Which one? Ique 3600 or Ique M5/M3

[adventurebiker1]

I am looking at purchasing a GPS enabled PDA/PPC and am struggling with this choice. New to both GPS and PDA I've tried to read and learn as much as possible....just recently found this site and wondered what advice people on this site might have.

Anyone done a comparison? Pros and Cons? It will see some motorcycle use (can get a protective case) but also use in my car. I know it is not going to be as weatherproof and rugged as something like a 76C (which is where I was leaning prior) but the PDA link might be a good idea.

For my work (I'm a real estate appraiser in rural areas), I was planning on creating some spreadsheet checklist type things and was hoping to link in aerial photos to lay over (or under) the mapping? Will this work and which one would be better for this kind of thing?

Which one will give me better screen size? Faster map redraw? Better accuracy?

I've read that the M5 has a tendency to "crash" is the 3600 more stable? What is the downside to the 3600 over the M5 for something like an excel spreadsheet based checklist?

Thanks

[JMckie]

For my work (I'm a real estate appraiser in rural areas), I was planning on creating some spreadsheet checklist type things and was hoping to link in aerial photos to lay over (or under) the mapping? Will this work and which one would be better for this kind of thing?

Going by what you said here, I wouldn't recommend either the iQue or the M5.

There is no way to overlay photographs with Garmin maps. If you want to use photographs to use with GPS you need a third party app like Pathaway.

Both Documents To Go for Palm and Pocket Excel for PPC are most likely inadequate for the application you have in mind. They are both less functional than the spreadsheet in Microsoft Works. I think the solution you need has to work with your desktop/laptop.

I think you are better off with a separate Bluetooth GPS receiver. You have the option to pair this with your BT enabled laptop or with a BT PDA. On your laptop, you can manage your spreadheets and photos much more conveniently.

Because you want to use it on a bike, a standalone GPS unit is the way to go if don't absolutely need a PDA. You can use it to capture tracks and waypoints while you are on the road, and download it for analysis to your laptop at home. It will be much more rugged and reliable.

[adventurebiker1]

Thanks, I kinda figured the aerial photo overlay was a bit of a wishlist thing. Really, the check list spreadsheet kind of thing is (hopefully) more doable, them linking addresses and driving directions to notes on the PDA component. This should work shouldn't it? I've been reading a bit about what seems to be instability in the M5.....is that something to steer clear of? I'll have to figure out if the Palm based software would allow me to create my checklist idea.

Appreciate the help.

[JMckie]

If you describe the spreadsheet checklist a bit more, I could give you a better idea of whether it can be accomodated by the software.

[gray1]

I had a 3600 for 4 months before it failed to hotsync. I traded up to a M5. It crashed
2 weeks later, got another M5,(buy insurance) I think the M5 is a better mousetrap. The mobile windows has more depth and width of function.Right now I'm frustrated that Microsoft reader is not compatable with M5' but I assume this will be corrected soon.
Re the M5 crashing they can all do that. Just buy the insurance and dont worry.
I ride bikes alot and so far I've just used it to check my speedometers Mounting and weather issues mostly but with bikes I'm thinking to keep my eyes on the road and pull out the gps when I stop.
Garmin tech helped me jump start the
M5 with the following procedure. Remove battery, plug in charger. This is a hard reset all data will be lost along with the problem- hopefully.

[gray1]

Well I just managed after 2 weeks of trying to download a purchased ebook with m icrosoft reader format. Don't know what I did differently though. Neverthless microsoft says when you download Microsoft reader onto the M5 that it was designed for an earlier version of Windows
Mobile.