newbie: routing by address?

[chrisinboston]

greetings. i'm shopping for a new GPS unit since my previous garmin was stolen (along with the car that i'd left it in).

i've read in various reviews and product pages that the ique has a coordinates field for every item in the palm address book, making each item a potential waypoint... what i haven't been able to figure out is if the built-in map database includes addresses.

so, if i enter a previously unvisited address, is it able to calculate a route for me the way hertz neverlost (a magellan product) does?

i'm mostly interested in a GPS for on-road navigation and minimal off-road waypoint use. the ique seems like a heck of a bargain compared with other products, and includes a PDA too! what is it missing?

thanks.

/chris

[randeza]

Answer to your first question is yes, it is able to provide auto-routing to addresses you type in under the "Find" function.

The catch is, if you want to route to existing address book entries that are currently stored without Garmin's waypoint information, you won't be able to do that, not without manually entering the addresses first (which you can save as a Waypoint, which in turn creates a valid address book entry you can use to route, later).

As for what else is missing, not sure what you are comparing it to.

IMO, bang for the buck, I think the iQue is an awesome buy!

hope that helps.

[kenspice]

[i] what is it missing?

thanks.

/chris [/B]

Nothing....

[chrisinboston]

Originally posted by randeza
As for what else is missing, not sure what you are comparing it to.

Thanks for the helpful reply regarding addresses.

I assume something must be missing because there are portable GPS-only units of similar size selling for 2-3 times the price of the iQue. Not even a palm device included for that price!

The only "missing" feature on the iQue that springs to mind is the huge storage available on HD based systems like the magellan 700.

What's up with these $1000+ GPS things?

/chris

[npskarbo]

When attaching a location to an adressbook entry Quefind will use the adress you have entered to search the map.

[stairman]

Originally posted by randeza

The catch is, if you want to route to existing address book entries that are currently stored without Garmin's waypoint information, you won't be able to do that, not without manually entering the addresses first (which you can save as a Waypoint, which in turn creates a valid address book entry you can use to route, later).


When you have selected a listing from your address book, you will find at the bottom of the page three choices, "done", "edit", and "location". If you select location you will be presented four choices; "find", "manual", "map" and "cancel". If you select "find", the "find from address" screen will come up with the information from your address book entry entered. You do need to check the fields as "Suite 340" may turn into "340 Suite St." Having verified the data select "Search" and the iQue will locate the address.

[navbear]

What's up with these $1000+ GPS things? there are two possible reasons for a high price:
- tight integration with the car (odometer, wheel sensors, large screen, CD/DVD access)
- sophisticated GPS engine
The cost range for a professional GPS device is almost open to the top. You may find GPS receivers for 20k€, and being worth it.
The IQue GPS receiver is more at the low end, and the integrated antenna does not give best results. Therfore 50% of forum discussions are about external antennas that you can put on the roof of the car (comes for around 20-30€)

[chrisinboston]

Originally posted by navbear
there are two possible reasons for a high price:
- tight integration with the car (odometer, wheel sensors, large screen, CD/DVD access)
- sophisticated GPS engine
[snip]
the integrated antenna does not give best results.

Thanks navbear. Sure, i can understand the really high end models costing an arm and leg... But I specifically mentioned "similar size", "portable" and "magellan 700"

There are several handheld, non integrated with the car models out there. Garmin 26xx and previously mentioned Magellan 700 being examples. I can hardly imagine that an external antenna accounts for a 200% price difference...

The gist of my question is what do these types of units do (for 3x the price) that the iQue does not?

Thanks again.

/chris

[IAUDI]

For the 1,000 + what do you get? You get a paper weight! :p
Actually, for me and many who read this forum, the versatility of the ique is the biggest asset. If I want to plan my next travel day I can do it from the comfort of wherever I want, with out excess weight or power cords!!!!!

What the more expensive units bring are-more screen, but not really cause the street lines are actually thicker.
2-better screen 3-easier user interface-the best feature
4-the "brick" ones are best for installing in car. Really though, they are perfect if you want a "stock" in dash navagation system for your car.

Like I said up top, if you want versitillity, then go for the ique

[chrisinboston]

Thanks, IAUDI.

What all of you are saying is pretty much what I'd suspected all along.

I guess the other possible downside of the iQue is that it isn't an appliance like the hertz system. There are CDs to fuss with, an OS to learn, etc... But along with that comes versatility.

If only it shipped with bluetooth... I'd have bought it without asking a single question...

Thanks!

/chris

[Curious Cat]

The simple answer to your question is that the iQue is a great value. I bought it originally because it was as cheap or cheaper then models that did less, even from the same manufacturer. My guess is it is a new type of product and Garmin wanted to insure market penetration.

Now that most of the bugs have been worked out, its even a better value.

[apersson850]

Some rumours stated, that they tried to integrate Bluetooth as well, but got problems with interference with the GPS reception. Which seems likely, since these problems seem to still exist to some degree, in spite of dropping BT.