Best economy for the PDA owner.
Written: Jul 17 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Works with PDA you already may have. Great maps and accuracy, Super lightweight.
Cons: Eat batteries like candy.
Only in grayscale.
The Bottom Line: Bets answer to the minimalist gadgeteer. Durable, easy to use, makes taking your PDA along a must. Instead of leaving it behind.
Cheapest answer to GPS access in the wilderness.
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| Halsey's Full Review: MAGELLAN Palm GPS Companion MGN PALMGPSCOMP |
Even though this gem is not manufactured anymore, it can be had on E-bay for way under $100. It does most all the things an expensive GPS does. And attached to your PDA you have a hundred other functions at your finger tips. I got mine for backpacking, but I also got the dash attachment for the car and the cig. lighter adapter.
The two programs tha accompany the GPS are Map Companion, which has all the maps of the USA by State County and City, and Nav Companion which get you linked to the GPS system in space. Truly amazing for a little attachment on the back of your PDA.
Nav gives you up to the second coordinates, altitude, speed, direction, a track log of your route, and a place to list and record positions of what ever you might want to keep.
NAV screens also give you updated compass headings as you move. I've walked across a room and saw the corrected readings.
Easy to use and mostly intuitive touch screen controls.
Initializing the GPS to the sattelite is tricky but a quick learn.
Map Companion uses the Nav to place you on the map you have downloaded from the CD-rom. Using the sync. feature of the PDA you can set up your maps for a trip and delete them after. It's fun to watch streets go by as you drive and see what is coming up ahead. The screen can give you .1 or 200 miles across the screen.
Map Companion also has the GPS read-outs like Nav and you can custom select the info you want displayed.
Went not in use it fits in your shirt pocket, although it might as well stay attached since it adds a bit of protection to the PDA. It is not weather proof.
I did end up removing the batteries after trip. This GPS seems to drain them when not in use. It depends on how often you use it. The GPS and PDA are powered seperately.
Weight : Less than 4 oz. with 2-AAA batteries.
Cost: I paid $80 on e-bay in 2001.
Comes with CD-Rom of maps and Nav software.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Halsey
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Member: Daniel Halsey
Reviews written: 10
Trusted by: 0 members
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