Garmin iQue 3600 PDA/GPS Handheld System with Americas Detailed Street Mapping

[Archived in GPS Units, Games, Garmin, Handheld PCs und PDAs, Music, PalmOne, Products]

Manufacturer: Garmin
Price at amazon.com: Too Low To Display
Usually ships in 24 hours

Used & new from $400.00

List price $589.99



Product Features:

• ARM processor powered by Palm OS 5
• Integrated Que technology, with GARMIN GPS and mapping software
• Speaker for voice-guidance commands, MP3 player, and message playback
• Voice recorder for making memos, quick notes, and messages on the fly
• What's in the box: iQue 3600, protective display cover, metal stylus, USB HotSync cradle, A/C power/charging adapter, quick start guide, CD-ROM with manual, and choice of MapSource configuration

Product Description:

Early Adopters Pick: August 2003. The first PDA to include integrated GPS technology. With the power of Palm OS 5 and the dependability of Garmin GPS technology, this super PDA redefines multitasking. Its integrated software not only allows you to look up appointments and contacts, it also locates and routes you to them with voice-guidance commands. Feature highlights include: GPS receiver, MP3 player, voice recorder, infrared communication, and vibrating alarm. GPS The differentiating feature of the iQue 3600 is its integrated GPS capabilities. Garmin's innovative Que technology delivers location awareness, electronic mapping, automatic route calculation, turn-by-turn voice guidance, and map data interface to the iQue 3600. Que technology enables users to see where they are, find a street address, know where the next turn is via visual and voice guidance, get back on track when they’ve strayed off course, and navigate efficiently to their desired destination. Detailed Mapping Users can choose a configurable basemap of North America, South America, Europe, or regions in the Pacific Rim, with generalized information on highways, major city streets, highway exit services, railways, rivers, lakes, and state, provincial, and national borders. The iQue also has the added benefit of detailed street information on the included MapSource® CD-ROM, giving users the capability of looking up restaurant addresses, hotels, local attractions, transportation hubs, emergency services, and much more. Once a desired point of interest is chosen, you have the capability to view more info or even show it on the map screen. The mapping capability of the iQue 3600 makes it a versatile companion for the international frequent flyer who travels, for instance, between New York and London or San Francisco and Hong Kong. Customizable maps mean never getting lost again Powerful Organization The iQue 3600 is built around the Palm OS 5 platform and offers standard Palm applications, such as Address Book, Calculator, Date Book, Memo Pad, and To Do List. And there’s enough processing power to search large databases of stored information and to enhance display graphics with easy-to-read fonts and crisp electronic maps. There's also a voice recorder for making memos, quick notes, and messages. With 32 MB of built-in memory and an expansion slot, you can even store your favorite MP3s. The flip-up GPS antenna High-Tech Integration One of the key benefits of technology integration on the iQue 3600 is its patent-pending contact-locator feature. Enabled by Garmin's Que technology, this feature connects the Palm Address Book and Date Book to the GPS electronic map to give the user the ability to navigate directly to a specific address within the user’s contact database. System The Garmin iQue 3600 features the new Motorola DragonBall MXL ARM9 microprocessor, and boasts 32 MB DRAM. This handheld is powered by Palm OS 5, which offers the processing power to take on the most demanding mobile computing tasks, together with advanced multimedia and the wireless connectivity and security that enterprises require. Display The iQue 3600 delivers brilliant images with its 2.16-by-3.24-inch display. It has a 16-bit color display with 320 x 480 pixel resolution. Expansion Expand your iQue 3600 via its Secure Digital slot. Software The iQue 3600 comes with the following Garmin Que applications: MP3, GPS Clock, Address Lookup, Electronic Mapping, Track Log, Trip Computer, Automatic Route Generation, and Turn-by-Turn Voice Guidance, as well as these Palm OS 5 applications: Address Book, Calculator, Date Book, Expense, Mail, Memo Pad, Palm Reader, and To Do List. In addition, it includes these third-party applications: Astraware Game Pack, Documents to Go, powerOne Personal Calculator, StarCaddy, SplashPhoto, and Vindigo. The Nuts and Bolts   Included in the box iQue 3600, protective display cover, metal stylus, USB HotSync cradle, A/C power/charging adapter, quick start guide, installation/application, CD-ROM with manual, and choice of MapSource configuration with full unlock certificate: either 1) North America City Select CD or Atlantic European City Select CD.

Description from Manufacturer:Early Adopters Pick: August 2003. The first PDA to include integrated GPS technology.

With the power of Palm OS 5 and the dependability of Garmin GPS technology, this super PDA redefines multitasking. Its integrated software not only allows you to look up appointments and contacts, it also locates and routes you to them with voice-guidance commands. Feature highlights include: GPS receiver, MP3 player, voice recorder, infrared communication, and vibrating alarm.

GPS The differentiating feature of the iQue 3600 is its integrated GPS capabilities. Garmin's innovative Que technology delivers location awareness, electronic mapping, automatic route calculation, turn-by-turn voice guidance, and map data interface to the iQue 3600. Que technology enables users to see where they are, find a street address, know where the next turn is via visual and voice guidance, get back on track when they’ve strayed off course, and navigate efficiently to their desired destination. Detailed Mapping Users can choose a configurable basemap of North America, South America, Europe, or regions in the Pacific Rim, with generalized information on highways, major city streets, highway exit services, railways, rivers, lakes, and state, provincial, and national borders. The iQue also has the added benefit of detailed street information on the included MapSource® CD-ROM, giving users the capability of looking up restaurant addresses, hotels, local attractions, transportation hubs, emergency services, and much more. Once a desired point of interest is chosen, you have the capability to view more info or even show it on the map screen. The mapping capability of the iQue 3600 makes it a versatile companion for the international frequent flyer who travels, for instance, between New York and London or San Francisco and Hong Kong.

Customizable maps mean never getting lost again

Powerful Organization
The iQue 3600 is built around the Palm OS 5 platform and offers standard Palm applications, such as Address Book, Calculator, Date Book, Memo Pad, and To Do List. And there’s enough processing power to search large databases of stored information and to enhance display graphics with easy-to-read fonts and crisp electronic maps. There's also a voice recorder for making memos, quick notes, and messages. With 32 MB of built-in memory and an expansion slot, you can even store your favorite MP3s.

The flip-up GPS antenna

High-Tech Integration
One of the key benefits of technology integration on the iQue 3600 is its patent-pending contact-locator feature. Enabled by Garmin's Que technology, this feature connects the Palm Address Book and Date Book to the GPS electronic map to give the user the ability to navigate directly to a specific address within the user’s contact database.

System
The Garmin iQue 3600 features the new Motorola DragonBall MXL ARM9 microprocessor, and boasts 32 MB DRAM. This handheld is powered by Palm OS 5, which offers the processing power to take on the most demanding mobile computing tasks, together with advanced multimedia and the wireless connectivity and security that enterprises require.

Display
The iQue 3600 delivers brilliant images with its 2.16-by-3.24-inch display. It has a 16-bit color display with 320 x 480 pixel resolution.

Expansion
Expand your iQue 3600 via its Secure Digital slot.

Software
The iQue 3600 comes with the following Garmin Que applications: MP3, GPS Clock, Address Lookup, Electronic Mapping, Track Log, Trip Computer, Automatic Route Generation, and Turn-by-Turn Voice Guidance, as well as these Palm OS 5 applications: Address Book, Calculator, Date Book, Expense, Mail, Memo Pad, Palm Reader, and To Do List. In addition, it includes these third-party applications: Astraware Game Pack, Documents to Go, powerOne Personal Calculator, StarCaddy, SplashPhoto, and Vindigo.

The Nuts and Bolts

Included in the box
iQue 3600, protective display cover, metal stylus, USB HotSync cradle, A/C power/charging adapter, quick start guide, installation/application, CD-ROM with manual, and choice of MapSource configuration with full unlock certificate: either 1) North America City Select CD or Atlantic European City Select CD.

Average Customer Rating:

---

Comment: Updated software release makes it nearly indispensible Rating:
Update 11/4/2003: Garmin Released a 2nd version of the system software on 10/24/03, which supposedly fixed the spontaneous hard reset, the MP3 caused crashes, voice guidance issues, among a slew of other problems. ..... I've used the unit since the upgrade for 10 days, and so far it's crashed once under heavy use. It's felt much more reliable as a navigation unit as well as a personal assistant. I'm tentatively upgrading the rating from 2 to 4 stars. Without its self-destructive behavior, the thoughtful tools and information available on the unit (albeit being outdated at times) are indispensible to a traveller, and they provide an invaluable sense of security. It's something that you may not want to be without once you have it. It's also better than most other guidance systems out there I've tried, including laptop units. Crashing issues aside, other "complaints" remain, though most of them are relatively minor, considering most other GPS units have their own set of compromises. I'm getting ready to recommend this unit to friends and family after trying it for few more weeks, and I hope it becomes more affordable.


10/20/03 I have anticipated this unit for months ahead of the release. It is difficult to say that it has been worth the wait. In fact, I don't think it's a very mature or stable product for a wonderful concept. I travelled extensively after getting this unit, and I found it unreliable at best. Here is what I think:

Likes:
-convenient QFind which lets me find just about anything I want within my current location, with decent accuracy.
-color hybrid screen that works under sunlight with the backlight off to conserve energy, also has an active write area that hids to enlarge display area.
-palm functionality
-integration with address book, and a find via address feature that worked better than the older (GPSV, eTrax Legend, emap) Garmin units that I've tried.
-repetitive voice prompt that ensures better guidance.
-SD flash memory expandibility

Dislikes (serious ones, skipping minor gripes here):
-crashes like mad. It resets several times daily, in various circumstances, and no clear pattern either. and yes, it does crash during navigation.
-loses data without warning. In fact I just lost all my data overnight, with power in the battery and no crashes last night, and I'm travelling. Now that's just a disaster, don't you think? I suppose it's designed to travel with a laptop and a cradle?
-GPS acquisition time is unusually long, much longer than what other Garmin units I tried. It usually takes at least one minute, even if I did not change location during the off time. I often find myself stopping the car waiting for it to acquire.
-the audio player is a sure bet for crash, so much so that it's unusable, unless you enjoy poking the unit with a pin.
-battery life is somewhat limited, but I think enough people has harped on this. I got a car cradle so it hasn't been as much a problem, but without the cradle it's very limited as a GPS guidance device. It will quit in less an hour, but it does have neat battery save feature in that it can guide with screen off, and come back on with voice prompt at turns.
-some inaccuracies in the map locations and directory listings. It could take a while before we find something that actually exists, but I guess it's better than not having any reference at all.
-Did I mention it crashes like crazy?

I would have wholeheartedly embraced the product. The Quefind feature is a fabulous tool for travellers. I could find restaurants, shops, car rentals, parks, etc. etc., and it is invaluable during travel. However, losing data and crashing while navigating is more than irritating: it's simply dangerous and potentially disasterous. There's no excuse for the kind of reliability issue it suffers now. It has to be fixed for it to be a real usable product, rather than an expensive, stillborn concept.

---

Comment: Absolutely Fantastic So Far Rating:
I am more than pleased with my Ique.
First the PDA Part:
I haven't used a Palm device since my Palm Pilot Professional and it has really come a long way as a platform. It is far more stable than my Ipaq Pocket PC, and I really think that I prefer the Palm OS to Pocket PC at this point. I haven't had one crash yet, I've synced my appointments and address book with relative ease, and I've even found some really cool games and utilities out there. My only gripe would be there is no network connectivity on this unit, but in my experience PDA's are a horrible platform for accomplishing anything anyway on a network.

Now the GPS functionality. What can I say, its a Garmin. I don't think it could be any better. So far I'd have to say its even better than the Hertz Neverlost system! You must buy a memory card though to really make this device useful. I also bought the automobile friction mount which works great. The kicker was that my cell phone charger has the exact kind of plug, volts and amps as the ique so I don't even have to carry around an additional ac adapter when I travel!

If you are thinking about this one buy it!

Sean

---

Comment: Data loss problem Rating:
I've experienced the data loss problem also as a result of having to perform hard resets. Since, I can't avoid this problem I've purchased a program called BackupBuddy. This program has helped me several times when I was nowhere near my computer for a hotsync. I run this program daily, in many cases it's more up to date than what's on my computer. So whenever my iQue crashes all I have to do is run this program on my PDA and everything is restored from the SD card. It's the best insurance you can buy for this pesky reset problem. Of course, not having the problem would be the best option.

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)