Beginner needs help with European PDA GPS purchase

revdarkwing · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 05, 2005 Posts: 9

I live in Europe and intend on spending the next year traveling as much as possible in my just purchased car. I want GPS navigation and think a PDA based system is a better idea than one mounted in the car itself. If I am wrong, please tell me but this way I get a PDA along with the Nav system for the same $$.

Since I don't have a PDA yet, I have the luxury of being able to choose all components for maximum value and performance. The problem seems to be that some systems only have mapping for Western Europe and I want/need mapping for as many European countries as possible. I know Navteq and Telemap both have about 25 of the European countries done, including Czech, Slovakia etc.

I was getting pertty excited with the Navman product until i saw they only appear to have 16 European countries which is unacceptable. Thankfully, I found this forum and hopefully you can help cut through all the chaff and help me get down to the wheat.

Which Nav system is going to give me the coverage I want and which PDA should I get to power it?

As to PDA function, I don't know exactly what i might use it for besides GPS but, if I use outlook, excel, word front page, Cute FTP and surf the net with my laptop if that helps any. Also MP3 capability would be a nice plus.

Thanks in advance for any input

icsys · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 1:02 am Post subject:

As far as I am aware, there are no current packages that give you any more than the 16 European countries that Navman offer.

Yes, Czech Republic, Poland, etc... have now been mapped (and more are on the way) but they are not yet available to end-users of sat nav products. Hopefully this may change soon.
_________________
Ian.
iPAQ 2210 | Navman 4100 BT Receiver
Navman iCN 635
TomTom GO
Anquet OS mapping

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 3:05 am Post subject:

revdarkwing · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 05, 2005 Posts: 9

Thanks. I know I cannot possibly do better than either Navteq or Tele Atlas offer but it seems there are lesser offerings on Navman and others.

What I am trying to find is if there is a PDA based system that uses comprable mapping software to those offered by those map producers.

Surely, the in-car products can't have a lock on this technology.. can they or must I give up on the idea of using a PDA based system entirely and go with the in car unit to get this coverage?

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 10:14 am Post subject:

revdarkwing · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 05, 2005 Posts: 9

Thank you.
Given these facts, I guess we are dealing with apples to apples here except for perhaps Garmin. Given this, I might as well go with best functionality and pick up a decent PDA in the process.

If you could configure a system from scratch, and didn't want to spend super premium prices for state of the art, and if the PDA was going to be a multifunction unit in addition to Navigation. (nothing heavy... more like notes, word, excel, contact lists.. basic stuff and MP3, how would you configure the system to wind up with a solid functioning Nav unit for Europe and a user friendly PDA to boot? Any thoughts on which hardware and software you might choose.

thanks again

BBB · Regular Visitor Joined: Feb 24, 2004 Posts: 206

I don't know if the item is still available MAP & TRAVEL 2004 It almost includes all of Iceland too, works on PC or laptop cost me £25 on special offer

it is mereely mapping software and will not give voice prompts or the like

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