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Robbie
Guest
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 Posted:
Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:11 am Post subject:
Garmin M5 - Major Problems |
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The Garmin M5 has excellent navigation capability similar to that of the
Palm based Garmin 3200 and 3600 units. The Windows Mobile 2003 SE
operating system is more sophisticated than the Palm OS, but it is also
inefficient, slow and unreliable. The situation is made worse by
Garmin's extremely poor user interface and their very buggy software. A
number of operations result in the program coming to a dead stop.
In contrast, program functions executed quickly on the 3200 and there
wasn't a single instance of a program hang in two weeks of daily usage.
The design of the Contacts stored coordinates is especially bad. Each
entry in the Radio Tel field is in a format like:
<GarminPoint lat = "0.123456789" lon = "-1.123456789" > <name> Smith,
Ann </name> </GarminPoint>
All this unnecessary verbiage results in an incredible waste of storage
space. Routing by Contacts is very awkward and editing the coordinates
is extremely difficult and is subject to repeated program hangs.
The M5 needs more RAM, up-to-date technology with a 4", high resolution,
direct sunlight readable display, and integral Wi-Fi. A higher capacity
battery would be helpful.
The Garmin application software is a disaster that requires a major
re-write.
Robbie |
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Ann
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Feb 02, 2005 3:59 pm Post subject:
Re: Garmin M5 - Major Problems |
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Robbie <robbiex@bellsouth.net> expounded:
| Quote: | The Windows Mobile 2003 SE
operating system is more sophisticated than the Palm OS, but it is also
inefficient, slow and unreliable. The situation is made worse by
Garmin's extremely poor user interface and their very buggy software
|
I don't think it's the buggy Garmin interface, it's the fact that it's
running on the 'more sophisticated' Windows Mobile 2003 SE OS. Then
again, you weren't happy with the iQue either.
Ann |
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Robbie
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Feb 02, 2005 6:34 pm Post subject:
Re: Garmin M5 - Major Problems |
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Ann wrote:
| Quote: | Robbie <robbiex@bellsouth.net> expounded:
The Windows Mobile 2003 SE
operating system is more sophisticated than the Palm OS, but it is also
inefficient, slow and unreliable. The situation is made worse by
Garmin's extremely poor user interface and their very buggy software
I don't think it's the buggy Garmin interface, it's the fact that it's
running on the 'more sophisticated' Windows Mobile 2003 SE OS. Then
again, you weren't happy with the iQue either.
Ann
Hi Ann, |
I was very happy with the Que software running on the Palm platform. The
problem for me was that I made the mistake of not realizing that the
3200 had the dedicated graffiti area with resultant lost of essential
LCD display room.
There are some interesting differences between the cf Que 1620, the
3200, 3600, and the M5. The 1620 has very poor receiver sensitivity and
no address book stored coordinate routing capability. The 3600 lacks
SDIO capability and its receiver sensitivity and screen brightness have
been reported by others to be less than those of the 3200. The 3200 and
3600 lack a removable battery.
I couldn't agree more about Windows 2003 SE. I am a software developer,
have had considerable experience with this OS, and definitely think that
it has many serious deficiencies.
Robbie |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:19 pm Post subject:
Re: Garmin M5 - Major Problems |
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Robbie wrote:
| Quote: | The Garmin application software is a disaster that requires a major
re-write.
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I got one a few days ago and find it to be perfectly usable. Don't let
your hatred of all things Microsoft cloud your judgement. It seems to
be the "in thing" on USENET these days to bash anything and everything
from Redmond.
The iQue M5 ships with the OS in ROM, leaving an additional 64 MB for
programs and memory. I certainly agree that this isn't enough, and you
should factor in the cost for an additional (at least) 256MB SD card
to put your maps on, and free more of the internal space for
operational data.
I've yet to have mine fail me, and I've been driving around with it
for the past few days. The only other systems I've had experience with
are the Pharos USB device (with MS Streets and Trips) and Hertz
"NeverLost" (I drive rental cars more than I drive my own!) This system
seems similar to NeverLost in terms of usability and features. |
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Robbie
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:04 pm Post subject:
Re: Garmin M5 - Major Problems |
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I don't dislike all Microsoft products. For example, Microsoft's Visual
Studio 2005 is a real pleasure to use and is one of the the best
software packages that I have encountered. I do not, however, think that
Windows Mobile 2003 SE is a good OS. We do use it because of having the
required developmental tools and the availability of SQL Server on both
the PC and PDA platforms.
I should also say that most of the troubles we are having with the M5
relate to storage, editing, and routing using Contacts stored
coordinates. This is admittedly a specialized application, but the
software is certainly not working properly.
Another issue relates to Contacts itself. The database has about 2000
entries and these are organized into Categories. Switching category
lists on the Palm is essential instantaneous, but there is a delay of
seconds on Windows Mobile 2003 SE. Microsoft has also unfortunately
designed Contacts so that the data files can only be RAM resident. They
cannot be stored on the SD card.
Finally, there is the annoying MS mandated default to keep programs in
RAM after they are "closed" with an X selection.
Robbie |
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