Smartphone or Dedicated unit?

[jboy]

Hi All,
A little help if you would be so kind.

I've been thinking of a GPS for use for hiking only and was looking at a Garmin eTrex Vista HCX system that was until a visit to our local hiking store and noticed the map detail on the screen, put me of a little but like the unit for size, performance, battery life etc. I then noticed the Satmap Active 10 system and this is just what I was looking for, OS detail maps at down to 1-25,000 scale. came away and then started to do the research on this unit. I then came accross very differrant views on it. Batteries and battery life being the main one. Also the maps only being on SD card and not being able to tranfer them to PC etc.

Upon then visiting shop again the chap then mentioned using a phone with GPS running Memory Map? Like this idea and the look of the SPV M700 as the unit. But if I do choose this option would I be able to plan adapt routes on the phone itself and would I lose out on some functions on the Memory Map software for instance all the data logging, tracking, route time, route distance, distance walked etc.

Hope someone can help as I now juat seem to be totally lost as to which is the best way/unit to buy.

Thanks in advance ,
John.

[philpugh]

There's quite a choice isn't here!

I use MemoryMap planning routes on the PC and transferring to PDA or GPS depending on what I want to do. On the GPS (GARMIN Colorado 300) I only get the routes and waypoints.

I have also looked at QUO (www.mapyx.com) which is potentially cheaper for 1:25k OS mapping.

Memorymap on the PDA does allow you to plan/alter routes - ona Smartphone this may b more difficult if it's not touch sensitive.

I haven't used the SATMAP device so I can't comment - but I see this sort of device being the way forward - esp for new entrants. Those of use who have a substantial investment in OS maps (eg for MemoryMap) are reticent when it comes to re-buying copies of the same mapping for use on a new device.
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Phil

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