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1. Robert Willard

   May 10, 2011

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   39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

   
   Great GPS. Need Version 2 of the software though!!, December 29, 2003

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   Robert Willard (clarksville, TN USA) –

   This review is from: Garmin iQue 3600 PDA/GPS Handheld System with Americas Detailed Street Mapping (Electronics)

   I installed the software per the user’s guide and used it on the first day I got it (12/23/03). My wife was driving and I was reading about it in the car. I had the GPS on and was amazed at how the map moved (Track up mode) as we moved. It was accurate re: driving speed, location, odometer, etc. Then I tried the Que Route mode and tried reaching a destination. The thing kept saying “Off Route, recalculating” over, and over, and over again. I was pissed! Then I read some reviews and learned that I had to go to the Garmin website ) to download “release 2” and “release 2 patch 1.” After following the detailed instructions and re-trying the Que route, the navigation was perfect. No problems whatsoever. The unit is occasionally inaccurate as to street addresses, and is better with known intersections (gets you there within 10 feet accuracy). Some street addresses were right on the money, but others were a few houses off. Overall, however, it’s a tremendous tool and a very fun toy.
   Definitely get the 256 MB expansion card at a minimum and you absolutely need the Auto-Nav travel kit.

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2. G. M. Matthews

   May 10, 2011

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   175 of 178 people found the following review helpful:

   
   i find it indispensable, and i love it, November 9, 2003

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   G. M. Matthews (Camino, CA USA) –
   
     
   
     

   This review is from: Garmin iQue 3600 PDA/GPS Handheld System with Americas Detailed Street Mapping (Electronics)

   I’ve had mine since middle of August. I’ll starte with the issues. In that time I’ve experienced the glitches mentioned elsewhere, but not enough to give up on it. I had 2 hard resets with data loss (static electricity I now realize), many soft resets with no data loss (mostly when syncing), a few times the speaker noise problem (soft reset fixed), and short battery life when power isn’t nearby. That’s most of the bad, and most of this is fixed with v2 of the software now available on Garmins downloads site.
   Since the sw upgrade to v2, no hard or soft resets, no lost communications on syncs anymore. I’ve loaded many new applets and none of them have given me any problems. Be SURE not to use any that aren’t specific for OS5!
   What’s great?
   – the screen is better than anything i’ve seen, more bright, more resolution, and is worth the tradeoff in battery life
   – the speed, fast processor to speed autorouting makes it fast for everything else, too
   – the integration with contacts and calendar for waypoints is very useful, really leverages the PDA/GPS into much more than the sum of its parts, more than what other (separate) packages can
   – so far it’s robust, i’ve dropped it and still works fine
   – maps are very good. i took it to europe for 3 weeks of driving, including in italy (even rome), and it was painless with this device. it has every road in the country, like where i live. the system in my brother’s car that cost $2K has no roads off the freesay where i live – useless. it is truly FREEING to drive along and see all the possible roads you can take around you, updating in real time, if you’re like me and like to explore. truly great.
   I could go on for a month, I love it that much. So I’ll switch to how to overcome it’s shortcomings:
   – get the car kit, period
   – get a 256 MB SD card, i paid under a hundred, with that, i can put most of california, for most of a US region or to have room for MP3’s, get a 512 card.
   – if you’re not using it, cradle it. if you’re in the car, put it on the car kit cradle whether using GPS or not. with these habits, i never have problems with battery life. and it charges very quickly, too. the v2 sw puts the default brightness at 50%, which is enough 90% of the time. i use about 30% when inside, and it’s still brighter than many other and completely usable. don’t enable waas, no satallites anyway and 20 feet is close enough for me, and helps battery. turn off IR receiver. set auto off to 30sec. it’s instant on anyway. with these changes, battery life isn’t an issue for me.
   – i got the small sync cable with the travel kit, but the aftermarket sync cables will also charge from the USB so might be better, check it out, targus and belkin, among others.
   – get a protective case. i got one for a toshiba pocketpc that’s leather with belt clip. fits perfectly, and now i don’t worry about dropping it
   – the antenna works best when the FLAT top face is toward the sky, NOT when it’s end is pointed at the sky. used this way, it locks under a minute even when moving for me, and never loses when moving after lock unless i’m in a sea of 3+ story buildings.
   – i got the external antenna, and now i can take it off the car plate to use it and it still keeps the satellites, this is a nice to have but is not very expensive
   – people have said the maps are worth $100. in reality the autorouting map sets are $300. i know, i bought it for Europe, but i DO NOT REGRET IT.
   – sometimes it fails to find things that are in the database, but this is rare. r2 sw may have helped but haven’t tested yet. there are a few map bugaboos, like a small break in the road that i routes you around, but these are rare.
   – don’t load any apps that don’t say OS5 compatible
   – use screen protectors – the ones for Sony Clie NX70’s fit perfectly (don’t get sony brand, too expensive)
   – upgrade the OS to v2 immediately
   – have patience if you’ve not used a PDA or Palm before, you will get through it. the downloadable PDF manual is very good. there are dedicated sites like palmgear with lots of useful info on getting along with your PDA, as well as software reviews and downloads.
   – they have posted track log and waypoint conduits now, as well a map loader update. Garmin is seriously supporting this device, don’t give up on it.
   Bottom line is Garmin has realized the market for these is bigger than the combined market for all of their other products. So I do believe they will support the product, and will come out with even better ones in the future. But bottom line is it works great for me, it was a bargain considering what it does, and I wouldn’t wait for an upgrade and have to live without it. It’s a great GPS, and with the v2 upgrade, a great PDA. it’s definitely the most useful device in my life today, moreso than my computer. i’m the kind of person that never gets lost, but i never leave the house w/o my ique now…

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