to have performance problems? Or will the screen be not quite pleasant looking relative to what the c340 and other more recent AIO solutions be? Am I just asking for a hassle?

The Garmin c340's text-to-speech and better POI is really alluring, but I heard iGuidance has better maps and routing.

Any advice or insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

I am not sure about iGuidnace although I will probably upgrade to that next year. I have the Axim X5 adv., Holux GR-271 CF card, and TomTom Navigator 2004 (still works for me). Screen is good on the eyes. Sometimes the glare from a sunny day did not help, but repositioning the unit itself did. I just got the CF GPS so I have not had it long. I have used our Garmin AIO at work (forgot the model #) and it is okay. The one we have has a small screen. At this point, I myself would stay with a PDA Navigation combo because there is so much more you can do with a PDA. Just my 2 cents.

[ToodeeP2C]

I've used quite a few gps solutions... and I currently use iGuidance 3. As far as my opinion goes if you can get viaVirtual Earth (or perferably GoogleEarth) working on your PDA it will be a godsend. Aerial and satellite imagry does the trick like nothing else.
*I haven't been able to get it to work on my axim (I didn't really try hard) but I have got Google Earth to work on my Samsung a900 cellphone.

Also you mentioned "walking around"... Well that's a BIG no-no in a place like the streets of Manhattan or any place where there's tall buildings... it *will* work but you'll notice the difference between downtown and the open hi-way. And it is my opinion that most GPS software is geared towards driving... so when you walk the software sometimes tries to correct drift and you end up showing yourself on a street your not on... (you walk into a parking lot off 4th street the gps may show you still on 4th street or maybe a street over.) I can go on and on about lil quirks... but it will only show what a idiot I've been in my free time.. So don't hang your wedding on a hand-held geared for driving if you're walking.

besides if you're walking I'm sure the c340 out of the question... You'll be a sight to see holding a dashboard disk, Furthermore; I've bought thousands of dollars worth of gadgets I end up never really using (Archos PMA430 for example) so take it from me; if you're not the type that takes road trips at least once a month over 300 miles or not a real-estate agent all over the neighborhood, if you don't have an atlas or decent road map of 2004 or newer, you're 'prolly not a good candidate for a dedicated gps system. So not knowing you from a hole in the ground I'm going to imagine I know whats good for you :-D

Save the $400 to $1200 you'll spend on a dedicated system. Use your Axim. At least when you get to where ever your going the Axim can continue to be of some use. Now I have NEVER used a CF-slotted GPS receiver. I've used wired and now for the last 2 years I've been using Bluetooth receivers. I prefer BT for several reasons I won't get into right now.

If you're still with me on using your PDA, then the next question is Tomtom VS iGuidance... IMO it doesn't matter which one you choose. I use iGuidance3.

and all the bells and whistles... text to speech... voice commands... doesn't matter brother.... When there's no gas station for the next 60 miles... you gotta pee, your g/f is nagging and got the radio turned up so loud you'd swear there was a Backstreet Boys Concert in the car, all that really matters is a GPS system that works, and is easy to see and read (really important)... I don't even talk to my gps anymore (gotta roll up the windows and turn off the radio and talk like you're trying to stop someone from jumping from a building).

I've used Gps alot (considering I've driven from Florida to Maine and from Florida to nearly every state inbetween that touches the atlantic ocean)... and I've dealt with all the lil quirks you wouldn't know until you're on some mountain road in West Virginia... Sometimes I boast that if I have a clear line of sight to the sky I could never be lost anywhere in the united states... that's B/S... Gps isn't THAT good.

I use Iguidance 3.0 along with an OnCourse BT-338 bluetooth receiver with no issue with my Treo 700wx. I love it!

[F2504x4]

I just went to the Ohio state game, (i'm running a 51v with IG3 with a BT236 hulox) I parked the truck about 2miles away saved the location, walked to the game up and down several blocks acoss a field to the stadium , the software was right on que, then while returning, I fired the the ax up and it walked us right to the truck every foot of the way, no blending issues, very clear even while going across the field.

[defeghan]

Wow! Fantastic advice and insight all. I thank you very much.

I will definitely look into the PDA solution that just plain works. I didn't want anything fancy anyway, but when you start putting the $$$ on the table, it starts to get tempting to get the most for your money! But as was said, as long as it works.

Now my question is, I see all of you have moved on to bigger and better PDAs for very good reasons. Going along with the "as long as it works" concept, I want to keep on using my old school X5 (still almost brand new actually). I've gotten it to go to PPC2003 so its ready to rock. Will new programs like TomTom Navigator 6 and iGuidance v3.0 play nicely with my X5 dinosaur? Or will it be all laggy and slow (or even work at all)?

Thanks again...

[Flagmax]

I tried iGuidance on x5 400mhz, x50 416mhz and on x50v 624mhz, as far as functionality and speed goes, it looked the same on all three. So x5 still has a lot of punch in it. The program did look nicer on vga x50v but you won't see the difference while driving.