REVIEW: Garmin iQue M3 (vs. iQue M5)

[thetransportguy]

iQue M3 vs. iQue M5 (pt.1)

After a couple of weeks of using the M3, I have come to the conclusion that the M3 is basically designed as an entry level PDA with the bonus of some street navigation GPS described as mostly fluff and no substance. Most of you have seen the reviews on the M5 so I will mainly describe the M3 and how it lacks in comparison to the M5. There are 1 or 2 advantages & I will describe them in the review. BTW, I am not biased to the M5 as I shelled out the 400+ buck for the M3 and plan to keep it as a “backup”. I will leave out the Tech Specs as you can find those on the Garmin site. Im just listing my issues with the 2 iQues. This review is broken up into 2 posts as this forum cannot handle >10,000 characters per post.

Out of the Box:

1) The cables: The M3 comes with a USB cable the has a “Y” port at one end. It is better describes as a Y port with a cable at one end. I say this because the power cord (charger) cannot be directly connected to the M3. It has to be connected to the Y port then connect the Y port cable to the M3. Luckily, the M3 is compatible with the M5 cradle and M5 power cable so I mainly use my M5 stuff to sync and charge the M3. Actually I left the M3 cables still in the box.

2) The car stuff: The Car lighter charger/windshield cradle does not come with a built-in speaker. You have to use the volume on the M3 itself for iQue vocal direction. If you look at the M3, there is another opening where the speaker is (left upper corner) in comparison to the M5. I tested the volume side by side and there is not a whole lot of difference in volume when maxed out. I don’t have a decibel meter so can be precise.

3) Windows Mobile 2003: The M3 lack a few pre-loaded programs. 1 very important one is Sprite backup. There is no installed OEM backup program on this unit or on the software disc. Other major installed program issues involve the Que GPS. I will delve into that later.

4) Feel: The front of the M3 looks similar with a darker graphite look. The front faceplate is the same metal finish and material. Differences being the lack of a Blue LED (Bluetooth) and the addition of that third speaker opening. When you turn it over that’s where the major “feel” differences are. The M5 has a smooth, solid feeling metal cover and GPS antenna. The M3 has a coarse textured dark gray plastic backing and antenna. This reduces the weight a little but makes it feel a little “cheapo”. Kind of like the 1st generation Palm 3’s. The antenna on the M3 is also made of the same plastic material. The infrared, headphone jack, SD slot, ext antenna jack, buttons, notes rec button, flip-cover holes, cradle slot and power button are all the same as the M5.

5) Battery: The M3 DOES NOT have a removable battery. The back cover is screwed in with torx screws. So far the M3 holds a charge similar to the M5. I bought a spare batter for my M5 and use it on plane trips to watch up to 3 movies and still have 70% battery left before recharging the 2 batts. For me, this alone is an issue that would have me choose the M5 over the M3. If you plan to go off road hiking or somewhere w/o the charger, having only the internal power source limits your GPS usage. Don't want to be stuck 1/2 down the trail and haev your battery die with no GPS to get you home.

6) City Select 7: FYI, even though you purchase both units (as I did) I cannot use the City Select 7 with my M5. It is coded for use only on the M3.

7) Printed Manuals: Basically none. Try downloading the PDF manuals on the garmin site. Those are the exact ones sent in the box. Really basic.

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[thetransportguy]

iQue M3 vs. iQue M5 (pt 2.)


GPS functionality: (I am no way a GPS techie so expect this review to be in lay terms.)

1) Data input: This is one of the very few parts I liked about the M3. The screens have large buttons that you can basically tap with a pinky finger or a finger tip. I guess they made this for easier route calculations while driving. What I don’t understand is that the GPS itself gives a warning not to use the PDA while driving. Hmmmm. I usually input all my address data before driving anyway, so the small address/Nav input in the M5 was never an issue. The big screen buttons on the M3 look nice…

2) Route calculation: For my job, I actually use the routing more then the actual GPS. I bill my clients on mileage and use the M5 to calculate the distance between pickup and drop offs. That’s how I make estimates for my clients as I bill them on mileage. On the M5 you enter the “Start Point” address and “End Point” address where you can choose between “current position”, “find” and “use map”. With the M3, you can ONLY enter the “End point”. The M3 will always use your last known position as the start point. I found a work around for this (assuming that the last known position is not the start point of the route I need to calculate) by routing to the start point of my particular route, run the simulation to get there, then after getting there route to the end point of my particular route. This takes a long time. Also, on the M3 QueTurns page, you need to scroll down to get to the total miles number. You scroll by using a down button. The more turns, the more scrolling you need. More time. This route calculation issue is another thing that makes this unit useless for me. I am planning a trip to Arizona and wanted to estimate travel time to the Grand Canyon but that would take too much efforts for the M3. I guess that’s what MapQuest is for. Then again, my M5 can do it!

3) Menus/Shortcuts to GPS functions: As we know, the M5 has is a folder in the “Programs” menu with access to QueFind, QueGPS, QueMap, Qu trip and QueTurns which can also be accessed by repeatedly pressing the Que button in the bottom right corner. If you press the Que button on the M3 you get the QueNav screen and that’s it. No access to any of the options like the M5. Why you ask? Because there are none. There is also no Que folder in the “Programs” menu. The only other shortcut to any GPS stuff is a link to Que GPS (the satellite screen) in the programs menu. You can get to the Queturns screen by tapping on the map in the data section on top. I have so many problems with this. It seems that the M3 is set up to program one trip at a time using the “where to” screen and you have to go through the same steps every time to get the Nav going. There is no link on the Map screen like the M5 that will take you to the routing screen (QueRoutes). Oh wait, there is no routing screen (QueRoutes) on the M3. Another major bummer.

4) 3D GPS map display: Ok I will try to be kind here. At first (in my office) I was in awe with the 3D images. Really colorful, accurate and alive looking. Font looks cleaned up like a Tahoma style. The transparent background behind the turn directions allows the map more visible landscape area. Nice colors and street lines look very smooth and rounded. Now to the bad stuff. The font although cleaned up, is thinner and harder to read in sunlight with the transparent background. The street names and major roadways sometimes interfere with reading the directions. The black background & white text in the M5 Nav is MUCH easier to read day or night. The M3 uses the Tahoma looking font on the street names and all text in the map which uses a black background behind the text as opposed to layering the text into the map. Meaning if the street name or POI has 3 or more long words, it will cover up what ever is behind the street name text. Lastly when traveling over major junctions and interchanges the detailed 3D map & large arrow icon makes the screen way over-crowded with images and hard to decipher which is the actual road that you are on. Example: I was traveling on a freeway when I came up to 2 adjacent exits (1 left & 1 right). The right one exited and continued over the straightaway and the left exit. My route was the straightaway but I could not see the road on the map. Only the overpass (right exit). In fact, the map showed the arrow icon (me) driving over the overpass. Although, it was in line with the actual straightaway path that I was on. Another problem is that using “View Map”, you cannot scroll the map left, right, up or down. You can zoom out and in but that’s it.

5) Satellite tracking: I turned both of them on at the same time and the M5 & the M3 were able to recognize the same satellites at the same time. The initial acquisition took a while but the M5 was that way also.

6) GPS Menu Accessibility: In the QueNav screen there is the “Tools” and “Settings” buttons. That’s the only “options” or “preferences” that I can access. BTW, there is no Que Preferences menu like the M5 has. As you will see, there is little you can access in the sense of user accessibility in comparison to the M5.


A: Tools:
1. Route Details
2. Browse Map
3. Manage my data: a.My Locations, b.Contacts, c.Map sets, d.Custom POI Sets
4. Trip Computer: distance, max speed, etc.
5. Where am I: coordinates and closest intersections
6. Simulate route


B: Settings
1. Map: access to orientation, map detail, font label size, etc.
2. Routing: turn pref’s (avoid u-turns, toll roads, route for taxi/bus/car etc)
3. Audio: volume, language, attention tome, voice prompt
4. System: enable WAAS, metric/nautical, etc
5. Display: backlight in percent, text language, night/day mode.
6. About: QueNav 2.30, copyright info and credits


PDA usability:

1) Memory: The main memory is 63.07mb with only 2.36mb available for safe storage compared to 16.42 on the M5. I guess having a decent safe storage memory is not important to Garmin seeing how there is no back program shipped with the M3.

2) 312Mhz processor: Using the M5 as a base line, the processor is by no means slow, but while multitasking 4+ programs I noticed a definite slow down. I had running programs: a word doc, a excel file, Quemap, contacts, calendar and Betaplayer. My divx movie ran smoothly but I added opened up settings and re-ran the divx and it stalled. I could run all these and more with the M5 and video would be as smooth as on a desktop.

3) MS Software: There are no changes to the calander, contacts, and other MS programs. It syncs w/Activesync to Outlook without a hitch.

4) Gaming: I ran Darxide EMP, Rayman, Everquest, Age of Empires, Flux challenge, Anthelion, Metalion 2 and FIFA 2002. All seem to run smoothly assuming that is the only game/program running at the time. The 3D rendering in Flux and Anthelion were just as good as the M5.

5) Audio: I don’t know if it’s a hardware, speaker or software issue but the m3 has a better frequency response from the built in speaker then the M5. The volume is about the same but the sound is better on the M3. It is by no means a Bose system but it is tolerable when desperate for tunes.

6) Infrared: same as M5. weak. Unable to use as a remote for TV’s and such but does the job for file transfers.

7) Bluetooth/Wifi: NONE. This hurts. Makes you wonder why they bundled the M3 with Internet Explorer. Heck, IE is free for download at Microsoft.com, why couldn’t they leave this it out of the shipped unit and just add a decent backup program?

8) Vibe Alert: Missing on the M3 is the Vibe Alert. I never thought that I would miss this feature, but after using the M5 for about 9 months I have come to find it a helpful tool. I keep my M5 in a hip-bag when I’m not using the GPS, which is most of the time. As a business owner I have many meetings and appointments that I can barely keep track of. So far I have not heard a PDA with an alarm that could be heard from inside a hip-bag or pocket, while in a car, with the CD player blaring. The vibe function sometimes makes me jump, but it is worth it. If you understand the value of the Vibe on your cell phone, then you will understand the value in a PDA.

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[thetransportguy]

iQue M3 vs. iQue M5 (pt.3)

Final thoughts:

I like to relate the 2 iQues to a Base model BMW SUV (the M3) and a Fully loaded V8 SR5 Runner (M5). The BMW is pretty and something you love to show off to your friends. But you would never use the BMW hardcore 4 wheeling up in the mountains or as a work vehicle. But the 4Runner is capable of doing the job, with a multitude of options available to you. The again the BMW would come with a built in NAV system so any PDA-GPS requirement would be moot, hehehe. If you like to be the guy at the water cooler saying “hey, check this out!” educating your peers with the latest technology then the 3D map will provide you with some flash.

The M3 is built for the “occasional” traveler/driver who gets lost often or can’t read maps. The 3D is nice but not really practical for business use until they can make the fonts more definitive in relation to the map background. Without a removable backup back up battery option, I cannot see this unit being effective as a hiking/offroad GPS unless you carry a 12V car battery charger up in the woods with you. If your GPS requirements are somewhat minimal like, “I just need to know how to get from here to there”, then I would think the M3 should suffice. As a PDA, the retail of $420+ makes it not a good value. The Dell Axim X51v with the VGA is a powerhouse PDA with a fantastic display for $409 as of 11/4/05. The price difference between the M5 and the M3 is about $150 and for the frequent GPS/Routing user it will definitely be worth it. In retrospect if I had bought the M3 before the M5 and didn’t know about all the M5 features, I probably would be satisfied. But once you know what the M5 can do in comparison to the M3, the choice for me was clear.

I’ll continue to add more issues and comments to this thread as I use the M3 more. I will also try to get some screen captures and post them up here.

[XPLORx4]

Thanks for the detailed review! I have been considering the M3 (instead of the M5) since it appeared to have an easier-to-use stylus-free interface for use in the car. For me, that's its biggest selling point. I don't care so much about the 3D view, but it looks much easier to enter routes, find destinations, addresses, POIs, etc. into the M3 than the M5.

Naturally, the M5 has more robust features, including BT, but I am concerned about how easy it is to enter info into the M5 without removing the device from its dashboard cradle and tapping on it with a stylus.

I've been using a Garmin GPS V for many years, and I'm accustomed to pressing buttons to accomplish tasks. Tapping on a screen seems more difficult to do in a car.

What are your impressions about the ease of use (in the car) between the M3 and M5?

Also, I have a rather large number of waypoints, routes, and tracks saved in MapSource. Can they be imported and used on the M3 (or for that matter, on the M5)?

[thetransportguy]

1) Naturally, the M5 has more robust features, including BT, but I am concerned about how easy it is to enter info into the M5 without removing the device from its dashboard cradle and tapping on it with a stylus.

2) What are your impressions about the ease of use (in the car) between the M3 and M5?

3) Also, I have a rather large number of waypoints, routes, and tracks saved in MapSource. Can they be imported and used on the M3 (or for that matter, on the M5)?

Hey there, to recommend one or the other for you I would probably need more information as far as what your needs are, your planned use, driving habits, budget, and expectations are. But I will try to answer your questions to the best of my experience with the M3/M5 devices.

1) The M3 has a slightly easier time with entering input but you need small fingers when it comes to entering the alphanumeric input for addresses. (see photos for scale of screen buttons) Also, You need to get through 7-8 screen taps to get to the darn address selection. Reaching over your steering wheel to do all these taps gets tiresome. I used the M3 for a few days and resorted to taking it out of the cradle to enter my address info. Defeating the benefits of the big buttons. M5 has less screen taps to get to your routing map. Lastly, The alpha input is NOT in Qwerty format. Its chronologic (A, B, C, D, etc...) Takes a while to get used to.

2) Ease of use is an interesting question. I'm assuming that you only need to find your "current position" to a previously located position or a POI. If that's the case then i'd say the M3. If you are going to use saved routes, my locations and address input I would still have to say the M5. Life is always about point A to B. Sometimes there are spelling issues (in Hawaii we got names like Waimanalo and Kalanianaole which is a nightmare for the alpha input on the M3) and times when you want to find out how to get from A to B but you are not currently at point A, this cannot be done with the M3 without much hassles.

3) I dont believe you can use saved routes or tracks on the M3. If there is a way, I have not discovered it & it is not documented in manuals.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

BTW, I attached pics of the screen taps that it takes to get to the final routing map, but the forum only allows 5 attachments. So you can see a few and get the idea...

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[thetransportguy]

BTW, the first pic (alpha.jpg) is just about scale. So get your index finger, and try to tap the word "R I S K Y" on your monitor while viewing the pic. Unless you got mini, pointy fingertips, you will probably hit a few buttons to the sides of each letter. Trust me I have many times. I ended up keeping a old spare empty-ink pen in my ashtray as a stylus just for this purpose.

[XPLORx4]

I finally decided to get an Axim x51v, and paired it with a GPS 10.

I love the flexibility and the power of the Axim, and after a bit of tweaking to get everything working, the GPS 10 works quite well with it. As for keyboard input, I've decided to use TenGO Thumb which allows stylus-free alphanumeric input.

[falcon]

Just wondering what are the built in map coverage that come with the M3 gps since I am located in canada and will use the devise in both city and outdoor environment. I need both outdoors maps and city road maps. Does it have them all.

[civex]

The M3 will always use your last known position as the start point. I found a work around for this (assuming that the last known position is not the start point of the route I need to calculate) by routing to the start point of my particular route, run the simulation to get there, then after getting there route to the end point of my particular route. This takes a long time.
Hi, Transportguy,

I think I have a better workaround for you - go to the nav screen, tap Tools, and tap on Where Am I? Assuming your'e in the clear for satellite acquisition, that should set the M3 for your current location for nav purposes.

Your review is excellent. I see the unit backwards from you - an in-car nav device that has some PDA functionality. :-) It's a basic unit for navigation - get me from Point A to Point B, and that's pretty much it. I'm uninterested in the PDA aspects, and as an inexpensive navigation unit, it fits my needs well.

I have never used an M5, so I don't know what I'm missing, and as they say, ignorance is bliss. :->

[thetransportguy]

That still does not solve my problem. But thanks anyway. The problem with the software that I had was that, let's say you are at home. And you want to know how far the distance is and what is the route from your local post office to your local mall. This is sometimes called route planning. You can do it in google maps or MapQuest by entering a start point and an end point. You can also do this in the Garmin M5 and the M4. But not the M3 as I described above. I need this because for my business I charge my clients by the mile. They tell me their house address and their destination, I then us my M5 to calculate the mileage of the trip and then caclulate an estiumate for what i will charge them. With what you are saying I would have to be at their house to start the route calculation.

I ended up selling the M3 as my backup and getting a PDA/Phone/GPS. An unreal unit. The HP 6915:
-wifi
-GPRS
-Bluetooth
-SD expansion
-1.3 mp camera
-IRDA
-keyboard
-416 MHz processor
-GPS
-Windows mobile 5
-removable/replacable battery.

I love my M5 & use that as my primary GPS, but sometimes I use my "backup" just for kicks.

[civex]

With what you are saying I would have to be at their house to start the route calculation.
Yep, you're right. I misunderstood the situation. The software on the M3 is sadly lacking in many respects.

[thetransportguy]

The M3 is a strange device. I am not sure what demographic Garmin had in mind when they built it. The GPS software is not good enough for the Heavy GPS user. The PDA features is mediocre with it's <400MHz processor, lack of VGA screen, NON_REMOVABLE battery, Windows mobile 5.0, etc... Combined it really is a "Jack-of-no-trades". And to price it at 399 is hard to understand.

When I bought it I was in a rush to get a backup as I thought my M5 had died. After trying many alternatives to get the M3 to function to my requirements, it never did. I was lucky to have sold it for 360 on eBay.

I guess if you never got to try out a M5 or a powerful 416 MHz PDA or other fully functional GPS device that can plan out routes & tracks, you probably may be happy with the M3. But once you have seen what a M5 or Dell X51 w/BT GPS can do, its hard to be satisfied with the M3.