soulreaver99

Nice review. I wish I bought that instead of the stupid PEGA CC5, but I still definitely want to check out the IQUE. Anyway, for those who haven't already, checkout my review of the PEGA CC5 here: http://www.blackhaloinc.com/features/

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Motegi

About 1 week ago I made the switch from my trusty old Clie PEG-N610c to the Garmin iQue. I had been having some mechanical troubles with the Clie (didn't seat properly on cradle, memory stick contact was not 100%) and so I utilized my CompUSA 2-year Tech Assurance warranty (TAP) which was set to end this month. I received original price from the old Clie ($399) and picked up the new Garmin ($549 at CompUSA) for just $150 plus another 2 year TAP.

My first Garmin unit seemed to have some mysterious battery drain issue so it was returned for a second unit which seems to be better. However, the battery life is still much diminished than the old Clie due to the iQues larger brighter display and faster processor.

All is not lost on the Clie front though as I managed to snag a remaining T665 when CompUSA had them on sale for $179 a few weeks ago. Why? Well they were cheap and I can continue to use all of my memory sticks/bluetooth from my old Clie.

The Garmin will stay in the car for GPS useage and the Clie will travel in my pocket for general use.

Late,
Motegi

Edward Green

Any Benchmark figures for the MX CPU?

Unregistered

How old is the map data?

Scott R

Great write-up, Reggie! I mentioned it on my site (http://goodthatway.com). I'm surprised your overall tone was so positive considering that you only got thirty minutes of use of it with the GPS on. Have you tried running additional tests to confirm this battery life? How about the other folks who have responded here that have iQue's? Are you getting that kind of battery life?

I suspect that most users will mainly want GPS functionality in the car. In that environment, the battery life should be a non-issue since you'd be wise to get a car charger anyway. Still, it would be nice to use the GPS when out and about walking (I was walking through downtown Boston a week ago, and it would have been cool to have a GPS then). But thirty minutes wouldn't cut it.

Scott

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ballistic

I agree that the battery life is definitely an issue. I also agree that most GPS use will be in a vehicle so a car charger should be included with the unit. That way, when you arrive at your destination you'll have a fully charged iQue.

I don't see this unit getting much use for hiking, camping, mountain biking, geocaching, etc. I see business suits and city streets on the iQue website, not Goretex and trees.

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Motegi

Well, now that I've been using the iQue pretty extensively these past few weeks I'm reporting back with my expereinces.

The GPS functionality is excellent. It is a bit slower to acquire satellites and react to route deviations than factory option built-in navigation systems in new vehicles but once the iQue gets locked on it is very accurate. The amount of information contained in its map data is incredible. On my 256MB SD card I have put most of the southeast as well as several midwestern states. It has listings of phone and address of pretty much ALL businesses in these areas which you can look up by category. Amazing. Another nifty feature is that at night the iQue navigation will automatically switch to a reversed screen coloration with black background and white text.

The battery life when not connected to a power source was initially a concern for me as my initial unit seemed to lose 1/5 power literally as soon as it was turned on even with the GPS functions off. However, my replacement unit has been much better and taking the advice of some other iQue owners I have found that setting the screen brightness to 20% (still as bright if not brighter than my new Clie T665) will prolong the battery life to over 3 continuous hours of regular non-GPS use. Not too shabby if you ask me given the 320x480 screen.

I have found that some Palm accessories using the Palm Universal connector work with the iQue which uses the Palm connector. I have been using the RadioShack Palm car charger ($20) and others have been using various Palm cradles and sync cables.

I recently received Garmin's Auto Connection Kit ($54 at Amazon) and dismantled it to work with an automotive a/c vent cell phone holder ($2 at RadioShack). This will provide audio through a separate amplified speaker built into the Garmin Auto Kit cradle's combination speaker/cigarette lighter. I'm going on a road trip tomorrow with this setup so I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Motegi

Heres a screen brightness comparison between my new Clie T655, Garmin iQue 3600, and a Clie Peg-N760.

gfunkmagic

WOW! Thanks for that pic! That screen looks amazing! What was teh brightness setting of the iQue in the above pic?

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Motegi

Thanks for the compliments, all three of the above units are at 100% brightness.

I just got back from my road trip and the Garmin auto kit cradle/vent clip combination (held together with high-strength 3m double sided adhesive from RadioShack) worked wonderfully! It was very easy to snap the iQue in and out of the cradle and I liked the fact that there was no need to plug/unplug any additional wires. The vent clip (by Jabra from RadioShack) held the cradle and Palm very tightly with absolutely no rattling or slipping even with moderately aggressive driving.

The GPS functions worked very well with all but one route where it seemed to become totally lost. A couple of power off/on and route cancel/resumes and it locked back on. Otherwise the directions were clear and accurate.

Since the iQue was only turned on when attached to the cradle on this trip battery life was not an issue.

rwamf

Maps Look good, but map detail is low at wider levels, much lower than Mapopolis or Delorme, but the unit is made very cheap,Light Plastic case) Garmin says do not use on a Motorcycle for example, Not like the rugged metal Clie, or like a Garmin GPSV. Can not use GPS with other software a minus,
Overall the best GPS software is Delorme SAhandheld 2004 or their Hand Held Pro, which you can use Raster, (Satellite imagery or USGS quads,USGS aerial imagery) Vector maps (Street Atlas , Topo 4.0),better logging, Routing is slower on the handheld but I make most routes on the PC and put them all in the Clie and then just select the on I need. Works with most GPS's , but Delorme only has US maps . More map detail than Garmin at wider zoom levels, Check it out
R

rwamf

Check out sample pics
http://www.delorme.com/professional...eld/samples.asp

R

Wallace Matsen

how do i get street maps with the garmin software for the ique i have the base map installed and tried to install the region ones

Reggie

Run your Palm Desktop. There should be a new icon there called 'Maps' that should launch the map install program.

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