Ive tried to update or retract my review above but I guess it cant be done. Since I wrote that initial review, Garmin has made many updates to the software- some directly based on requests Ive made to the developers!
The software is much more stable, and as for the problem I had with navigating the interface, there was an undocumented feature where you can hold your finger on the back button on the screen, and it brings you all the way back. Garmin has since updated the manual to include this, directly as a result of that review!
Ive worked with the developers on bug fixes and feature requests, and they are very open- its very nice. Ive sent them my log file for troubleshooting and helped them track down a few issues. Very satisfying. They also read the forums to see how the community feels on problems.
I can now run the program with ChatterEmail running in the background, and continue navigating after sending/receiving email. Excellent product and stellar support!
Best value and as good as it gets for now
User: K R, Jun 7, 2007
Pros:
Small RAM profile, contimuous upgrading, quick route calcutions
Cons:
May not work with non Garmin GPS
I have owned TomTom 5 & 6 as well as Co-pilot 6. The Garmin beats both hands down. Example Co-pilot splits Atlanta, GA into the two counties it spans. You have to know which county a location is in before the program will find the address! Example TomTom's points of interest are not shown in terms of whether they are ahead of you or behind you which means you could be looking for a gas station that requires you to turn around. Also TomTom's upgrade path from 5 to 6 took about 6 months for them to release - not very customer friendly.
Garmin is also continually updating its program so it just keeps getting better and they are not charging for these improvements. They don't charge for traffic reports either. Could it be better? Of course but that is the nature of software.
I can find myself good
User: Murgadesh Gupta, Aug 12, 2007
Pros:
Powerful
Cons:
-
I can find myself good with this satellite system. I do my best to recommend another to buy this system. You will not lose yourself. Thanks and Regards
Murgadesh (The Calcutta Treo Expert in India Subcontinent)
With latest software updates, excellent!
User: Randall Wise, Feb 13, 2008
Pros:
User interface is very nice. Voice directionis are clear, Graphics are excellent.
Cons:
Have to hit back a million times to main menu. Getting updates from website is a bit confusing. POI loader isnt the easiest to manage.
Based on other opinions I was pleasantly surprised with this unit and software. I think its excellent and have been extremely happy with it. You MUST download the latest Treo ROM update and Garmin software to really get the most of it. Garmin has made exceptional improvements with connectivity and stability. I never have crashes due to the Garmin 10. My ONLY complaint with the updated software is now my Treo, when plugged in to the car charger, turns off (per Treo settings). The previous release of Garmin software would override the Treo settings and keep the mapping software on as long as the Treo was plugged in. It was nice to have navigation in my car always on (I keep my Treo on a swivel mount for viewing while driving) almost like a builit in.
GPS Receiver:
Pros - Straight forward. Charge and go. Belt clip adapter for when youre in pedestrian mode. Mini USB charger.
Cons - The blue blinking light while connected is extremely annoying and very bright at night. I covered w/ black electrical tape and put a pin prick hole to see when its connected.
Software:
Pros - Excellent user interface. Graphics are clear, bright and modern. Buttons are large and easy to read. Menus are clear and easy to navigate. Turn-by-turn is accurate.
Cons - When deep into menus have to back out vs. just hitting a home button. Doesnt keep the Treo on when plugged in (as previous versions did). Have to keep turning Treo on to see information.
Connectivity:
Pros - Once its connected, its connected! If a call comes in it will switch to the phone, when the call is over, it will switch back to the navigation screen automatically. Even when the Treo is off, it still stays connected and pops up when a turn or event comes up.
Cons - Voice prompts come up on the speaker while on a call instead of muting.
Nice product, not release worthy software
User: Mike Cooper, Mar 21, 2007
Pros:
Nice maps and graphics, awesome features, nice hardware
Cons:
Unstable, large memory footprint, annoying interface
I really like this product. I WANT it to work. But it crashes all the time (see our posts in the forums). Garmin is working on it, 1 new software release, and 1 more coming. When it works, I love it!
The interface is a little odd and annoying sometimes. If you are 10 levels deep in menu options, you have to click "back" that many times to return.
It also takes up a lot of space on the Palm. I haven't tried using a utility to move the app back and forth from the card since it appears so fragile, has so many files, and is so big (it would take a while).
Hopefully the next release will fix many of the issues, and many of us are in contact with Garmin to help get them info.
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