Question:
Hi,
I'm having 2nd thoughts on getting TomTom 1 sat nav but instead would like to buy a PDA/Tablet (preferrably with a large widescreen-mode) on which I can install TomTom 6 Navigator software.
I think this gives me more flexibilty (as I already have a bluetooth gps receiver) and with a PDA/Tablet I can do alot more such as play music, watch videos and do some work. I can be away on company business alot and having such a gadget would be great.
What do people think? Any recommendations?
Thanks in advance
Answers:
You need to decide tablet pc or a PDA, they are both very different a PDA runs windows mobile software like tom tom a tablet pc runs PC software like autoroute and windows XP or vista. the only way I know to run PDA apps on a PC is with the developer tools available for software testing.
I use a PDA with phone funcionality and it is the best of both worlds I no longer carry a PDA and a mobile phone around. I would drop the idea of mounting a tablet pc on your dash also even if you go got on of the ultra mobile things like the Samsung Q1's they still run windows.
Answers:
Thanks Little John. (When I said Tablet I meant Nokia n800 or similar) as a proper Tablet pc would cost too much.
So its looks like I'm looking for a PDA. My limit is about £300 but would prefer a decent size screen (pref wide) for map navigation along with handfree calling functionality etc.
Ash
Answers:
Get yourself on a mobile phone contract and get them to give you one of the PDA based phones. Sat nav is more than looking at the screen, you shouldnt need to look at it that often I rarely look at the map more the information displayed like distance to the next instruction so I dont go flying past and its too late to make the junction as I'm stuck in lane 3. the map is only usefull if junctions are complicated or roundabouts.
I also find the horizontal screen view anoying I prefer to see more of the map that is ahead of me rather than what is at the sides so the PDA in a portrait position is perfect for me. my mate has a tom tom 510 and I dont like the widescreen.
Screen size most pda's have a standard size and they are not wide screen, mine is about 3" diagonal its a small formfactor the biggerones are 3.5" I think they just take up more room in your pocket and have 240 x 320 resolution but some have a 480 x 640 resolution but the physical size is still the same just higher resolution and it makes little difference I have had high res and low res screens and when I returned to the lower res screen I didnt miss the higher resolution. watching videos I dont use it for that mainly becasue the battery life isnt vood enough to use as a PDA for a day and watcha film. yes I use it for short clips but not a movie. buy a PSP if you want movies on the go.
Answers:
I do have a smartphone (N80) and have TT 6 installed on it. Although, I have not mounted it so I can see it, but like the idea of knowing how far the next turn is, is it roundabout, left, right, what road I'm currently on or the next road etc.
I feel the instructions are good but seeing a screen helps alot as I'm not the best on finding my way round on the road.
Answers:
My wife has an XDA Orbit on O2 (It's also available as other guises with T Mobile and Orange). O2 ship it with Co Pilot which not everyone likes but it will run Tom Tom if you purchase it separately. It also runs MS Mobile Office and has Push Email, Wi Fi, Blue Tooth ..... Oh and it's a phone as well with voice dialling. Absolute stonking piece of kit more info and links below
It's available SIM free in some places but cheaper on contract.
Answers:
You can get an Ipaq PDA (without the phone) and then turn the screen from portrait to landscape when using TT....gives you an extra inch or so.
The Ipaq phone version (6915) is a square screen so makes no difference....but you can use the phone's GPRS to update traffic hotspots on the move etc.. That comes with TT6 burnt into the ROM, you get one free city map then purchase the extras. It also has it's own built in GPS receiver...a true all in one running on Windows Mobile 5.
With all these phone/PDA's though...the processing power is not breathtaking because of all the features packed into them. NOt great for doing a lot of work on.
A tablet PC is too big to mount on the dashboard, so would you really want it on the seat next to you?
Answers:
You can get an Ipaq PDA (without the phone) and then turn the screen from portrait to landscape when using TT....gives you an extra inch or so.
The Ipaq phone version (6915) is a square screen so makes no difference....but you can use the phone's GPRS to update traffic hotspots on the move etc.. That comes with TT6 burnt into the ROM, you get one free city map then purchase the extras. It also has it's own built in GPS receiver...a true all in one running on Windows Mobile 5.
With all these phone/PDA's though...the processing power is not breathtaking because of all the features packed into them. NOt great for doing a lot of work on.
A tablet PC is too big to mount on the dashboard, so would you really want it on the seat next to you?
Thanks, I like the idea of Ipaq (as I already have a Sirf Star III GPS receiver) but would like to know whether its possible to configure either the Ipaq screen or TT to landscape mode when I'm using TT? Also, do any of these allow handsfree calling feature using bluetooth (like the latest TT units)?
Any suggestions on the Ipaq models etc?
Answers:
Thanks, I like the idea of Ipaq (as I already have a Sirf Star III GPS receiver) but would like to know whether its possible to configure either the Ipaq screen or TT to landscape mode when I'm using TT? Also, do any of these allow handsfree calling feature using bluetooth (like the latest TT units)?
Any suggestions on the Ipaq models etc?
How about one of the new HP Travel Companion models, these are Ipaq's with built in GPS and pre installed TomTom6 with UK and Ireland Maps. They are also horizontal PDAs.
For example the HP Ipaq rx5720. have it for £175 (inc VAT) and you can save a tenner using google checkout !!
Answers:
Thanks, this seems an excellent device - very tempted (unless there are others that are better).
However, I have a couple of questions, from what I can tell the ONLY differences between Ipaq rx5720 and rx5935 is the latter has wifi built-in and double (2GB) flash ROM.
Am I right? Also, would it be possible to upgrade the rx5720 model to wifi cheaply? Would that mean I don't have a spare slot for extra storage etc?
Further, is it possible to install Windows Mobile 6 & apps- I mean does it have enough memory or can you add more - will the programs run off the added memory or do they need to be installed on built-in memory?
Lastly, what are the real advangtages of going for the latest model albeit at an extra £100 or am I better off with cheaper version?
Another Q: I've seen the rx5965 model - Is this a newer model? link below:
Thanks to all for your help and look forward to your replies.
Ash
Answers:
Thanks, this seems an excellent device - very tempted (unless there are others that are better).
However, I have a couple of questions, from what I can tell the ONLY differences between Ipaq rx5720 and rx5935 is the latter has wifi built-in and double (2GB) flash ROM.
Am I right? Also, would it be possible to upgrade the rx5720 model to wifi cheaply? Would that mean I don't have a spare slot for extra storage etc?
Further, is it possible to install Windows Mobile 6 & apps- I mean does it have enough memory or can you add more - will the programs run off the added memory or do they need to be installed on built-in memory?
Lastly, what are the real advangtages of going for the latest model albeit at an extra £100 or am I better off with cheaper version?
Another Q: I've seen the rx5965 model - Is this a newer model? link below:
Thanks to all for your help and look forward to your replies.
Ash
You could try an SDIO wifi card, never used one myself, but it would take up your expansion slot as you say.
I think the rx5720 is the entry level model and the rx5965 is the flagship model.
£100 seems a lot for an extra GB of ROM and wifi. Wifi is only usefull if you want to use the internet on a PDA and in my experience this is limited, I have it on my rx2410 and hardly ever use it. I use bluetooth all the time for TomTom traffic and the rx 5720 has bluetooth.
If you want extra storage then just add a cheap MMC card and you will soon have 2GB on the PDA.
If it's more a SatNav you are after but with a little PDA action then I would stick with the 5720 and save your money. But if its more PDA than Satnav to you you would be better with the higher spec.
Couldn't tell you about Windows Mobile 6.0 it's all a little new. Not even sure any devices are shipping with it yet, said 2nd Q 2007 ? But then again I'm still using Windows Pocket PC 2003 on my ipaq
Answers:
I do have a smartphone (N80)
The N80 isnt a smartphone smartphones run windows mobile operating systems the n80 I am sure is a symbian system but there is a version of tom tom available for the symbian OS.
it is possible to upgrade the version of windows mobile on PDA's but you need to wait for someone to come up with the update for the PDA, it isnt a case of putting in a disk and updateing it is a little more complicated than that.
Wifi can be added with the use of a wifi SDIO card ir compact flash wifi card, the downside is that you loose the expansion slot if you ever want to use the wireless. I have a wireless car for my older PDA's it was a pain to use but it was useable I would buy a PDA with it built in.
PDA's have 3 types of memory ROM where the restore info is held, RAM where installed programs and files are stored (this is wiped if power is lost) you can also add additional storeage cards. they dont loose the contents when power is lost.
Answers:
Thanks, I didn't know Windows Mobile 6 isn't out yet! I think I might just go for the 5720 model and buy a wifi card (any ideas of cost?) as I won't be using internet a lot but its nice to have when you need it.
I assume it can take a 4GB SD card? Also, will Windows Mobile 6 be installed on this card or can you install it on the built-in memory?
Answers:
Something like this would do it.
WiFi SDIO PDA 54Mbps Wireless SDIO Network LAN adapter 802.11b/g at:
£18.99 inc vat
The expansion slot in is an SDIO/MMC slot, Amazon are doing a 4GB MMC card for around £25 ? Might get an SD card cheaper I guess ?
So I guess you are getting everything the higher spec has and saving almost £60 !! You just can't have the wifi and extra memory at the same time.
The OS is normally on the build in ROM memory
Answers:
Something like this would do it.
WiFi SDIO PDA 54Mbps Wireless SDIO Network LAN adapter 802.11b/g at:
£18.99 inc vat
The expansion slot in is an SDIO/MMC slot, Amazon are doing a 4GB MMC card for around £25 ? Might get an SD card cheaper I guess ?
So I guess you are getting everything the higher spec has and saving almost £60 !! You just can't have the wifi and extra memory at the same time.
The OS is normally on the build in ROM memory
I think both models have TWO slots, one sd and one sd/mmc, maybe someone can correct me on that.
Answers:
I think both models have TWO slots, one sd and one sd/mmc, maybe someone can correct me on that.
Sorry to say it is just one slot:
Answers:
Sorry to say it is just one slot:
You may be right but I got my information from here (if you look under the 'expandability' heading), there are two mentions of sd/mmc slots. Are both referring to the same thing (ie ONE slot?)
How does £221 +del sound for this unit?
What's the difference between these two model numbers for the same device:
FA816AT and FA816AA ???
Answers:
windows mobile 6 is shipping it has been for a month or so now.
I wouldnt buy one that needs a wifi card adding they are not the most reliable of things they are so thin that even keeping them in a pda case can cause them to break I went through 3 in 8 months. if you really want wifi spend the little extra and get a PDA with it built in removing cards to put the wifi card in is another pain that I couldnt go back to.
I know this site is about Here but sometimes there are things you really should spend money on and built in things like wifi if you intend on useing it are really worth spending on. I prefer to use the 3G connectivity with my pda it is available almost everywhere and speeds are as good as when I use wifi as the PDA cant really process websites that quick like a PC anyway.
Answers:
windows mobile 6 is shipping it has been for a month or so now.
I wouldnt buy one that needs a wifi card adding they are not the most reliable of things they are so thin that even keeping them in a pda case can cause them to break I went through 3 in 8 months. if you really want wifi spend the little extra and get a PDA with it built in removing cards to put the wifi card in is another pain that I couldnt go back to.
I know this site is about Here but sometimes there are things you really should spend money on and built in things like wifi if you intend on useing it are really worth spending on. I prefer to use the 3G connectivity with my pda it is available almost everywhere and speeds are as good as when I use wifi as the PDA cant really process websites that quick like a PC anyway.
Thanks, I'll go with the built in wifi - how does £221 sound? Also, do you know what the difference between the AT/AA models is? I am waiting for tomorrow to ring HP and find out before I order.
Thanks to all, ash
Answers:
The rx5900 comes with European mapping and WiFi, the rx5700 only comes with UK mapping.
£30 cashback on the rx5720 from HP .