Looking for something more . . .

[Ralph Tomaccio]

When do you think Garmin, or any GPS/PDA manufacturer for that matter, will come out with a PDA with a feature set similar to Dell's Axim X51v and combine it with a INTEGRATED GPS with a feature set similar to the US Globalsat BT-338 SiRFIII Bluetooth GPS Receiver?

There seem to be many options if you want an "add-on" GPS to go with your PDA, and there are some PDA's with integrated GPS but whose features are based on older technology. ie, Garmin comes out with a "New" M4, but upon a closer look, it really is a new model with a rehashed set of features - just a "ho-hum" new product which doesn't make me want to run out and buy one. I don't mean to just pick on Garmin because a lot of the companies are doing this. I wish just one would take the lead and come out with a state of the art PDA/Integrated GPS for the rest of us! I thought for certain someone would do this for the upcoming holiday seson.

Anyone else feel the same as I do?

[AnswerDude]

http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/products/mobile/handhelds/pocket_loox_n_series.html

[Ralph Tomaccio]

Thanks for the link. I'm not familiar with the Fujitsu Siemens brand. Can you, or anyone else, tell me what this company is like as far as product quality, customer service, how it stands up against its competitors, etc.?

The design is very attractive but, here again, is another example of coming close to what I expect but "no cigar". The Pocket LOOX N Series processor is half the speed of the Dell and its screen is 240 x 320 vs Dell's VGA screen at 640 x 480, and half the flash memory of the Dell. On the other hand, we have the Pocket LOOX 720 with the great screen resolution, flash memory that gets close to the Dell's and, again, no integrated GPS. And, it doesn't run the latest OS.

I don't see why we can't "have our cake and eat it too" when it comes to state-of -the-art PDA/GPS. Are my desires simply a matter of being ahead of the manufacturer's new product roll-out schedule?

[AnswerDude]

ASUS just annouced gps model as well, still not vga.
http://event.asus.com/2005/a636/eng/index.htm

[Ralph Tomaccio]

AnswerDude,

Thanks for the update. I think the only thing missing from it's features is the lack of a VGA screen, as you mentioned.

I think what I'm looking for will be available within a few months or so, but I don't think it will happen in time to be suggested to the family as a Christmas gift.