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Garmin Palm Device With GPS
Moritz writes "Garmin is introducing a PalmOS5 handheld with GPS, MP3 and 32MB of memory. That's very nice, but why is there no bluetooth? Why can't somebody just get the spec right? Other than that this seems to be a nice addition to the PalmOS lineup."
Its a common thing with the slashdot crowd, something comes along with GPS and they moan about bluetooth (there could be issues with the GPS getting interference from bluetooth). If it had bluetooth it would be 802.11b, if it had that it would be the screen size, if it had that it would be too big.
HEY FOLKS A QUICK REALITY CHECK.
Having EVERYTHING costs money, these devices are aimed at sectors that want "just enough" at a reasonable price rather than "every damn thing under the sun" just so you can impress your mates.
If it had everything and was $1000 you'd bitch about the price.
In summary: The Slashdot crowd wants
A Tablet PC with a flexible paper thin screen that can be folded from the size of a credit card to A0, which has GPS, Bluetooth, Firewire 400 & 800, USB 1 and 2, every wireless connection method under the Sun, IRDA, Biometric authentication, works via a keyboard or a "keyboard glove", has a 15Ghz Transmeta processor, 1TB of RAM, 1PB of Storage, runs off a single AA battery for 3 year, runs Linux and responds to scribbles or the spoken word.
And costs under $100. Only then will people on Slashdot not moan about the features... except to complain how X they bought a year ago is now out of date and uncool.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
I think the point here is there are already ARE handhelds with bluetooth and not GPS...SO if that's what you want this unit isn't for you. HOWEVER if you want a GPS one and don't care about what's "standard" because you want whay you need, this MIGHT be the unit for you. That's what's great about not having ALL handhelds be the same, people have choices, adn can get what they WAY. What an amazing concept....choices.......
HDDs are prone to failure, ideally a PDA would outlast any piece of hardware. I don't think I'd put too much trust in a PDA that wasn't completely solid state.
That's why you only want the calendar/contacts type of tasks on it. GPS sounds like a more logical inclusion than MP3, frankly. Unless it could record MP3 (ie; take 'memo to selfs' on the go)
Do you want to lose your list of business contacts and scheduled appointments because the HDD full of 20 giggzorz of Britney Spears tunes crashed?
When devices start being designed to do 'everything', I find they do nothing well. You're probably better off to keep the iPod for it's task and the PDA for another.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
But the people who would want this device would buy it for the GPS, and wouldn't want to pay extra for bluetooth if they'll never use it.
Think about it. If you need GPS, do you think you would be mostly using the thing while you're sitting in your office next to your little bluetooth enabled gizmo?
What's bluetooth going to do for you while you're driving around downtown trying to find some client? When it only takes on the order of 2 seconds to plug in a USB/serial/whatever cable, I
So if this isn't a device you want - go get one with bluetooth and no GPS.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
PDAs are getting bigger, better screens ...
GPSs are getting bigger, better screens ... (for mapping)
These devices can no longer always be small. Having a single screen for several devices helps offset this fact.
"Are you on some kind of medication?"
"No"
"Well, you should be."
--Bean
Nah, you're not a Luddite. You're just a really boring prick.
I mean, if you've never actually had to make it to a client's office on short notice in a town you've never visited before, and you don't have time to scour a four year old paper map for the street name of the office park, then plan a route, I can understand why you might think GPS units are toys for wannabee mountain men. As someone who rarely feels like unfolding a 4'x4' paper map while I'm driving, just to double-check that I'm on the right path, a GPS unit is invaluable. As someone who's never been great with directions, having a GPS unit to orient myself while traveling is also invaluable. I'm not forging into the wilderness or some stupid shit like that -- it's just useful.
But then, I forgot. You're "normal" people.
--the verb
ever try a map?
Yes. It did not beep to tell me when to turn. I could not download a route to it. It could not be updated over the web. Yeah. It sucked.
or setting your alarm clock a little sooner?
If you have to be at client A at 9:00AM, client B at noon, and client C at 3:00PM, how does setting your alarm clock sooner help you get to clients B and C on time?
How about the people who would rather have bluetooth then gps becuase they work in there city?
How about people who would rather have a socket wrench because they work in a garage? What the f*** kind of dumb-assed question is that? This device is obviously aimed at people who need GPS. Duh!
Here's a clue for you: Garmin builds GPSs. It's what they do. Complaining that Garmin included GPS rather than Bluetooth is is like being pissed off that McDonalds meal came with fries rather than socks.
The price isn't all that bad, considering that you're getting most of the features of a PocketPC, and a GPS, in addition to Palm stability.
Only thing is, I wonder what the battery life is like with the color screen. I understand people liking color for the "cool" factor. But greyscale is almost as functional and has much better batter life.