Rating: 
Summary: GPS for PalmV
Review: For anyone looking for a GPS unit that owns a PalmV, I'd suggest getting this unit. Most GPS units that have similar functionality usually have a smaller screen than the PalmV. The software works just fine too. Plan where you want to go on your PC then hotsink it to your PalmV. The GPS unit will also work with other Rand McNally software like TripMaker.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: Having owned several GPS devices in the past, I bought this unit for my Palm V without hesitation. Unfortunately, some of the "fun" stuff is left out. There is no way to track current heading, speed, distance to next turn, etc. The last package for my Palm was from Delorme and had an entire screen devoted to this real-time data. The maps are very detailed, and provide excellent point-to-point capabilities. However, in order to get turn-by-turn directions, you need to have an internet connection available (Delorme doesn't require this). Overall, I'm a bit underwhelmed by this package, but will certainly find times to put it to use.
Rating: 
Summary: A total disappointment, to say the least.
Review: I got this for my birthday this year, about one month ago, and I can tell you I am sorely disappointed. I figured a GPS-for-Palm would be a great product; a large screen, an interface I was already familiar with, etc.. made this product sound like a winner. Unfortunately, the product is riddled with problems. Not a single satisfying experience was I able to wrench from this miserable product. To begin with, several of these units, if not all of them, are misprogrammed when they leave the factory to look for Asian satellites instead of US ones. I say several, even though I have experience with only one unit, because there is a FAQ on the website about it, and because many, many people have complained about it on usenet; look for yourself. This misprogramming causes it to take (according to Rand McNally) up to 30 minutes to acquire satellites here in the US the first time. It took much, much longer for my unit: over an hour of continuous operation, sitting on my deck *outside*, running a special program that a customer service agent told me to download, because the program that came with the unit was unsuccessful in acquiring satellites at all. Nice. It didn't help that the customer service department took almost a week to answer my questions regarding the satellite acquisition. After I had made an acquisition (finally!) I was pretty disappointed with the results. The StreetFinder program for the Palm OS crashed my Palm V repeatedly. Reinstalling the StreetFinder software made no effect. I had read on usenet that other programs conflicted with StreetFinder; I removed everything but the stock Palm programs and StreetFinder (and the things that StreetFinder needs) and still had several crashes. My Palm hardly ever crashed and had to be reset before I got the Rand McNally GPS unit. Subsequent acquisitions are quite slow, usually taking around 15-20 minutes, making it pretty useless for me to use in the car, since I'm already to my destination before the unit can acquire any satellites. This is my first GPS experience, however, so perhaps I have unreasonable expectations of GPS techonlogy in general. The cigarette adapter which powers the GPS does not power the Palm V. This seems silly to me, but perhaps there is a good technical reason for this somewhat obnoxious oversight. I found the very idea of a Palm GPS attachment, for $199, to be a bit overpriced. Other GPS units (on which I cannot comment, for I have not used them) are comparably priced and are seperate units. The StreetFinder maps take up a lot of space on the Palm V, and if you have a Palm V instead of a Vx, you might feel cramped for space. With the very cheap-feeling GPS attached (using a flimsy plastic/metal catch mechanism) the Palm V is bulky and cannot fit in my Palm V Hard Case (of course, this is true for any Palm attachment -- I knew that would happen before I asked for it for my birthday). Overall, I just cannot say a single good thing about this product. I was unimpressed by the Rand McNally desktop software, their buggy Palm V client, their crappy misprogrammed GPS attachment, and their slow customer service. I cannot stress to anyone enough that this is a product to avoid. I have noticed, however, that there are several good reviews for this product -- this is what lead me to request the product in the first place -- so perhaps my experience was merely the low end of the spectrum. Regardless, I was very patient with this product and tried very hard to get it to work. It saddens me, but I have given up on the Rand McNally Palm V GPS unit.
Rating:
Summary: A total disappointment, to say the least.
Review: I got this for my birthday this year, about one month ago, and I can tell you I am sorely disappointed. I figured a GPS-for-Palm would be a great product; a large screen, an interface I was already familiar with, etc.. made this product sound like a winner. Unfortunately, the product is riddled with problems. Not a single satisfying experience was I able to wrench from this miserable product. To begin with, several of these units, if not all of them, are misprogrammed when they leave the factory to look for Asian satellites instead of US ones. I say several, even though I have experience with only one unit, because there is a FAQ on the website about it, and because many, many people have complained about it on usenet; look for yourself. This misprogramming causes it to take (according to Rand McNally) up to 30 minutes to acquire satellites here in the US the first time. It took much, much longer for my unit: over an hour of continuous operation, sitting on my deck *outside*, running a special program that a customer service agent told me to download, because the program that came with the unit was unsuccessful in acquiring satellites at all. Nice. It didn't help that the customer service department took almost a week to answer my questions regarding the satellite acquisition. After I had made an acquisition (finally!) I was pretty disappointed with the results. The StreetFinder program for the Palm OS crashed my Palm V repeatedly. Reinstalling the StreetFinder software made no effect. I had read on usenet that other programs conflicted with StreetFinder; I removed everything but the stock Palm programs and StreetFinder (and the things that StreetFinder needs) and still had several crashes. My Palm hardly ever crashed and had to be reset before I got the Rand McNally GPS unit. Subsequent acquisitions are quite slow, usually taking around 15-20 minutes, making it pretty useless for me to use in the car, since I'm already to my destination before the unit can acquire any satellites. This is my first GPS experience, however, so perhaps I have unreasonable expectations of GPS techonlogy in general. The cigarette adapter which powers the GPS does not power the Palm V. This seems silly to me, but perhaps there is a good technical reason for this somewhat obnoxious oversight. I found the very idea of a Palm GPS attachment, for $199, to be a bit overpriced. Other GPS units (on which I cannot comment, for I have not used them) are comparably priced and are seperate units. The StreetFinder maps take up a lot of space on the Palm V, and if you have a Palm V instead of a Vx, you might feel cramped for space. With the very cheap-feeling GPS attached (using a flimsy plastic/metal catch mechanism) the Palm V is bulky and cannot fit in my Palm V Hard Case (of course, this is true for any Palm attachment -- I knew that would happen before I asked for it for my birthday). Overall, I just cannot say a single good thing about this product. I was unimpressed by the Rand McNally desktop software, their buggy Palm V client, their crappy misprogrammed GPS attachment, and their slow customer service. I cannot stress to anyone enough that this is a product to avoid. I have noticed, however, that there are several good reviews for this product -- this is what lead me to request the product in the first place -- so perhaps my experience was merely the low end of the spectrum. Regardless, I was very patient with this product and tried very hard to get it to work. It saddens me, but I have given up on the Rand McNally Palm V GPS unit.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Slooooow
Review: I had every problem mentioned in the other reviews but I wanted to add that the Palm V seems too slow to handle this unit. It is particularly slow when zooming in and out of maps. I have a DVD based nav system installed in my car which I love so I may have too high standards for this handheld unit. I believe the problem is mostly software based however. Basically, this products is not ready for prime time. BTW today is Oct. 2002. I tried this system out in 2000 so I don't know if there have been any improvements
Rating:
Summary: I never lose my way again
Review: I have been using this GPS unit for a year now. It is really a very good tool. Since I'm in Europe I couldn't use the added software so I bought GPSPilot and Route. I use a PC base routeplanner (Route 66 Benelux) and download the maps into the Palm. Takes me about 10 minutes extra from the normal planning process. The GPS unit keeps me on course all the time. Very impressive.
Rating:
Summary: Would be great ... if it worked!
Review: I recently moved to a new city, and I thought a GPS would help me find my way around, so I bought this package to add on to my Palm V. It would be great, except that I can't seem to get it to work about half the time. Often it can't find the GPS signal, and causes my entire Palm to reset itself. At first it worked much better, but for the last two months, I have not been able to make it work at all. I'm quite disappointed with its quality, but otherwise, I think the size and functions it provides are right on.
Rating:
Summary: Would be great ... if it worked!
Review: I recently moved to a new city, and I thought a GPS would help me find my way around, so I bought this package to add on to my Palm V. It would be great, except that I can't seem to get it to work about half the time. Often it can't find the GPS signal, and causes my entire Palm to reset itself. At first it worked much better, but for the last two months, I have not been able to make it work at all. I'm quite disappointed with its quality, but otherwise, I think the size and functions it provides are right on.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: If you are frequent traveller or even just a hiker/biker or hobbiest, this is a great way to get excellent GPS functionality out of your Palm V. I had been in the market for a GPS device for a long time, but the Rand McNally StreetFinder unit gives quality real-time mapping and positioning without having to carry around another electronic device! The add-on unit itself does not add too much weight to the Palm V, making it a fairly non-obtrusive addition. The StreetFinder Software is also very good, and has a high quality Rand McNally maps. Although the unit is a little pricey given the fact that you are using your existing Palm computer to do all the "work", this is clearly the best GPS option for those who already own a Palm V or are about to get one!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent deal for using GPS without buying a new device!
Review: If you are frequent traveller or even just a hiker/biker or hobbiest, this is a great way to get excellent GPS functionality out of your Palm V. I had been in the market for a GPS device for a long time, but the Rand McNally StreetFinder unit gives quality real-time mapping and positioning without having to carry around another electronic device! The add-on unit itself does not add too much weight to the Palm V, making it a fairly non-obtrusive addition. The StreetFinder Software is also very good, and has a high quality Rand McNally maps. Although the unit is a little pricey given the fact that you are using your existing Palm computer to do all the "work", this is clearly the best GPS option for those who already own a Palm V or are about to get one!
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