Rating: 
Summary: Good device, works as described software lacks options
Review: The first problem I had was with the Streetfinder software on my PC, it was unable to connect to the Internet so that I could get directions between two points. Customer service has so far been unable to resolve this, there's nothing wrong with my Internet connection, this is the only application that doesn't seem to be able to use it.I tried downloading and installing the software update from the Rand McNally web site, but that was worse, then Streetfinder would crash frequently. I had to uninstall the whole thing and reinstall from the CD to get the app to stop crashing. The Streetfinder software is bugy not very well designed and tested. For example, there are screens that say you can push a button to get an address from your address book, you click on the button and get your address book, you select an address and say to use that one and it doesn't put the address in the edit box, you have to find another button at a lower level that actually does that. Also, It is REALLY annoying that you have to put the INSTALL CD into your disk drive in order to move a map to the Palm queue. I found that there were several operations, like zooming in a map on the Palm, that would crash the Palm OS. Having spent many years doing software QA, I find this problem inexcusable. Finally, I was completely unable to get the GPS receiver to acquire the sattelite signals. I left the unit outside for two hours, plugged in to the car accessory plug, and it didn't acquire and it didn't time out. Then, when I stopped the GPS and tried moving to a different area and restarting the receiver, the Palm OS crashed again. I had to delete the Streetfinder app from the Palm and reinstall it to get it to stop crashing the Palm when I started the GPS. Just to make things worse, there is an appalling lack of documentation that ships with this unit. Basically, there is NO printed documentation, no owner's manual, no software guide, and the online documentation is rarely helpful, especially for the problems I was having. There is no troubleshooting guide at all. The online FAQ was only partially helpful. You can email tech support at Rand McNally, but if you want to call and speak to a real person you have to pay for the call yourself, there is no 800 number. All in all, I was very disappointed to say the least, and I'm returning the Streetfinder GPS to Amazon. I have very rarely seen a company take such a good idea and fail so completely with the implementation.
Rating: 
Summary: Poorly designed, poorly tested, a disappointment
Review: The first problem I had was with the Streetfinder software on my PC, it was unable to connect to the Internet so that I could get directions between two points. Customer service has so far been unable to resolve this, there's nothing wrong with my Internet connection, this is the only application that doesn't seem to be able to use it. I tried downloading and installing the software update from the Rand McNally web site, but that was worse, then Streetfinder would crash frequently. I had to uninstall the whole thing and reinstall from the CD to get the app to stop crashing. The Streetfinder software is bugy not very well designed and tested. For example, there are screens that say you can push a button to get an address from your address book, you click on the button and get your address book, you select an address and say to use that one and it doesn't put the address in the edit box, you have to find another button at a lower level that actually does that. Also, It is REALLY annoying that you have to put the INSTALL CD into your disk drive in order to move a map to the Palm queue. I found that there were several operations, like zooming in a map on the Palm, that would crash the Palm OS. Having spent many years doing software QA, I find this problem inexcusable. Finally, I was completely unable to get the GPS receiver to acquire the sattelite signals. I left the unit outside for two hours, plugged in to the car accessory plug, and it didn't acquire and it didn't time out. Then, when I stopped the GPS and tried moving to a different area and restarting the receiver, the Palm OS crashed again. I had to delete the Streetfinder app from the Palm and reinstall it to get it to stop crashing the Palm when I started the GPS. Just to make things worse, there is an appalling lack of documentation that ships with this unit. Basically, there is NO printed documentation, no owner's manual, no software guide, and the online documentation is rarely helpful, especially for the problems I was having. There is no troubleshooting guide at all. The online FAQ was only partially helpful. You can email tech support at Rand McNally, but if you want to call and speak to a real person you have to pay for the call yourself, there is no 800 number. All in all, I was very disappointed to say the least, and I'm returning the Streetfinder GPS to Amazon. I have very rarely seen a company take such a good idea and fail so completely with the implementation.
Rating:
Summary: Only buying extra software
Review: The GPS unit is good but the bundled software for the Palm Pilot is something you'd better not even install. It crashes too often and twice I had to hard reset the Palm (no, soft resetting did not work...) loosing all the Palm contents. The (included) Street Finder software is actually interesting to use on a PC, but leave it far from the Palm. When I was almost giving up on it I found the Quo Vadis software (from Marcosoft). It is not perfect but it is reasonably fast, accurate and easy to use. And it never crashes... Magellan sells the very same GPS with a customized version of Quo Vadis bundled, but they do not include accessories such as the car support in the basic model (as Rand McNally does). You can also find the GPS Companion software in their web site for free. The unit does take som time to initialize (2 minutes is common), very seldon a lot more. Note: You will need LOTS of memory to load maps on the Palm, meaning you NEED a Palm Vx.
Rating:
Summary: Poor design
Review: The maps are clunky and get too big for the palm when exporting sufficient detail. The cigarette adaptor doesn't charge the Palm V. Navigation on the Palm is impractical while driving. A very bad product ! I am selling mine on ebay for $50.
Rating:
Summary: Good device, works as described software lacks options
Review: The unit does what the vendor claims but the software bundle lacks functionality. The up side to that is there is a lot of third party software that works with it and they make it more useful. I particularly liked Quo Vadis by Marcosoft and Magellan's NAV Companion. With out them I would rate the product 2 or 3 stars at best.
Rating:
Summary: Not Enough Memory
Review: This is the best idea I have ever heard of. Too bad there's not enough memory on my Palm to hold maps. The program takes up a large portion of the memory in the Palm 5, then leaves no memory to store the Maps. The longest route I can store is aproximately a 20 minute trip using the point to point directions. I would suggest waiting until the next best thing comes out.
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