Garmin iQue 3600 Web Page Updated

[Moose Man]

The web page now reflects an availability of "Summer 2003". So that must mean that they don't have a definitive date set for release?

There still is a question of the speed of the processor - which remains unchanged on the web site.

[coop]

They have never had a definitive release date. They have always given themselves a three month window (XQ/2003).

On the positive side, "Summer 2003" implies a 2 month window (July and August), rather than a three month window (July to September) that 3Q/2003 would indicate.

So maybe they actually plan on shipping some soon; but not too soon obviously, as they apparently decided that they couldn't get them out in the upcoming month (that it, within the previously announced 2Q/2003).

On the down side, it indicates that they are having some problems. It might be with parts, or (heaven forbid) it might actually be as the tech support people have been saying, and that garmin hasn't finished designing it yet. ;-)

eeek.

Whichever, it's going to take much longer that I hoped to get one of these.

Oh, BTW, at the rate things are going a 150 vs 200 MHz processor won't be the discussion point.

I'll be expecting a 250 or 300MHz processor by the time it is actually released!

coop

[CaptMyCapt]

Originally posted by coop


On the positive side, "Summer 2003" implies a 2 month window (July and August), rather than a three month window (July to September) that 3Q/2003 would indicate.

coop

Unfortunately, it's still a three month window. Summer Solstice (the end of Spring and beginning of Summer) occurs on 21 June, and the Autumn Equinox (the end of Summer and beginning of Fall) occurs on 23 September. And, to add even more bad news, we're still three weeks away from the beginning of Summer, drats!

Be that as it may, you point on speed is well taken, and maybe we'll get some other nice surprises, such as an upgraded OS.

[Moose Man]

I hope the delay is caused by issue with OS 5.2.1 rather than design issues. I think PalmSource might be warning customers that since RIM/Blackerry has lost's its suit(s) then Palm may be warning customers that their appeal on the Xerox case may cause additional concerns for any users that use Graffiti rather then Graffiti II?

One can only hope and speculate. Working Units were in place at CES in January so I don't think that there are any major hardware issues.

But I don't think my unit will arrive in time for my Alaskan vacation so I will just have to be content to wait.

[cohenc]

I saw on a GPS web site last week a note that new orders would be shipped in August (I have pre-ordered through Amazon which stated July 1st ship date and I believe still does, even after this Garmin web page update).

I called and asked if the date had changed. The CSR told me that 'new' pre-orders would be August but they had been assured that 1st week of July was still on for their initial pre-order's that web site had already received and booked. My guess is that they have already sold out of their base order and know their second shipment wouldn't be in till August.

My guess, FWIW, is that 2Q is nearly complete and seems outdated already. Summer is more correct and means nothing to those of us who have in fact already gotten into the queue. Like someone said, it was working at CES, there can't be too many issues out there to deal with.

A note about summer - there is no text book definition of "summer." Summer begins at different times in different regions of the world. Throughout Europe, summer differs by country and region. It is a subjective date rather than a scientific date. Was recently a question/answer on one of those web sites that answer strange questions (blanking on the url right now).

Cheers,
Caleb

[coop]

As previously posted, technically, there are cut and dried meanings for summer, spring, etc. The only difference around the world is that S of the equator the terms are reversed from those in the N, and they don't make much sense at all in those places bordering the equator (+/- 22.5 degrees) where the words summer and winter don't mean much. ;-)

That being said, I'm sure that the marketing/web posting people at Garmin don't care much about the technical terms...

In NA, summer usually refers to July and August (when the kids are out of school), although it might be roasting in Texas and freezing in Nunavut. As an American company, I'm expect that this is the time period that they are referring to.

It's just another due date.

coop

[cohenc]

Please check out
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_170b.html

We can all disagree, but this conversation should be taken off-line (off-topic)...

Think about it, summer "starts" when the days start getting shorter. Wouldn't one think that if it's scientific, that the summer solstace would be the mid-point of summer?

It's all situational...

Cheers,
Caleb

[coop]

Well, as my teenage kid would say... "whatever". ;-)

I didn't bother with the link as I was only pointing out that fact that the Garmin is probably not concerned with any strict definition of "summer".

I just hope to see the product soon.

I suppose that I could call or email them to ask, but I already know what the answer would be;

"The iQue is still very much under development, so features and uses are still very fluid. At this point in time, the information offered on our website is all we have to share. Unfortunately if the information is not here, we can not talk about it. Since becoming a publicly traded company, we can only talk about features that have been released to the public.
Please keep an eye here for more information: http://www.garmin.com/products/iQue3600/ "


cheers!

coop