I guess I've just been lucky...

[Stymyx]

These last few days, I’ve been reading a lot of posts here about all kinds of problems some people are having with their iQues, and I feel bad for them. Really, I truly do. I guess I’ve just been lucky, because I have not had one single problem with mine! I’ve played MP3 files sampled at both 128 and 192kbps and have never had a lockup or have had to reset while playing MP3 files. I have had no problems hotsyncing and/or transferring maps to the SD card (I use a SanDisk 256Mb card and my PC runs Windows XP Pro). I’ve had no lockups when using the GPS and as of this writing, I’ve used the GPS functions for an accumulative 7 hours total. I’ve never heard this modem-like screeching sound that has required some people to have to perform 2 resets. I’ve never had the spoken turn directions stop and have had to reset as a result. I use the PIM apps on a daily basis and have had no lockups or resets with any of them. I hate to say it, folks, but my iQue has been flawless! OK, so I’ve only had it for 5 days, but I’ve used every installed program and function on this thing, and I can’t find any problems. Now, I DID do a clean install, and I beamed my addresses over from my old Zire, but other than that, I just don’t know what I’ve done differently than anybody else has.

Hopefully some Garmin people will stop by and read all these posts about all the problems people are having. I’m very sorry to hear so many people are having so many problems. :(

[PDA Paul]

Thanks for the report. In forums like this if 10 people have problems with a product and mention it, it can appear that all the units are problematic. Unfortunately it is hard to know what percentage of people are having problems. Hope it is a very small percentage!

Paul

[epro05]

I have had exactly the same excellent experience as Stymyx. I guess if you've had zero problems, you're less likely post. Mine was a clean install also, as I never had a Palm device before.

Phil

[Moose Man]

There is an old advertising issue - 9 out of 10 people will complain when they have a problem yet less than 1 out of 10 will compliment when they've received a product or service as advertised.

The vast majority of us are very satisfied with our Que's - this board unfortunately (as most) only reveals the problems.

I remember when Handspring started up - the same thing occurred at VisorCentral. Most of the post where negative or with problems.

Unfortunately, as the Palm OS continues to grow onto other platforms - it will have similar startup problems. Many of the software problems with the Que are related to installation CD and it's conflicts with Windows.

The Que seems to me to have no more problems then any new platform. Actual defect rates for hardware are probably at an acceptable level for any other piece of technology, around 1% is a guess. If it were much more than that, Cnet and other wires would be reporting it. Garmin would have to issue some sort of recall or something.

I love my Que - I've had no more problems with it then any other Palm device - which is to say very minimal. The first Palm - I had was the original Palm Pilot and then I was a beta tester for Palm up through the 500 series. Each unit had it's on little quirks and the early units were very twitchey - prone to soft resets and a hard reset all to often.

I learned a long time ago when installing Palm software or anything other than MS software - turn off all other software that's running in the background via the control, alt, delete key and shut them down one at time. I have 86 seperate processes running on my PC at any given time after startup - how could any programmer avoid conflicting.

Hardware - other than the speaker issue and one antenna failure - it appears that the hardware issues may very well be software related. There have been some bad Edge SD cards, some issue with MP3 playback (and I beleive most of these are software related to the sampling rate).

This is a good device. It is the first of its kind. It will, hopefully, not be the last.

One message for everyone listening:

If you are an early adopter of new forms of technology such as the iQue - be advised that there is no way for Garmin to have planned for every contingency - there may or may not be problems.

This board is here to help. And remember that you are dealing with a piece of technology that has virtually only existed in mass-minimal quantity for about 3 weeks. This technology has more power than the original Apollo moon missions - since eveyone came home from the moon safely - ........


Thanks Stymyx for reminding us how truly wonderful this little box is....I'm off my soap box now!

[CougerofEQ]

I have the static(very rarely) and my ac input jack has the broken pin issue.

I wish to make it clear though, I assume a fix will come out for the hiss and the ac socket is uneeded as the universal palm socket works great and is more durable. I love my iQue and am not dissapointed that such a new porduct has a few issues. Its a great unit.

I was dissapointed in the "gimped" maps source v5 - but except for the lack of PC options, the unit does what I need and does it well. I think Garmin was a little sneaky with the mapsource being limited and see no physical limitations as to why the unit cant do all that the sp3, 2610 etc can do. I think they fear the ique will take too much from their other gps sales??? I know I cancelled my 2610 order for a 3600, so to some extent they are right - but its going to hurt competitors more as they have no 3600 to offer. They really should have noted that the mapsource was a lite or special addition in my opinion.


The best part about being Palm based is that software updates, fixes and improvements can be made and installed easily :)

Its important to post issues here so garmin and mostly other users can address them, but the 3600 is awesome despite the growing pains.

[Stymyx]

Great replies, folks!

It’s important for people to bring up any problems they may be having with their iQues, and how they resolved them, because that can be very beneficial for other users here. I’ve mentioned in previous post how other user’s reports have benefited me, such as having patience when hotsyncing maps, the fragility of the cradle, performing a clean installation, etc. I thank everybody for that.

Having said that, I’d love to see more positive reports. If you’re having problems, let us know any maybe we can help. But if things are going great, then please let us know that, too! :D

[jerrmorn]

I agree with all that is being stated. I love this thing! The quirks are to be expected (my recharging cable has already expired) but overall this thing is awesome. I've posted my problems and helped others with theirs. However, not many of us mention the rush the first time we entered an address and clicked "route to" and off we went. I never used a GPS or navigation system and instantly asked myself "how did I ever live without this?" I'm a Realtor and combining my Palm with a navigating GPS is really cool! Worth the wait!

[ssaibal]

Your satisfaction would depend upon your need and expectation. I wanted a GPS where I don't have to enter the address (but pick it up from contact database). This fits the bill perfectly and more.

This is my first palm experience and it has been positive so far. I have had couple of problems, but all of them were resolved by advice from the members of the forum. Thanks guys.

I tried MP3 for the first time in my life. Used Jukebox to rip some of the songs from my CDs. About 30 of them. All of they have been playing very well without any problem. I wanted to hook it up to my car audio. Purchase the FM transmitter (SIIG brand) from Fry's. Doesn't work well (tried two of them). Then purchased the cassette adaptor from Radioshack. Works great. The sound is great (though I must say that I don't have a good ear for music).

Next step: Try going on a hike with this and see how the bread crumbs work. I am expecting my Mapsource Topo tomorrow.

[tvnav]

Originally posted by CougerofEQ
I was dissapointed in the "gimped" maps source v5 -

What is "gimped" about MapSource v5?? Thanks.