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Garmin iQue 3600 PDA/GPS Handheld System with Americas Detailed Street Mapping
By: Garmin Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 204
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 On: 2008-06-22
The units software has a lot of problems. The device is very slow. Battery does not last as long as advertised. When battery dies all saved internal information is lost. The new maps are not up to date. Customer service is terrible. Garmins support phone line is always busy (for a reason!!!), usually you would have to stay about 20-30 minutes before you can speak to anyone. Very frustrating conversation - Garmins employees are used to talk mean (because of many frustrated customers calls).
 On: 2008-06-01
This is perhaps the fourth Garmin iQue 3600 Ive owned. I use it everyday so if I had to say anything bad about it is that it doesnt last forever. The screen on my last one broke.
But the things is packed with features that I dont think are available on any other PDA.
First the GPS system is superb. If you add a 2gb SD card you can have every street in the US or the EU at your fingertips. I just came back from a 2000 mile drive in Europe and this thing provided turn by turn directions perfectly.
The Palm PDA works great too. You can add any of the thousands of apps if you want. I hve my whole life on it.
Too bad they arent making it anymore. If anybody knows of any equivalent Id like to hear about it.
On: 2008-01-27
This is a lousy product from Garmin. It is not "out of the box ready to use" - in fact not even close! It took me one whole day (almost) to set it up (with maps and everything) and it was not easy going through the process. I wonder why they did not pre-load the entire US map. Perhaps because it does not come with SD memory stick ($20 extra), but I would much rather have paid that extra. The antenna is VERY WEAK. Takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes before it locks on the satellite signal. My built-in car Navigation device does it instantly. It is an EXPENSIVE Palm Pilot....at the very best!
On: 2008-01-07
This unit is first rate, but it has two major problems: it is discontinued, and the map function will not update with Vista. It also has serious power supply issues; if you want to take it between home and office, have power supplies in both places!
 On: 2007-10-23
Had this as my travel buddy for many years but now like the Nuvi 660 far better since I no use for the other palm functions.
It drove me batty many times trying to update maps etc but after hours of patience it always got back to working.
When the unit seems "dead" - be sure charged up or on AC power and do a hard reset. This often brings it back from the dead.
 On: 2007-10-22
Im surprised no one mentions that you need a DVD Drive to load software for this unit..?? Unit looks new.. came with auto charger base... Does not work with WINDOWS 2000, or VISTA, I have a Windows 98 PC and it did work with that... I had to buy a external DVD drive to load software...
It has crashed a few times during its first few days of operation..so Im not sure of its future... Get a 1 gig SD card to load maps and youll be good to go,,, I hope it doesnt crash anymore.. otherwise $165 isnt that bad....
On: 2007-09-19
This is my second Garmin PDA. Both have been great.
The screen is large and easy to read, even daytime in the car. The mapping and directions have worked perfectly. I find the voice prompts so pleasant that my family named her Miranda. She kept us on track for a long vacation this summer. I work for State government and have to visit county offices all of the place. I use the PDA features to track my appointments, expenses, and the like. I use the GPS features to get to where I am going without difficulty or delay. The included programs are easy to use and understand. Handwriting recognition is good.
I just upgraded to the 3600 from the 3200. I loved the old and have found the new one to be everything and more.
On: 2007-09-18
I purchased this refurbished unit a couple of weeks ago. It stopped working the day I bought it, but not before it completely messed up my palm desktop. And to add insult to injury, this unit is discontiuned and the one that I got was a very old version of the GPS. Buyer beware. If it sounds too good to true, it probably is!
On: 2007-09-17
got it went through all the instructions, and the unit would die as soon as ac unplugged
On: 2007-09-16
got it went through all the instructions, and the unit would die as soon as ac unplugged
On: 2007-09-05
I bought the iQue 3600 used over three years ago and have found it indispensable. If you can find a used one at a good price from a reputable seller I would give it a try. Even though this unit is discontinued by Garmin you can still update the maps and this model has the essential features of newer Garmin units. Mine is still in use after all of this time and Ive updated the maps twice. Since you have room for external memory its easy to store many states on a secure digital card.
 On: 2007-08-20
I love my Garmin IQue 3600 when it works. The maps are clear and accurate (when you have the latest database), the GUI is very good, the display looks great. Theres only 2 problems: 1.) It crashes a lot 2.) The power system is terrible. Problem number 1 I can live with; all 3 of the Palm PDAs Ive owned have had problems with crashing; Im always having to reset them. Problem number 2 is a show-stopper for me. The battery life is very short to begin with, but its more than that. The unit seems to draw power when its off, too. I put it away with half battery life left, and the next day its so depleted it wont even turn on. Ive sent the unit in for repair twice, and although the customer service at Garmin is excellent, the basic problem remains. Once, they actually replaced the whole unit, too, so I dont think I just have a "lemon". The same thing happens every time; it starts out with a battery life of about 30 - 40 minutes without the GPS and with the screen brightness as low as I can set it and still be able to see it. After a week or so, it goes down to 15 - 20 minutes, then as time goes by it gets down to 5 - 10 minutes, and finally it wont run at all unless its on the charger. Maybe its because I use the PDA function all the time, and its not meant for that. Maybe it boils down to this; its great as a GPS, but lousy as a PDA if you want to use it every day. Im very disappointed in it, and I hope that Garmin can solve the power problems some time in the future.
On: 2007-07-26
We have had the Garmin iQue 3600 PDA for about 3 years now. I frequently get sent to other cities for work and having the Garmin PDA has been such a blessing. I can plug in all of my addresses for the airport, work site, and hotel before I go and then when I get my rental car I am set! We have also used the PDA for house hunting and having the ability to dock to your computer makes address entry easier than the other GPS options available.
On: 2007-07-17
I have owned the Garmin Ique 3600 for over 4 years. I love it. As stated in one of the other reviews of this product it was the first Palm/GPS unit. Since then many other units have come out that are cheaper better. It is a great unit however it will not work with windows vista and even though you may not have vista now you will most likely end up using it in the future. This unit is discontinued because the newer products are just better. You are much better off just buying a regular palm and the garmin mobile 10. The price of the two of them combined are still cheaper then the 3600. Buy the way garmins customer service is one of the best I have ever seen. In the 4 years I have owned this unit I sent it in about 8 times for repair (mostly all my fault washing machine exc.) and they replaced the unit all 8 times free of charge. All in all, the unit was great back in the day but times are changing and this unit is just not been able to keep up.
On: 2007-06-05
My wife got me a Garmin iQue 3600 a few years ago for Christmas. I work as a school photographer and travel to a different location every day. This was the perfect gift! No more looking down at maps while Im driving. Its not only a GPS, but also an MP3 and a PDA. Its really the best all-inclusive device you can buy. I have and would reccomend this product to anyone. One of the features I really like is its portability. I have used it almost every day since I got it and it still runs great.
On: 2007-06-04
My wife got me a Garmin iQue 3600 a few years ago for Christmas. I work as a school photographer and travel to a different location every day. This was the perfect gift! No more looking down at maps while Im driving. Its not only a GPS, but also an MP3 and a PDA. Its really the best all-inclusive device you can buy. I have and would reccomend this product to anyone. One of the features I really like is its portability. I have used it almost every day since I got it and it still runs great.
On: 2007-05-14
It is difficult to give this product a good rating because it has not worked properly since we received it. There have been numerous issues and recently we had to return the device to Garmin for repair. Not sure what the outcome will be but were waiting to hear from the company to learn if it can be repaired.
On: 2007-05-13
It is difficult to give this product a good rating because it has not worked properly since we received it. There have been numerous issues and recently we had to return the device to Garmin for repair. Not sure what the outcome will be but were waiting to hear from the company to learn if it can be repaired.
On: 2007-04-24
Ive owned this iQue for almost five years. Its even been to Europe where I purchased the Europe Nav CD. The functionality is terrific, its far more versatile - and far cheaper - than an OEM nav system since most of us are multi-car families. This can always goes with you. My only gripes: the internal memory is small - if you travel extensively, a good size SD disk is a must. It also "loses its mind" after power has been off it for awhile. A minor inconvenience to just drop it back in the dock and resync. That leads to my biggest gripe: poor battery life. By the 2nd yr, it would go dead as fast as overnite in cold weather. The only solutions are a 12v car plug thats hot all the time, or bring it in and keep it in the charger. And any handheld activity out of the charger is quite limited - less than an hour. A replaceable battery would be a great add to this otherwise terrific unit.
On: 2007-04-23
Ive owned this iQue for almost five years. Its even been to Europe where I purchased the Europe Nav CD. The functionality is terrific, its far more versatile - and far cheaper - than an OEM nav system since most of us are multi-car families. This can always goes with you. My only gripes: the internal memory is small - if you travel extensively, a good size SD disk is a must. It also "loses its mind" after power has been off it for awhile. A minor inconvenience to just drop it back in the dock and resync. That leads to my biggest gripe: poor battery life. By the 2nd yr, it would go dead as fast as overnite in cold weather. The only solutions are a 12v car plug thats hot all the time, or bring it in and keep it in the charger. And any handheld activity out of the charger is quite limited - less than an hour. A replaceable battery would be a great add to this otherwise terrific unit.
On: 2007-04-22
Ive had my Ique (aka Betty) for several years. Its helped me to go across the US several times, and then some. It has its quirks, and frequent crashes, etc - its definitely not a turn-it-on-and-forget-it gadget. However, like the previous reviewer said, their software is not Vista-compatible - meaning, you cant sync your data (incl. map source) with your PC, rendering it useless unless you stick with XP! As far as I know, neither Palm nor Garmin plans to make the Palm Desktop Vista compatible anytime soon - which probably signals the end of the wonderful Palm OS... :(
On: 2007-04-14
WARNUNG! The IQue Palm Series Garmin PDA/GPS handheld systems will no longer be able to run through Microsoft PC based platforms. This will render any of the Palm series IQue 3500 and other Garmin Palm OS based systems useless in so far as Windows Vista is concerned. Garnmin has no plans to port their Palm Desktop drivers, and sync software to Vista.
On: 2007-01-09
Provides good navigation cues. Palm compatability makes it easy to keep addresses and phone numbers. My only two complaints are that the maps are out of date for my area (Dallas), and that sometimes the geolocation is off enough that the Garmin cant tell that Im on a highway or a service road.
On: 2007-01-06
I have the iQue 3600 for over 3 years. It was the first PDA/GPS and the greatest headheld GPS back then. I boutht it when it was first introduced to the market. The one I have now is the second one. I dropped the first one to the floor by accident but I enjoyed it so much so bought a replacement. I have referred it to many friends in the past few years.
Two improvments are needed on this GPS: 1)A brighter screen. It is not easy to read the screen during daytime inside a car. I noticed many newer GPSs have a much brighter screen. You can read them even under direct sunlight. 2) Voice announcement should include street name instead of simple "Turn left in 300 ft" type of announcement. Many new CPSs have this feature. Another note, the small capacity battery comes with the iQue does not last, therefore, dont count on a long usage if it is not plugged in. Also, it does not hold charge well after 9 months use. I replaced the origional one with a higher capacity battery. It is better now.
The iQue 3600 is easy to use and is still a travel partner I can depend on. However, I look forward to a new one once it stops working.
On: 2007-01-05
I have the iQue 3600 for over 3 years. It was the first PDA/GPS and the greatest headheld GPS back then. I boutht it when it was first introduced to the market. The one I have now is the second one. I dropped the first one to the floor by accident but I enjoyed it so much so bought a replacement. I have referred it to many friends in the past few years.
Two improvments are needed on this GPS: 1)A brighter screen. It is not easy to read the screen during daytime inside a car. I noticed many newer GPSs have a much brighter screen. You can read them even under direct sunlight. 2) Voice announcement should include street name instead of simple "Turn left in 300 ft" type of announcement. Many new CPSs have this feature. Another note, the small capacity battery comes with the iQue does not last, therefore, dont count on a long usage if it is not plugged in. Also, it does not hold charge well after 9 months use. I replaced the origional one with a higher capacity battery. It is better now.
The iQue 3600 is easy to use and is still a travel partner I can depend on. However, I look forward to a new one once it stops working.
On: 2006-12-25
Ive had my iQue since if first hit the market. I travel extensively, including frequent trips to Europe. I bought the European map sets as well.
As a GPS unit it has never sent me so far astray that I got lost. The database of points of interest is a bit out of date but that is a common problem with most GPS systems so I wont make a big deal about that.
Screen updates, especially in densely packed European cities, often cant keep up with the progress of your trip. Ive discovered if you zoom in very tightly and cut the points of interest resolution way down it helps quite a bit.
It often gets one-way streets wrong and has tried to send me down bus or taxi only lanes in Europe more times than I could count. Thats a big no-no over there but it generally updates your route fairly quickly once you go "off route".
The battery life was never much when it was new, less than an hour in GPS mode and no better than 2 or so as a PDA. As its aged, battery life has declined to barely a few minutes. Ive had to turn off the alarm feature because if I dont hear it and cancel it quickly the battery will go comletely dead. When that happens, you have to do a reset with the pinhole on the back to bring it back to life.
On occasions it will lock up completely, forcing a hard reset. There are no firmware updates to fix that. A real pain when youre buzzing around London or Paris and it goes brain dead on you and you have to pull over to reset it. Arrrgh!
A few days after it fell out of warranty the GPS would no longer link up with the internal "flippy" antenna. An external antenna solved that problem and is much more sensitive to boot.
Overall, Id probably buy it again but it would be VERY nice of Garmin would have used user-replaceable batteries. It has to be sent to a service center to have the batteries replaced and they wont commit to a quick return, saying that it may take up to 3 weeks to turn it around. Thats just plain inexcusable.
On: 2006-12-20
Ive had my iQue for over 2 1/2 years and have used it almost every day in that time. The iQue has two major problems and another that to me is more then minor but not quite major. First the battery has a very short life. Ive read review where you can get up to three hours of use with the GPS but to expect only 2 hours. Ive never got more then 1 1/2 hours and closer to 1 hour of continous use. I used to carry it with me at work but it went dead within 3 hours so was useless as a PDA. The other is the map support. Its good but having to spend $100 to get updates is steep. Also the maps have many major errors. Never ever use the features by name unless you kinda of know where you are going. On serveral occasions I have searched for major landmarks only to be routed to the wrong location. Get the street address of the places you are heading from the internet as you will then have a better chance to get to your destination.
An example. I was in southwest Michigan camping. My son called and asked if I could pick him up at Western Michigan University. I entered this name and found an entry. I selected it and directed my garmin to route me to it. Well it directed me to a trailer park about 5 miles from the University. This was not the first time this happened but it was the last. I always get street addresses.
The minor nit is that Garmin does not support their products. There have been no upgrades or improvements for this unit. Garmin is a company that releases a product and then pretty well forgets about it. The biggest example is MapSource. A nice tool to create waypoints, routes, etc. But there is only the most basic support for the iQue. All you can receive from the iQue are Tracks. You cant send waypoints or routes. So it is really useless.
If I could do it over again I would get one of the $350 gps only units and a decent PDA and not combine the two.
On: 2006-12-19
Ive had my iQue for over 2 1/2 years and have used it almost every day in that time. The iQue has two major problems and another that to me is more then minor but not quite major. First the battery has a very short life. Ive read review where you can get up to three hours of use with the GPS but to expect only 2 hours. Ive never got more then 1 1/2 hours and closer to 1 hour of continous use. I used to carry it with me at work but it went dead within 3 hours so was useless as a PDA. The other is the map support. Its good but having to spend $100 to get updates is steep. Also the maps have many major errors. Never ever use the features by name unless you kinda of know where you are going. On serveral occasions I have searched for major landmarks only to be routed to the wrong location. Get the street address of the places you are heading from the internet as you will then have a better chance to get to your destination.
An example. I was in southwest Michigan camping. My son called and asked if I could pick him up at Western Michigan University. I entered this name and found an entry. I selected it and directed my garmin to route me to it. Well it directed me to a trailer park about 5 miles from the University. This was not the first time this happened but it was the last. I always get street addresses.
The minor nit is that Garmin does not support their products. There have been no upgrades or improvements for this unit. Garmin is a company that releases a product and then pretty well forgets about it. The biggest example is MapSource. A nice tool to create waypoints, routes, etc. But there is only the most basic support for the iQue. All you can receive from the iQue are Tracks. You cant send waypoints or routes. So it is really useless.
If I could do it over again I would get one of the $350 gps only units and a decent PDA and not combine the two.
On: 2006-12-11
I bought my iQue 3600 for about three years. To be honest, i use Palm applications more often, than GPS feature thats a great feature. At the beginning it requires some attention in how to use it, but then, when you learn the basics, it changes the way you travel (if your vehicle doesnt come equipped with GPS), and becomes a very powerful tool.
I experienced some problems on Sync with my computer and for a couple of times i must to reset it. The battery charge goes very fast if you use GPS, so its a good idea to have a car charger on hand, or the car kit (that includes the charger). When you open GPS flip antenna, the GPS feature turns on automatically, but you must to wait several minutes for the device get sattelite signal (at minimum tree sats, and more than 3 minutes). Dont count on it in bad weather conditions. I recommend download maps on built in memory, instead on SD card, so it can read and deliver info more faster.
The great feature is the hability to transform contacts on Palm "adress" folder in a route to GPS. It comes with a very complete business and services database, so you can find the adress, phone number and other info you need, like Yellow Pages! This database and navigation software come included but you must to buy upgrades and fixes as needed.
The car kit is a must. It comes with a charger / speaker and you can hear turn by turn directions.
The iQue 3600 itself come with a built in speaker (good if you use GPS on foot) and microphone. You can download some mp3 files in SD card and hear music in iQue 3600 or record you voice, but it drains battery fast (even if you use headphones). Not recommendable, unless you have some kind of rechargeable source nearby.
I recommend a thin plastic screen protector and a carry case for transport. Avoid GPS antenna opened if you dont need GPS function.
For me the Garmin iQue 3600 is still very useful... past three years of use.
On: 2006-12-10
I bought my iQue 3600 for about three years. To be honest, i use Palm applications more often, than GPS feature thats a great feature. At the beginning it requires some attention in how to use it, but then, when you learn the basics, it changes the way you travel (if your vehicle doesnt come equipped with GPS), and becomes a very powerful tool.
I experienced some problems on Sync with my computer and for a couple of times i must to reset it. The battery charge goes very fast if you use GPS, so its a good idea to have a car charger on hand, or the car kit (that includes the charger). When you open GPS flip antenna, the GPS feature turns on automatically, but you must to wait several minutes for the device get sattelite signal (at minimum tree sats, and more than 3 minutes). Dont count on it in bad weather conditions. I recommend download maps on built in memory, instead on SD card, so it can read and deliver info more faster.
The great feature is the hability to transform contacts on Palm "adress" folder in a route to GPS. It comes with a very complete business and services database, so you can find the adress, phone number and other info you need, like Yellow Pages! This database and navigation software come included but you must to buy upgrades and fixes as needed.
The car kit is a must. It comes with a charger / speaker and you can hear turn by turn directions.
The iQue 3600 itself come with a built in speaker (good if you use GPS on foot) and microphone. You can download some mp3 files in SD card and hear music in iQue 3600 or record you voice, but it drains battery fast (even if you use headphones). Not recommendable, unless you have some kind of rechargeable source nearby.
I recommend a thin plastic screen protector and a carry case for transport. Avoid GPS antenna opened if you dont need GPS function.
For me the Garmin iQue 3600 is still very useful... past three years of use.
On: 2006-11-10
I thought I was buying from Amazon when in fact my order was sent out to about 4 companies, Eangler supplied the Garman Iq3600, there was no power supply, old version of the software and looked as if it was a return just forwarded to me. Called Eangler several times, they promised to correct the problem but never has. Eangler or Amazon will never get my business again.
On: 2006-11-09
I thought I was buying from Amazon when in fact my order was sent out to about 4 companies, Eangler supplied the Garman Iq3600, there was no power supply, old version of the software and looked as if it was a return just forwarded to me. Called Eangler several times, they promised to correct the problem but never has. Eangler or Amazon will never get my business again.
On: 2006-11-08
I agree with all of the positive comments regarding this product. I found myself using it all the time for looking up addresses, keeping passwords, etc.; and, of course, the navigation. I found that the navigation far surpassed the system found in my Toyota Prius, being more accurate and with better routing. However, the downside of this unit is the very short battery life. It would need recharging after only a short time, even when it was not being used. I purchased a higher capacity battery which I planned on installing myself(not a difficult project and the unit was out of warranty anyway). However, before I got a chance to install the new battery, the unit froze while I was using the GPS and I was unable to turn it off. I had to use the reset function to finally get it to power down, but after that it would not turn on again. I replaced the battery thinking that it might have been the problem, but the unit was indeed dead. After paying over $500 for this unit, the car kit and memory cards, I was unhappy about the fact that is lasted less than 2 years. Garmin products are widely used in aviation and are generally very good quality, but this unit may be the exception. It is now discontinued.
On: 2006-11-07
I agree with all of the positive comments regarding this product. I found myself using it all the time for looking up addresses, keeping passwords, etc.; and, of course, the navigation. I found that the navigation far surpassed the system found in my Toyota Prius, being more accurate and with better routing. However, the downside of this unit is the very short battery life. It would need recharging after only a short time, even when it was not being used. I purchased a higher capacity battery which I planned on installing myself(not a difficult project and the unit was out of warranty anyway). However, before I got a chance to install the new battery, the unit froze while I was using the GPS and I was unable to turn it off. I had to use the reset function to finally get it to power down, but after that it would not turn on again. I replaced the battery thinking that it might have been the problem, but the unit was indeed dead. After paying over $500 for this unit, the car kit and memory cards, I was unhappy about the fact that is lasted less than 2 years. Garmin products are widely used in aviation and are generally very good quality, but this unit may be the exception. It is now discontinued.
On: 2006-09-01
I bought mine factory refurbed: came with auto bundle.
About the batterys short life: theres an after market battery upgrade that I found listed here in amazon.com link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GBQ3T0/103-5918493-2538200?ie=UTF8
The ad says 1500 mAh @3.7V so thats triple the OEM bayyery!!
The battery cost about $25 and comes with two screwdrivers and instructions on taking the iQue3600 apart.
WARNING: taking the Garmin will void your garmin warranty... SO BE WARNED!!
All in all, I am having a great time with the GPS on my travels. around the USA.
On: 2006-08-01
I have been using the 3600 since the fall of 2003, when it first come out. It is a wonderful product and has served me well. You cant beat the combination of Palm and GPS. Prior to receiving it as a birthday present I used a stand alone Palm, which was great by itself. The combination is awesome. I carry
it with me all the time. I highly recommend this product.
I have gone on numerous long and short road trips with it over the years and have had no problems. I have had no problems with it on short trips to "new" local places. I use Splash Photo with it to display and organize pictures. I use isilo and have downloaded Disney World menus, times and maps. You can find almost all locations you are trying to reach using "QueFind". There are so many different ways to "find" a location under "QueFind" including Cities, Addresses, Intersections, All Points of Interest, Food and Drink, Lodging, Attractions, Entertainment, Shopping, Services, Transportation, Emergency and Government, Manmade Places, etc. Yes, each of these categories is available to help you find where you want to go. Additionally, you can sort under those headings by Near Current Location, By Name, Near Route Destination, Near Other or Near Current Route. Its amazing.
You also can create Waypoints. Any location you find in "QueFind" can be saved as a waypoint in "Waypoints". You create and maintain this list. For examples, you would set your home as a waypoint and you could set the location of a fair you visit once a year as a waypoint. Also, any point you arrive at can be set as a Waypoint with a touch of the screen and giving the location a name.
As for some of the negatives mentioned, one of the early software releases did have a problem with needing a complete reset. It happened to me twice in a two week period. I called Garmin and they indicated that they were aware of the issue and that I should download the latest version of the software. This was in 2004 and Ive not had a problem with needing to completely reset since then. If you purchase the product, be sure to download the latest version of the software from the Garmin website.
Also, please be sure to read the manual, or if you dont like to read manuals take the time to export the unit. Yes, the antenna needs to be up to use the GPS. There is a GPS icon on the main menu and if you touch it you can "watch" the satellites being picked up. It also reads "GPS is Off" when the antenna is down. Also, the unit will shut itself off to save battery life, but you can control that by going to the "Prefs" icon, for Preferences, on the main page. Under "general" you can set the auto-off time and you can also check "Stay on in Cradle". With the Auto Navigation kit, check the "Stay on in Cradle" and the unit wont auto-off while you are driving. It really pays off to export the unit.
Also, backup your ique. I have it backed up at home and at work. I have hot sync capabilities from both locations. I highly recommend the Auto Navigation Kit. The unit can charge from all three locations. I have not had a problem with battery life. There is no problem with not charging it for three to four days with NO USE...say over a long weekend where it isnt used. I charge it each weekday at work and on the weekend if Im using it in the car.
As for the maps from Garmin, the Garmin technical person recommend to always have at least the latest available "free" map. The most recent is available for a fee, but the prior "Free" version is usually not more than a few months older.
The Palm part of the unit is great and the Graffiti writing responsiveness has really improved over my prior Palm. It reads most letters correctly, most of the time.
The memory expansion slot is great. A 256 mb card does well. The maximum size the unit will take, per Garmin, is 2GB. Ive been using the 256mb card, but have just purchased a 2GB for more photos and music. 256mb is enough for standard use with maps, photos, memos, addresses, documents, etc.
You can store music on the ique and play it back. The capacity is no where near as high as an iPod, but I think an Ipod nano is 4GB. Remember you can use multiple expansion cards. I found Pocket Tunes works well.
I love the product and highly, highly recommend it.
On: 2006-06-11
I read the directions before I began using it. Ive had it for nearly three years now. 1) I dont use it with the screen up at max brightness; 2) When its not connected to the cigarette lighter adapter, I disable the WA-AS setting (more than doubles the power consumption); 3) I avoid using the GPS feature for navigation when on battery power (only use it for spot locating a position) since the GPS really consumes lots of power; 4) I watch the on screen battery indicator for low charge and when it gets low guess what? I turn it off and put it on the charger as soon as I have the chance.
Even so, Ive had times when I had to use up the battery till the unit died. The memory didnt die when this happened at any of the times the battery drained completely. I had to charge it up, of course, and occasionally when the battery is that severely drained it wont boot back up unless the reset pinhole button is pressed.
The reset wont wipe the memory. BUT, there is a way to wipe the memory, and it involves the reset button. If the user is careful to read the instructions there is a way to completely wipe the memory. I cant see how (unless one is inept or doesnt read the instructions, or ignores the on-screen prompts) one can accidentally erase the entire memory!
I use this unit daily at work for navigation, and at home for a data management PDA. It fits easily in my pocket. It navigates well about 90% of the time, and 100% of the time when Ive been in very tricky areas with very windy streets that are like mazes when using a map. The navigation screens are customizable, and the user can elect to see as little or as much detail on the screen as desired. I understand the the size of the screen for the price of the GPS is the largest of any other unit (under $500).
Here are the negatives I have found:
a: I rate the GPS at only 90% because -OCCASIONALLY- at freeway speeds it will lose satellites, (but I dont have the external antenna either). This is quite rare anyway. I have never had this happen often enough for me to order the roof antenna, though and I use the GPS daily.
b: I didnt like the leather flip up screen protector, so I took it off. I then lost it before I realized it was there to protect the touch screen! So now I use the plastic stick-on screen protectors which have to be replaced about monthly.
c: The MP3 player works, but the sound quality is so bad I find it pretty useless. The voice recorder works well though. It can be used as a handy voice memo device and the files dont take up lots of space.
d: The database of Places of Interest works really GREAT. I use it all the time! There is a minor problem with it, though, which I expect will become more and more pressing in the future. There is no way to go into the database to update it or change it. While I have only found a few outdated entries in it so far, I would like the ability to add and delete items in this very useful database. Say you are in an unfamiliar area and you want a Slurpy from 7-11? With the GPS running, you go into Q-Find and type in 7-11 near you. You can even specify what mileage radius to select, then BINGO you have a list of 7-11s ordered by distance and direction from your present location! This comes in handy if youre running out of gas and you want to get to the nearest gas station too.
e: There is no way to flip the map view from vertical to horizontal. I dont know if any other GPSs can do this anyway. It would be a nice feature though.
Anyway this GPS is a recommended purchase to someone who wants a unit that is portable and fits in your pocket.
Another possible negative: I dont like the beanbag automobile adapter, though. I got the suction cup adapter and use it with an extension cord. I put the suction cup on the drivers side window. That way I can view it right by the side view mirror and it wont distract me from the road.
On: 2006-05-31
The unit worked as it should. But the quality is very bad. After I left the unit sitting around for a month or so, the GPS battery discharge by itself. In order to get it running again, I have to recharge it and then reboot the device with a pin. I had to reboot the unit a few times already. After using the GPS for a few times, the voice is not functioning; no voice guidance. Then the backlit for the screen malfunctioned. The screen cannot be seen without the backlit. Amazingly, the backlit came back to life after a few months of rest. As of now, the voice is still mute.
The sync. with the computer does not work either. I have only a few cities stored on my SD card. I cannot use the unit outside those cities where they are not downloaded to the SD card. Each map software has its unique unlock code. Even though you can get somebody to copy the map data onto a SD card for you, you wont be able to use it.
If you dont want any headache, do not buy this GPS. It is nothing but trouble.
On: 2006-05-30
The unit worked as it should. But the quality is very bad. After I left the unit sitting around for a month or so, the GPS battery discharge by itself. In order to get it running again, I have to recharge it and then reboot the device with a pin. I had to reboot the unit a few times already. After using the GPS for a few times, the voice is not functioning; no voice guidance. Then the backlit for the screen malfunctioned. The screen cannot be seen without the backlit. Amazingly, the backlit came back to life after a few months of rest. As of now, the voice is still mute.
The sync. with the computer does not work either. I have only a few cities stored on my SD card. I cannot use the unit outside those cities where they are not downloaded to the SD card. Each map software has its unique unlock code. Even though you can get somebody to copy the map data onto a SD card for you, you wont be able to use it.
If you dont want any headache, do not buy this GPS. It is nothing but trouble.
On: 2006-05-27
I have to post my review on here when I saw all of the negativity being spewed forth. Its really amazing that I have seen these reviews. Im an extremely picky person when it comes to electronics, so to be satisfied by this unit is not something to take lightly. Granted, more people are going to post opinions when something goes wrong, thats just the nature of our consciousness. I do the same thing. But the iQue 3600 doesnt warrant these negative reviews. My family is so impressed with this unit that my uncle bought one, and then just last week, my mom bought one.
The Garmin iQue 3600 is the worlds first integrated PDA/GPS combo system. I purchased it as a Christmas gift to myself in 2004. After looking and looking for the "perfect GPS unit" for my vehicle, I was introduced to the iQue. I drive a Mini Cooper and really enjoy the OEM GPS unit available on the car, but I didnt want to give up the center located speedometer.
At first, my unit of choice was the Pioneer DVD/GPS installed unit. This thing is simply amazing, but it has two major drawbacks. One: the price is outrageous. Even on e-Bay its $1800 and then if you are like me, you have to find someone to install it. Second: Once its in your vehicle, its there. You cant move it from one to another.
So once portability became a high factor in my decision, I wanted the Garmin 2610. This upgraded StreetPilot III looked to be exactly what I wanted. I loved the touch screen. I had been looking for a good price on this unit when I was at Cabellas (a very large outfitter store) and the salesman showed me the iQue. He swore that this unit was the one to go with rather than the 2610. At first, I had a big apprehension about purchasing a PDA that was designed by a mapping company. I already owned a 2-year old Sony Clie that worked fine. Did I really need a "second rate" PDA? It didnt take me long until I realized how wrong I could be.
I decided to give the iQue some more thought. The following weekend I went to Best Buy and played with the 2610. It was then that I realized the GPS software on both the 2610 and the iQue were nearly identical. There was nothing that the 2610 could do that the iQue couldnt do, if not even better. I also discovered that unlike the StreetPilot III series, the 2610 cannot run off batteries. Include this fact with the smaller size of the iQue and the portability factor is an enormous plus. With the savings over the 2610, I was sold on the iQue. I looked all over the net, including eBay, and found the best price/customer service rating for a brand new unit to be sold at gpsdiscount.com. I got it for $461 including shipping and a free T-shirt. You can now find this unit on sale for around $250. Thats an amazing price for this unit.
When it arrived, the PDA performance of the iQue was outstanding. It comes with a 200 mhz processor, so it is much faster than my Clie. The iQue does use the new Graffiti 2. It takes some getting used to, but if you commit to learning it, its not that hard.
GPS-wise, I was surprised to find out that the technology will not work indoors. I always thought it would, but the integrated antenna requires a clear view of the sky. The signal cannot go through solid structures, but it will work through windows (i.e. your car). The mapping software, City Navigator, included with the iQue is perhaps the best on the market. It is amazing and extremely detailed. My next-door neighbor has a nail care business out of her house. There is no sign outside letting people know that she does this work, but today I noticed that her business is listed as a POI (point of interest) right next to my house. Thats pretty amazing detail.
I purchased both the travel kit and the Auto Navigation Kit. Keep in mind that these are two totally separate accessories. The travel kit includes a/c adaptors for Europe, Australia, and Great Britain. It also includes compact USB connections for a laptop and compact charging cord to eliminate the need to bring along the PDA docking mount. This kit is handy, but not really essential unless you are traveling abroad. If you are purchasing the iQue for use in your car, you will need the Auto Navigation Kit. This will run you about $55 online, but it is essential for the vehicle. It includes a dash beanbag adjustable mount, with a lighter plug that charges the unit. This is important, because the iQues battery is only rated at two hours with the GPS running. With the kit, you dont have to worry about battery time. The kit also includes a large speaker, which aids in hearing the spoken navigation instructions. Without this speaker, it is very difficult to hear the audible voice when your driving down the road. The mount does have the tendency to slide around very slightly on the Minis contoured dash, but I think I can fix very easily by attaching some grip tape under the mount. Right now it sits directly in front of me on the right side of the tach.
Some people have voiced concerns over the battery life. I must agree that if you dont charge the battery at least once a week, the battery will drain and will need to be charged before using. If this happens, youll have to reconfigure the unit, but your data is NOT lost. All of your programs will remain, including your MAP DATA. I dont know what this guy is talking about having to "unlock" his maps again. Thats ridiculous. The only time youll have to unlock your maps again is if you get a new computer and the maps need to be reinstalled on your new PC. Just dont leave your iQue sitting in the car for over 10 days without charging it. I leave mine of the charging dock when I am not using it. Saves any concern.
The last item I would suggest purchasing is a SD (Secure Digital) card of at least 128mb. The iQue has 32mb of internal memory, but the Palm OS software requires some for operations, and then the Navigation base map uses some. Basically you are left with about 16mb for detailed map uploaded data. (the base map includes all of the MAJOR roads in North America, but will not show anything but major highways. This means that all of your access roads, and points of interest will not show unless you upload the detailed maps) With 128mb, you should be able to get every area that you will need loaded onto your card. I would suggest even spending the extra $30 and get a 1 gb. This should allow you to install all of the USA. I havent purchased this yet, but is on my list for this week. Circuit City has 1 gb SD cards on sale this week for $60.
If anyone has questions about the iQue or any other unit, please feel free to message me. Ive played with nearly every unit out there. Most are very good, but you have to determine what fits your needs. If you arent going to need the PDA functions, dont need a GPS unit that will go with you hiking, and enjoy a larger screen, then the 2610 is probably for you. Otherwise, check out the iQue, I think you will enjoy its functionality and performance.
The PDA features are fantastic on the iQue. Compared to my previous Sony Clie N-610C it is much quicker. The screen resolution isnt quite up to par with the Clie, but not many PDAs are. This is not to say that the resolution on the iQue is poor. In fact, the differences are very slim. Another PDA feature I really like is the virtual graffiti area. This is especially handy when using the GPS. You get 1/3 more screen size because the area simply "disappears" when you dont need it. I also like the many convenient ways to access your home screen/address book/etc. through a variety of accessible buttons.
The iQue also is equipped with a spring loaded jog dial on the left side of the unit. This is very handy when using the GPS as it allows you to zoom in/out with ease. The dial is also integrated into every app on the unit. Very convenient feature. Something also very cool with the iQue is its voice recorder. Garmin has made this a very easy to use feature by placing a button right above the jog dial. So if you want to record a quick message reminding yourself to pick up some milk before going home, its as easy as push and speak.
On: 2006-05-26
I have to post my review on here when I saw all of the negativity being spewed forth. Its really amazing that I have seen these reviews. Im an extremely picky person when it comes to electronics, so to be satisfied by this unit is not something to take lightly. Granted, more people are going to post opinions when something goes wrong, thats just the nature of our consciousness. I do the same thing. But the iQue 3600 doesnt warrant these negative reviews. My family is so impressed with this unit that my uncle bought one, and then just last week, my mom bought one.
The Garmin iQue 3600 is the worlds first integrated PDA/GPS combo system. I purchased it as a Christmas gift to myself in 2004. After looking and looking for the "perfect GPS unit" for my vehicle, I was introduced to the iQue. I drive a Mini Cooper and really enjoy the OEM GPS unit available on the car, but I didnt want to give up the center located speedometer.
At first, my unit of choice was the Pioneer DVD/GPS installed unit. This thing is simply amazing, but it has two major drawbacks. One: the price is outrageous. Even on e-Bay its $1800 and then if you are like me, you have to find someone to install it. Second: Once its in your vehicle, its there. You cant move it from one to another.
So once portability became a high factor in my decision, I wanted the Garmin 2610. This upgraded StreetPilot III looked to be exactly what I wanted. I loved the touch screen. I had been looking for a good price on this unit when I was at Cabellas (a very large outfitter store) and the salesman showed me the iQue. He swore that this unit was the one to go with rather than the 2610. At first, I had a big apprehension about purchasing a PDA that was designed by a mapping company. I already owned a 2-year old Sony Clie that worked fine. Did I really need a "second rate" PDA? It didnt take me long until I realized how wrong I could be.
I decided to give the iQue some more thought. The following weekend I went to Best Buy and played with the 2610. It was then that I realized the GPS software on both the 2610 and the iQue were nearly identical. There was nothing that the 2610 could do that the iQue couldnt do, if not even better. I also discovered that unlike the StreetPilot III series, the 2610 cannot run off batteries. Include this fact with the smaller size of the iQue and the portability factor is an enormous plus. With the savings over the 2610, I was sold on the iQue. I looked all over the net, including eBay, and found the best price/customer service rating for a brand new unit to be sold at gpsdiscount.com. I got it for $461 including shipping and a free T-shirt. You can now find this unit on sale for around $250. Thats an amazing price for this unit.
When it arrived, the PDA performance of the iQue was outstanding. It comes with a 200 mhz processor, so it is much faster than my Clie. The iQue does use the new Graffiti 2. It takes some getting used to, but if you commit to learning it, its not that hard.
GPS-wise, I was surprised to find out that the technology will not work indoors. I always thought it would, but the integrated antenna requires a clear view of the sky. The signal cannot go through solid structures, but it will work through windows (i.e. your car). The mapping software, City Navigator, included with the iQue is perhaps the best on the market. It is amazing and extremely detailed. My next-door neighbor has a nail care business out of her house. There is no sign outside letting people know that she does this work, but today I noticed that her business is listed as a POI (point of interest) right next to my house. Thats pretty amazing detail.
I purchased both the travel kit and the Auto Navigation Kit. Keep in mind that these are two totally separate accessories. The travel kit includes a/c adaptors for Europe, Australia, and Great Britain. It also includes compact USB connections for a laptop and compact charging cord to eliminate the need to bring along the PDA docking mount. This kit is handy, but not really essential unless you are traveling abroad. If you are purchasing the iQue for use in your car, you will need the Auto Navigation Kit. This will run you about $55 online, but it is essential for the vehicle. It includes a dash beanbag adjustable mount, with a lighter plug that charges the unit. This is important, because the iQues battery is only rated at two hours with the GPS running. With the kit, you dont have to worry about battery time. The kit also includes a large speaker, which aids in hearing the spoken navigation instructions. Without this speaker, it is very difficult to hear the audible voice when your driving down the road. The mount does have the tendency to slide around very slightly on the Minis contoured dash, but I think I can fix very easily by attaching some grip tape under the mount. Right now it sits directly in front of me on the right side of the tach.
Some people have voiced concerns over the battery life. I must agree that if you dont charge the battery at least once a week, the battery will drain and will need to be charged before using. If this happens, youll have to reconfigure the unit, but your data is NOT lost. All of your programs will remain, including your MAP DATA. I dont know what this guy is talking about having to "unlock" his maps again. Thats ridiculous. The only time youll have to unlock your maps again is if you get a new computer and the maps need to be reinstalled on your new PC. Just dont leave your iQue sitting in the car for over 10 days without charging it. I leave mine of the charging dock when I am not using it. Saves any concern.
The last item I would suggest purchasing is a SD (Secure Digital) card of at least 128mb. The iQue has 32mb of internal memory, but the Palm OS software requires some for operations, and then the Navigation base map uses some. Basically you are left with about 16mb for detailed map uploaded data. (the base map includes all of the MAJOR roads in North America, but will not show anything but major highways. This means that all of your access roads, and points of interest will not show unless you upload the detailed maps) With 128mb, you should be able to get every area that you will need loaded onto your card. I would suggest even spending the extra $30 and get a 1 gb. This should allow you to install all of the USA. I havent purchased this yet, but is on my list for this week. Circuit City has 1 gb SD cards on sale this week for $60.
If anyone has questions about the iQue or any other unit, please feel free to message me. Ive played with nearly every unit out there. Most are very good, but you have to determine what fits your needs. If you arent going to need the PDA functions, dont need a GPS unit that will go with you hiking, and enjoy a larger screen, then the 2610 is probably for you. Otherwise, check out the iQue, I think you will enjoy its functionality and performance.
The PDA features are fantastic on the iQue. Compared to my previous Sony Clie N-610C it is much quicker. The screen resolution isnt quite up to par with the Clie, but not many PDAs are. This is not to say that the resolution on the iQue is poor. In fact, the differences are very slim. Another PDA feature I really like is the virtual graffiti area. This is especially handy when using the GPS. You get 1/3 more screen size because the area simply "disappears" when you dont need it. I also like the many convenient ways to access your home screen/address book/etc. through a variety of accessible buttons.
The iQue also is equipped with a spring loaded jog dial on the left side of the unit. This is very handy when using the GPS as it allows you to zoom in/out with ease. The dial is also integrated into every app on the unit. Very convenient feature. Something also very cool with the iQue is its voice recorder. Garmin has made this a very easy to use feature by placing a button right above the jog dial. So if you want to record a quick message reminding yourself to pick up some milk before going home, its as easy as push and speak.
On: 2006-05-19
In general I am happy with this unit. It has been a real time saver for things like getting to my hotel after picking up a rental car in a strange city. I use the palm OS and prefer the handwriting it has over the microsoft equivalents.
Problem with this unit is that the battery life is terrible. This isnt a problem when you use the unit in the car as it is charging. It IS A PROBLEM when you dont use the unit. Unused, it will self discharge in the course of two or three days to be unusable and after seven to ten days it will lose its memory requiring it to be reprogrammed. this wouldnt be such a problem if this just involved a hot sync, but Garmin in their infinite wisdom has a lock on their maps requiring them to be unlocked whenever memory is lost (a big hassle).
While I love the unit when it is charged, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT NOR WOULD I PURCHASE IT AGAIN (if I knew about the battery life problem initially I wouldnt have purchased it to start with)
Garmin admits to this problem, states that they have changed to a polymer (?) battery in their windows units, but no fix available for their IQUE 3600 owners
On: 2006-05-18
In general I am happy with this unit. It has been a real time saver for things like getting to my hotel after picking up a rental car in a strange city. I use the palm OS and prefer the handwriting it has over the microsoft equivalents.
Problem with this unit is that the battery life is terrible. This isnt a problem when you use the unit in the car as it is charging. It IS A PROBLEM when you dont use the unit. Unused, it will self discharge in the course of two or three days to be unusable and after seven to ten days it will lose its memory requiring it to be reprogrammed. this wouldnt be such a problem if this just involved a hot sync, but Garmin in their infinite wisdom has a lock on their maps requiring them to be unlocked whenever memory is lost (a big hassle).
While I love the unit when it is charged, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT NOR WOULD I PURCHASE IT AGAIN (if I knew about the battery life problem initially I wouldnt have purchased it to start with)
Garmin admits to this problem, states that they have changed to a polymer (?) battery in their windows units, but no fix available for their IQUE 3600 owners
On: 2006-04-30
STAY FAR AWAY from the product! Purchased first one and had to return because of a defective sd card reader. Recieved second one and have been unable to download maps by syncing with computer. Loaded maps via sd card slot on computer instead. Recently lost voice prompts and pda will no longer sync with calendar - lost connection. Garmin tech support has been unresponsive - cricket, cricket. I am seeking to return for refund and will purchase different brand than Garmin.
On: 2006-03-14
This unit sucks and their customer support is equally bad. We bought this unit about a year ago and now I am trying to sell it. The voice prompts stop working every other day and after spending hours waiting for customer support I am told to reinstall the software which is a real pain. Our car charger also stopped working recently and now the unit is just sitting around. It is totally useless.
On: 2006-03-13
This unit sucks and their customer support is equally bad. We bought this unit about a year ago and now I am trying to sell it. The voice prompts stop working every other day and after spending hours waiting for customer support I am told to reinstall the software which is a real pain. Our car charger also stopped working recently and now the unit is just sitting around. It is totally useless.
On: 2006-02-10
I travel within the United States a great deal and normally add a GPS to my car rental. This Garmin 300 unit is very easy to transport and it works great. I can save my company $10 a day now and have my PDA all in one.
Im a long time Palm user, nearly 10 years. I was happy with Graffiti (1) but found that the new Graffiti 2 was not too much of a set back. But I prefer the old Graffiti.
Installation was smooth with no errors or problems. I have 2 other palm devices and I needed to sync them and then unintall the old software before installing the included software. Note that you need a DVD reader to install. Ive had one small error while trying to install maps while the PC was very busy on other tasks. I just selected the maps and limited my other activites during the process.
I too found that the auto package is a must have. My unit has worked fine with the attached antenna but Ive added an external unit, NYC might be a challenge :-). The auto package speaker is clear and the volume works even in my convertible with the top down and in any event there is a headset jack.
I too have found that on foot the battery drains quickly when leaving the GPS function on at all times. However, Ive never found it necessary while hiking to leave it on.
I added a 1 GB SD and that give me a great deal of always available maps. However, Im not able to load maps for the entire US. Oh well, 2 GB will be available soon for a resonable price.
In general, I recommended the Garmin 3600.
On: 2006-02-09
I travel within the United States a great deal and normally add a GPS to my car rental. This Garmin 300 unit is very easy to transport and it works great. I can save my company $10 a day now and have my PDA all in one.
Im a long time Palm user, nearly 10 years. I was happy with Graffiti (1) but found that the new Graffiti 2 was not too much of a set back. But I prefer the old Graffiti.
Installation was smooth with no errors or problems. I have 2 other palm devices and I needed to sync them and then unintall the old software before installing the included software. Note that you need a DVD reader to install. Ive had one small error while trying to install maps while the PC was very busy on other tasks. I just selected the maps and limited my other activites during the process.
I too found that the auto package is a must have. My unit has worked fine with the attached antenna but Ive added an external unit, NYC might be a challenge :-). The auto package speaker is clear and the volume works even in my convertible with the top down and in any event there is a headset jack.
I too have found that on foot the battery drains quickly when leaving the GPS function on at all times. However, Ive never found it necessary while hiking to leave it on.
I added a 1 GB SD and that give me a great deal of always available maps. However, Im not able to load maps for the entire US. Oh well, 2 GB will be available soon for a resonable price.
In general, I recommended the Garmin 3600.
On: 2005-12-31
I bought this for my husband for Christmas and it has been nothing but problems! First, we were online with the Garmin support system for over 2 hours (1 hour on hold) to figure out why it wouldnt connect to our brand new computer. Finally we got it to work. Then, we tried to Hot Sync and got a Fatal Error that isnt going away. I have spent 45 minutes on hold with their Customer Service and I am still waiting. I am sure it would be great if it worked but it has been a complete and total waste of money. I will NEVER buy a Garmin product again!!
On: 2005-12-30
I bought this for my husband for Christmas and it has been nothing but problems! First, we were online with the Garmin support system for over 2 hours (1 hour on hold) to figure out why it wouldnt connect to our brand new computer. Finally we got it to work. Then, we tried to Hot Sync and got a Fatal Error that isnt going away. I have spent 45 minutes on hold with their Customer Service and I am still waiting. I am sure it would be great if it worked but it has been a complete and total waste of money. I will NEVER buy a Garmin product again!!
On: 2005-12-09
The Garmin iQue 3600 PDA is an excellent product. It takes a little time to learn the function of the device. Once you learn it, then its a cake walk.
Pro: 1. Expandable slot for additional memory. I recommend the 1 GB. It can load 3/4 of the U.S. on it.
2. The device is compact and easy to travel with it. Make sure you take the car travel kit w/u.
3. It have all the function of a PDA and more.
Con: 1. Battery life is too short when using the GPS. The battery cannot be change or purchase additional battery, because the battery is build in. You have to mail the device back to Garmin for replacement.
2. When the GPS is turn on in a new location. It take a couple of minutes to locate satalite.
3. It does not always give the shortest route. But it give the most common route.
It is worth the $$$$. Happy Travel.
On: 2005-12-08
The Garmin iQue 3600 PDA is an excellent product. It takes a little time to learn the function of the device. Once you learn it, then its a cake walk.
Pro: 1. Expandable slot for additional memory. I recommend the 1 GB. It can load 3/4 of the U.S. on it.
2. The device is compact and easy to travel with it. Make sure you take the car travel kit w/u.
3. It have all the function of a PDA and more.
Con: 1. Battery life is too short when using the GPS. The battery cannot be change or purchase additional battery, because the battery is build in. You have to mail the device back to Garmin for replacement.
2. When the GPS is turn on in a new location. It take a couple of minutes to locate satalite.
3. It does not always give the shortest route. But it give the most common route.
It is worth the $$$$. Happy Travel.
On: 2005-12-01
My husband got this for me 2 years ago and I cant leave home without it. Its the best PDA Ive ever had! We take it on vacation with us and we can explore everywhere and not have to worry about getting lost or hassle with trying to read a map. I had a slight problem a few months ago with the battery not holding a charge. When I emailed the company about it they replied promptly and asked me to send it back for a free replacement even though it was no longer under warrenty. They had it back to me within a week, none of my information was lost, and Ive had no problems with it since. I highly recommend this unit!
On: 2005-11-30
My husband got this for me 2 years ago and I cant leave home without it. Its the best PDA Ive ever had! We take it on vacation with us and we can explore everywhere and not have to worry about getting lost or hassle with trying to read a map. I had a slight problem a few months ago with the battery not holding a charge. When I emailed the company about it they replied promptly and asked me to send it back for a free replacement even though it was no longer under warrenty. They had it back to me within a week, none of my information was lost, and Ive had no problems with it since. I highly recommend this unit!
On: 2005-11-13
This GPS is really great! Its portable so you can move it from car to car or on vacation, you can use it while walking or program your trip in your hotel room and not while sitting in your car.
The only downside are the small controls. Really hard to use while driving and a bit dangerous too. Voice prompts and a big screen make up for it! As I said, I Cant leave home without it !!
by: predictorx On: 2005-11-08
iQue = PDA + GPS, which is a versatile, capable tool... when it is working. I have found the PDA/GPS combination to be fantastic. Garmins approach to the iQue 3600s extreme sensitivity to static electricity, however, has been very poor. I have gone through 4 units since receiving this device as a gift. Exchanges with Garmin have been no-questions-asked, but it is a hassle, and I end up paying shipping one way each time, plus there is the hassle of re-installing via Garmins draconian serial number system.
Yes, it is like having a tricorder from "Star Trek", but if there is any chance that your unit may face one elctron of static electricity, consider carefully before buying this item.
On: 2005-10-17
Have had it for about a week, used it this weekend on a trip to NJ. Indispensable.
Overall: Would have given this 4.5 stars but that wasnt an option. I have used a couple of other GPS products before and I would say this is one of the better ones. One suggestion, get at least a 256MB SD card for the detailed maps.
Pros:
1) Very well integrated PDA/GPS. Much better than I thought possible. Geographic points of interest can be saved as an address entry. It can then be called up in the GPS mode and it can build a routing map to it.
2) Pretty good GPS interface. Relatively easy to zoom in and out when using the maps. Very responsive on the redraw updates. Not too bad on the map scrolling. The screen didnt wash out in bright sun.
3) Lots of features and functionality. If youre a gadget nut (like me), you will find lots of useful features. The maps are very detailed. It also has compass (expected), altimeter, and speedometer functions. Also once you build your routing map to your destination, you can check each segment of the trip, itll even show on the map of where the turns are. It was also very accurate on the time to arrival computation. On a 3 hour trip, I arrived within 2 minutes of what it computed.
Cons:
1) Palm OS crashed on me one time during the trip. Not a big problem since it rebooted and came back up to where it left off. Suggestion: Put your maps on the SD card and backup often.
2) Some of the routing suggestions was a bit strange. Kept insisting that I use the NJ turnpike when I was on I-295 (which is kind of parallel for the portion that I used).
3) The auto kit that came with the system wasnt too good. One of the mount joint could not be tightened and the unit vibrated quite a bit unless on very smooth road.
4) The screen is too small. Not sure what can be done here. Its a PDA combo.
On: 2005-10-13
I had been looking for a portable GPS system for several months and most of the other choices require a separate receiver/antenna that plugs into your PDA device - then I found the Garmin all in one!
This unit works incredibly well as a GPS device. It picks up signal quickly, the software is intelligent (re-routing is quick and efficient) and it is fairly simple to install.
If you are looking for a device that works well and is easy enough to use that you will actually use it, instead of buying it, playing with it for two weeks then leaving it on some forgotten desk somewhere, then this is the best out there.
This unit now goes everywhere I go. From getting directions to finding restaurants or a local dry cleaners this is the best $400 you will spend on electronics this year.
Pros:
o Compact unit size
o Intelligent GPS software from Garmin
o Good map coeverage
o Good functional PDA
Cons:
o Battery life is so-so at 3-4 hours (using GPS)
o Palm Dekstop 4.1.4 will not work well with this unit (stick with the 4.1 that the Garmin comes with)
o Base maps and CD are older, so if you have new construction in your travel area you may need to purchase the latest maps
Suggested Accessories:
o Travel kit - to sync without using the cradle
o Window mount car adapter - works great - has never moved let alone fallen off and the speaker is loud and clear.
On: 2005-10-08
I love the color map and the address book that you can use to get to destinations. Without the car kit though the battery life is not that great. The voice commands are good, though in tight traffic patterns you can be harried into missing a turn, especially in big cities. Other than that, no complaints yet.
-- UPDATE --
The one thing I have noticed with my iQue is that sometimes as you are driving, the unit will reset for lack of a better word and lose the route that you have just programmed. Not sure if this is a hardware or software flaw. It does not happen very often. And of course it only seems to happen at the most inoportune moments ...
On: 2005-10-07
Read the top rated reviews (above) for the details. Issues not discussed much include:
The good:
* Useful for finding places to eat, drink & be merry. When on the road I sometimes want a Togos sandwich. No problem, you can search by store name (Starbucks, etc etc etc) and it will point you to the nearest one **in the direction you are travelling.** Great when youre on the freeway in a new area.
* Includes full yellow pages, including phone #s to call ahead for reservations
* Lets you pick auto, bicycle, or foot as travel mode and plots routes accordingly.
The bad:
* Gives you what should be the shortest travel time, but you have to know when rush hour means avoid the freeway. Switching to "stay on surface streets" when mapping a route is not intuitive.
* Ive had trouble getting third-party vendor maps to work (e.g. National Geographic topo maps), in part because of the limited on-board memory (the NG maps will not load onto the expansion card).
The ugly:
* The pin that the travel kit plugs into to recharge the unit broke just after 1 year of ownership. Standard repair charge is $150; they said they would repair the pin for $75. A word to the wise ... buy the extended warranty!
Summary - a unique unit that is worth the cost if you travel much.
On: 2005-08-30
Ive owned my iQue 3600 for over a year. I use it every day & drive at least 20k per year for work.
Additionally, I fly at least once per month & take it with me.
The dash mount and additional charger/speaker is perfect.
Occasionally it locks up & there are some cases where it cant find things, but its always spot on for directions.
When I drive with others who know the area, theyre always surprised if it takes us on a different route, but never disappointed- it is usually faster or at least more direct (even if it pulls you off a highway & through town- which can save significant time).
I use all the features except waterways and believe each one to be worth having. Especially the "all points of interest".
They even sent out a free updated CD for me this past year & when I broke the car charger they mailed out a free one (it was my fault that it broke).
I cant say enough good things about Garmin, the product & service.
On: 2005-08-29
Ive owned my iQue 3600 for over a year. I use it every day & drive at least 20k per year for work.
Additionally, I fly at least once per month & take it with me.
The dash mount and additional charger/speaker is perfect.
Occasionally it locks up & there are some cases where it cant find things, but its always spot on for directions.
When I drive with others who know the area, theyre always surprised if it takes us on a different route, but never disappointed- it is usually faster or at least more direct (even if it pulls you off a highway & through town- which can save significant time).
I use all the features except waterways and believe each one to be worth having. Especially the "all points of interest".
They even sent out a free updated CD for me this past year & when I broke the car charger they mailed out a free one (it was my fault that it broke).
I cant say enough good things about Garmin, the product & service.
On: 2005-08-02
OK so it crashes more than it should, and you can lose all you appointments if you dont back it up. However...
The mapping is great, the latest updates have almost every store, park, gas station, restaurant etc everywhere I have been in the US.
The Euro map in exquisitely detailed but lacks many restaurants and shops, just major stuff. But I drove around Avignon and Nice like a native!
The detour feature and other routing functions can save you hours in places you do not know, or when traffic gets blocked due to accidents
I got the 1 Gbyte SD for $89 at Costco and now have most of the eastern and central US maps and a fair bit of California loaded but I think it will take a 2-3 Gbyte SD to get the whole US in.
My wife also depends on hers, but she needs me to tune it up every so often, I dont know what she does but now and then (once a year) she gets it all messed up, I had to reload the whole system once. I think she treats it like just another item in her purse, so it gets a beating.
I have used mine for geocaching in dense woods successfully but it takes care with battery usage to do it.
There are probably better units for hiking and other battery life critical uses.
I have used it to walk around European towns OK so long as you can get in the open enough to get a satellite fix.
All round a great Nav tool and a useful PDA.
On: 2005-07-28
I just bought it last week and am using it on my travelling. the screen can be turned on somtimes and cannot be turned on somtimes. Do not know why. It is not the problem of bettery definitely. I charged a whole night last night, but cannot turn on the screen this morning. when i returned back the hotel and tried again, it is been turned on. I encountered the same problem 3 times. The product have some problems, and makes me very frustrated. Ill return back it to Amazon.
On: 2005-07-27
I just bought it last week and am using it on my travelling. the screen can be turned on somtimes and cannot be turned on somtimes. Do not know why. It is not the problem of bettery definitely. I charged a whole night last night, but cannot turn on the screen this morning. when i returned back the hotel and tried again, it is been turned on. I encountered the same problem 3 times. The product have some problems, and makes me very frustrated. Ill return back it to Amazon.
On: 2005-04-27
If you want to buy it, just hope it wont show "route calculation error". Here is the email I sent to them last year and I am still waiting for reply.
"Howdy!
I called two times hoping to find answers of "route calculation error". Unfortunately the problem still exists.
For the first time I used my new iQue 3600 during my trip to San Antonio, TX on August 6 to August 8, 2004. I was amazed at the functions the small one offered. It helped me a lot, especially in the downtown area. On my way back to home, the iQue stopped working and the "route calculation error" appeared on the screen. I had big trouble to find home back.
After I got home, I called tech support and after several attempts I was told to reload the map. After reloading the map, the route calculation error disappeared temporarily.
Today, August 24, I received my friends new address and I couldnt route to her address and "route calculation error" appeared again.
Todays customer specialist, Doug, after several attempts, still suggested to reload the map. To me it is not an option anymore to solve the problem. I can not reload the map all the time, especially when I am away on road without my computer. If I knew that I would need to reload the map so often, I would not buy it in the first place.
Anyway you know your products better than me. I hope the problem can be solved quickly, otherwise I have to request the return of the product either to the store or to Garmin.
Thank you.
Feng Qin"
On: 2005-04-27
I bought this unit several months ago in anticipation of trip to Italy because of the detailed maps available through Garman. Well, the street detail was breathtaking! Venice is a very complex city with alleys & tiny streets that are bunched together in an impossible maze. As long a I got a clear signal (a drawback of any GPS unit)I knew EXACTLY where I was. Walking directions were right on.
But, back stateside I started seeing some limitations with the unit: 1) Driving directions were not that great, taking you on round about routes in spite of requesting the least # of turns and/or highways (not side streets), 2) the battery life is terribly short and needs to be put back onto the cradle for re-charging, 3) its a rather fragile unit - Im somewhat of a klutz from time to time and have dropped the unit which then needed to be reset.
The PDA part of this unit was a welcome bonus. I purchased a 1GB memory card which gave me the maps I needed plus plenty of extra memory. I loaded Pocket Quicken on it which enables me to keep track of my personal finances away from my desktop. Overall - worth the investment.
On: 2005-04-26
I bought this unit several months ago in anticipation of trip to Italy because of the detailed maps available through Garman. Well, the street detail was breathtaking! Venice is a very complex city with alleys & tiny streets that are bunched together in an impossible maze. As long a I got a clear signal (a drawback of any GPS unit)I knew EXACTLY where I was. Walking directions were right on.
But, back stateside I started seeing some limitations with the unit: 1) Driving directions were not that great, taking you on round about routes in spite of requesting the least # of turns and/or highways (not side streets), 2) the battery life is terribly short and needs to be put back onto the cradle for re-charging, 3) its a rather fragile unit - Im somewhat of a klutz from time to time and have dropped the unit which then needed to be reset.
The PDA part of this unit was a welcome bonus. I purchased a 1GB memory card which gave me the maps I needed plus plenty of extra memory. I loaded Pocket Quicken on it which enables me to keep track of my personal finances away from my desktop. Overall - worth the investment.
On: 2005-04-07
Really nice product and worth every cent. I own a Garmin StreetPilot and have used a Palm PDA so I found this really easy to use. The ability to drag maps around to find places is amazing.
The integrated PDA functionality really adds value. A must for anyone in sales that travels (you could actually know where your taxi is going and where to find dinner in any city).
If you are just doing navigation for your car you could just go with a StreetPilot - a bit easier to use. My third great GPS from Garmin.
PS. Some of my kids first words in the car "turn right daddy" - copying my nav systems audio - Dads car talks!
On: 2005-04-04
My 3600 GPS did not work the first time and was returned. After a new one was sent, it started working well. There are two detailed manuals which you should study (I downloaded and studied while I was waiting for delivery). For clarification on their too detailed instructions I had to call their service about 5 times each spending 20 minutes on hold. Now that I have had it I cant do without. It is accurate 9 out of 10 new addresses I enter so dont trust it 100%. I use it everywhere (East coast and West coast). I use it to get to any new address and very valuable even trying to get out of a large parking lot after I arrive. After 3 months I started to use it to find shops and eatery while on the road. If you dont remember exactly a specific address, you can get there if you remember a store close by. The unit requires a soft reset every few weeks. The biggest plus is that you never lose your addresses because you sync it up with your home computer. There is a selection of fastest path or shortest distance which could be confusing if selected wrong. I realize there are other GPS which are more costly, longer battery life with larger fonts but for the money it is the greatest product since the PC.
On: 2005-03-29
I moved to a new city and bought this PDA upon my friends recommendation and I must say that I am very pleased with it. It has been of great help to me when I get lost or am exploring new areas of the city.
So far I have had no issues with it. I highly recommend this to anybody. The only thing Id suggest is to get a car kit and antenna so that it does not attract prying eyes while driving.
On: 2005-03-21
I CURRENTLY OWN THE GARMIN IQUE 3600. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE OWNING THIS ITEM. FIRT OFF THE 3600 "FROZ UP" ON ME THE VERY FIRST TIME I USED IT, AND AFTER WAITING 75 MINUTES ON HOLD WITH PRODUCT SUPPORT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE 3600 WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE RETURNED. TO GIVE GARMIN CREDIT, THEY REPLACED IT FREE (1 YEAR FACTORY WARRANTY)AND A NEW PRODUCT WAS SHIPPED TO ME IN A TIMELY FASION (11 DAYS). UPOM ARRIVAL OF NEW PRODUCT I WAS DISSAPOINTED TO KNOW THAT I HAD TO INSTALL ALL OF THE MAPS AND DATA THAT I LOST. AFTER INSTALLING NEW SOFTWARE, I GAVE THE NEW GPS ANOTHER SHOT. I AM A POLICE OFFICER, AND THIS PRODUCT CAN BE ESSENTIAL TOOL IN MANY SITUATIONS I ENCOUNTER, SO ON ANOTHER TRIP I USED THE 3600 AGAIN, AND YET AGAIN IT FAILED. THE "NEW" 3600 FROZE UP AGAIN, AND I HAD TO RE-INSTALL THE MAPS AND DATA. I CALLED CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE WITH A DIFFERENT PRODUCT. AFTER RE-INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE FOR YET A 3RD TIME ON TWO DIFFERENT IQ 3600S, I ATTEMTED TO USE IT FOR ONLY A THIRD TIME. AFTER 3/4 OF MY TRIP, THE 3600 FROZE UP YET AGAIN FOR A 3RD TIME IN AS MANY TRIES, WITH 2 DIFFERENT 3600S. AS A POLICE OFFICER I CANT COUNT ON THE GARMIN 3600 TO GET ME ANYWHERE WITH OUT A GOOD CHANCE OF FAILURE. A PERSONS LIFE IS NOT WORTH THE 3600. A MAP IS A LOT CHEAPER, AND A LOT MORE EFFECTIVE. STAY AWAY, UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE DISSAPOINTED.
On: 2005-02-21
This is a great product. However, make sure you do not lose any of your installation software or registration/unlock/customer codes. The customer service personnel will be very pleasant and replace these things if you do lose them, but youll have to endure being put on hold for 20-30 minutes (and can only call in Central time 8am-5pm) to get those things--a royal pain in the butt.
On: 2005-02-20
This is a great product. However, make sure you do not lose any of your installation software or registration/unlock/customer codes. The customer service personnel will be very pleasant and replace these things if you do lose them, but youll have to endure being put on hold for 20-30 minutes (and can only call in Central time 8am-5pm) to get those things--a royal pain in the butt.
On: 2005-02-12
Having read the recent, unfavorable comments I have had a different reaction:
I bought my Garmin 3600 from Amazon, late last September. Initially I found it pretty complicated and with so many "bells and whistles" it was difficult to remember how to access its functions. After using it for a couple weeks in the local area I began to feel competent with it. In November I took it to an unfamiliar city (Portland, OR) and used it to get around with a rental car - it was great. Finding our hotel, nightclubs and other locations late at night was a snap, I always knew where I was and got to where I was going without a hitch. Over the past 3 months, I have pretty well mastered most features and they work well. It has a lot of power that is not readily recognized.
The unit has locked up a couple of times on me, but a reset, using the tool inside the stylus, quickly restored it. The only real downside I experienced for this item is the "learning curve". It took a lot of familiarization to become proficient with it but in retrospect it was well worth the time. Earlier comments about the battery power and using the car charger apply, but have not been a real problem.
Should you buy this product, I would strongly recommend that you get the "low profile" antenna to go with it. It speeds up acquisition and it lets you move the handheld around to different locations in the vehicle.
All things said, I am delighted with the product and it goes everywhere with me.
On: 2005-01-21
Well it has been a few months since I got my original IQUE 3600 replaced. I can use only one word to describe the unit,
IMPRESSIVE.
Aside from the battery life which everyone has already mentioned, and the fact that it does lock up occasionally, nothing a soft reset wont fix, it works great.
The GPS component works very nicely, the find feature is nice. I wish they had an easy mechanism to specifiy an address or intersection to get direction. The find function for addresses does not seem to work very well and so I have to create an address entry in the address book before I can route to the address.
___________________________________________________________
I am giving it 1 star based on a total of about 2 hours of experience which I consider is Extremely generous based on the current condition of the product.
1- Graet product. I got it monday eve. Charged it for 3.5 hrs and syncd with my laptop. Sweet. Everything is great. Locked up once but a soft reboot was all it needed.
2- Day 2, used in the AM to track for about 3 minutes. Works great, recalculates extremely fast. i am impressed.
3- Still day 2, Since I was travelling the entire day, did not have the opportunity to play with it. Now that it is the evening, i can play with it. About 30 minutes later, the unit locked up. I cannot do a hard reset no soft reset. Garmin is closed Will try in the AM.
4- Day three, called Garmin, Got a support rep in about 8 minutes (pretty good so far). He was polite and asked me that even though I had purchased it two days ago, the only way to get it fixed was to send it to them and let them "repair" it.
Well I want a new unit as this one may have some major problems (maybe software???).
Also, I wish they had some sort of an advanced replacement program. i mean if I pay that kinda money for a device, i should get at least the option to put up my CC and get an advanced replacement.
I am trying to get this resolved through the vendor I bought it from. I will update if things change.
On: 2005-01-20
Well it has been a few months since I got my original IQUE 3600 replaced. I can use only one word to describe the unit,
IMPRESSIVE.
Aside from the battery life which everyone has already mentioned, and the fact that it does lock up occasionally, nothing a soft reset wont fix, it works great.
The GPS component works very nicely, the find feature is nice. I wish they had an easy mechanism to specifiy an address or intersection to get direction. The find function for addresses does not seem to work very well and so I have to create an address entry in the address book before I can route to the address.
___________________________________________________________
I am giving it 1 star based on a total of about 2 hours of experience which I consider is Extremely generous based on the current condition of the product.
1- Graet product. I got it monday eve. Charged it for 3.5 hrs and syncd with my laptop. Sweet. Everything is great. Locked up once but a soft reboot was all it needed.
2- Day 2, used in the AM to track for about 3 minutes. Works great, recalculates extremely fast. i am impressed.
3- Still day 2, Since I was travelling the entire day, did not have the opportunity to play with it. Now that it is the evening, i can play with it. About 30 minutes later, the unit locked up. I cannot do a hard reset no soft reset. Garmin is closed Will try in the AM.
4- Day three, called Garmin, Got a support rep in about 8 minutes (pretty good so far). He was polite and asked me that even though I had purchased it two days ago, the only way to get it fixed was to send it to them and let them "repair" it.
Well I want a new unit as this one may have some major problems (maybe software???).
Also, I wish they had some sort of an advanced replacement program. i mean if I pay that kinda money for a device, i should get at least the option to put up my CC and get an advanced replacement.
I am trying to get this resolved through the vendor I bought it from. I will update if things change.
On: 2005-01-18
I am going on my third pda in the last 3 months. Cant keep the gps operational. They know they have hardware problems in this area. On the up side, the palm side seems to be fine and they have good customer service.
On: 2005-01-13
I had problems twice with this item, and Amazon tried to replace it without success. First, the cradle did not fit the item properly. Then, the second unit I received had problems with the touch screen. When I wrote to Amazon about this, they said the problems with this product were "widespread." The product, if it works, would be great. I hope they fix whatever is wrong with it, but until then, buy at your own risk.
On: 2005-01-12
The software for the Maps and the battery life are the real serious drawbacks on this unit. The updates needed are not really well specified/or documented on the garmin site. I was finally able to install the software patch for the 1 gd SD card afte visiting the CNET site.
and guess what - the card wiped out after 3/4 weeks of install because of low battery!! Watch your batteries
On: 2005-01-11
The software for the Maps and the battery life are the real serious drawbacks on this unit. The updates needed are not really well specified/or documented on the garmin site. I was finally able to install the software patch for the 1 gd SD card afte visiting the CNET site.
and guess what - the card wiped out after 3/4 weeks of install because of low battery!! Watch your batteries
On: 2005-01-08
I got one and I can say, I am totally amazed with it. It can guide me to a destination without any problems. I tested it with some local sample routing, and it even found my favorite short cuts.
As noted already, the map install software is the worse. I have an MS in Comp Eng, and over 20 years of experience with PCs, and it took every trick I knew to get the map install program to run from the general software install (aka "startup") CD. Garmin claims, wrongly, that one has to wait for the general install CD to stop spinning before switching (as instructed) to the map install CD. That isnt it. The best thing to do, is to just wait 15 minutes or so, and then MAYBE you can successfully switch CDs. Even then, it took me 5 tries for it to take. :(
If you are technically skillful and curious (otherwise skip to the next paragraph), I believe the general software install routines accidentally leave a file open on the startup CD when it tells you to swap CDs, which causes all sorts of grief to Windows if you try to eject the CD. By waiting, Windows will eventually time out and close that forgotten file. At that time, and only at that time, you can safely eject the startup CD and put in the map install CD.
However, you usually only need to do this once (thank deity!). From then on, you can update your maps through the Palm Desktop.
The only other oddity I found, that you can have the iQue set up a route from an origin to a destination, but there is NO WAY to easily plot a return route once you want to return back to your original origin (your home?). I think a simple, "swap the current point of origin with the destination, and plot a return route" would be a nice and widely used one-click function. Alas, to return home you have to do a full, new, routing. That is not that difficult, but it is not as simple as one-click "swap" would be.
The only times I had to do a reset, is with a couple of third party games. I think that is more a reflection on the games, than the iQue OS. The iQue seems very solid.
Overall, I think this is unit really great. However, I would suggest getting the iQue M5 instead (http://www.garmin.com/products/iQueM5/).
On: 2005-01-07
I got one and I can say, I am totally amazed with it. It can guide me to a destination without any problems. I tested it with some local sample routing, and it even found my favorite short cuts.
As noted already, the map install software is the worse. I have an MS in Comp Eng, and over 20 years of experience with PCs, and it took every trick I knew to get the map install program to run from the general software install (aka "startup") CD. Garmin claims, wrongly, that one has to wait for the general install CD to stop spinning before switching (as instructed) to the map install CD. That isnt it. The best thing to do, is to just wait 15 minutes or so, and then MAYBE you can successfully switch CDs. Even then, it took me 5 tries for it to take. :(
If you are technically skillful and curious (otherwise skip to the next paragraph), I believe the general software install routines accidentally leave a file open on the startup CD when it tells you to swap CDs, which causes all sorts of grief to Windows if you try to eject the CD. By waiting, Windows will eventually time out and close that forgotten file. At that time, and only at that time, you can safely eject the startup CD and put in the map install CD.
However, you usually only need to do this once (thank deity!). From then on, you can update your maps through the Palm Desktop.
The only other oddity I found, that you can have the iQue set up a route from an origin to a destination, but there is NO WAY to easily plot a return route once you want to return back to your original origin (your home?). I think a simple, "swap the current point of origin with the destination, and plot a return route" would be a nice and widely used one-click function. Alas, to return home you have to do a full, new, routing. That is not that difficult, but it is not as simple as one-click "swap" would be.
The only times I had to do a reset, is with a couple of third party games. I think that is more a reflection on the games, than the iQue OS. The iQue seems very solid.
Overall, I think this is unit really great. However, I would suggest getting the iQue M5 instead (http://www.garmin.com/products/iQueM5/).
On: 2005-01-06
When I first saw this unit advertised, I could not wait to purchase one.
It has turned out to be the biggest piece of crap, I have ever wasted over $400 on!
The batteries last no more than one half hour. When I brought this to the attention of Garmin, they admitted the bads performance, and suggest loading a new updated driver, which I did. Still no improvement. I would hate to be lost in the woods and have to depend on the GPS to help me.
Do not buy this product unless they imporve the batteries
On: 2005-01-05
I bought the iQ3600 about 4 months ago. I have been using PDAs for years, but this adds a completely new dimension.
The device is powerful -- exacting directions and all the information youd ever want to know about speed, distance, direction and even elevation. Accuracy ? Not uncommon to be within 8 feet, but usually about 12-14 using the suction cup mount on my instrument panel where the units antenna just crests the dashboard to lay parallel with the horizon.
It has features such as the ability to tap the screen at any given time and the map will remain stationary while you appear as a moving triangle on the map. This is useful when seeing where youve been as well as where youre going.
A few downfalls:
Address information is not accurate. My street number is 211, but the map says that its 294. Ive noticed this calibration type error in many areas.
Not real easy to create and insert routes using VIAs. For example, the unit will take major highways, but I know a few shortcuts. In order to create a route using these shortcuts, you have to create a route from a to c, and insert a VIA -- shortcut location for the unit to follow the alternate path rather than what is known. Mapsource Software on the PC makes it simple enough to create, but I havent found how to download those routes to the unit yet.
I found that after an initial read of the manual, all you need is to look at its menus to configure and customize. And customizable it is. For example, I prefer to orient maps in the direction that I am going while zoomed in under 3 miles. After that, the unit switches the map to true north so that you can see your route and progress in a more familiar map fashion.
Map details are customizable as well based on your preferred zoom elevation. I.e. I turn the details off when zoomed out over a mile.
The other nice feature is its automatic zoom. Based on how far your destination is (or your next turn) the unit will zoom appropriately. For example if your next turn is 80 miles, it may zoom out to 8 miles. But as you near the destination it begins to zoom in -- this is a really nice feature that makes the unit a pleasure to use.
I wish the unit had a Learn feature where deviations from calculatd routes could be saved as modifications to its own calculations. The unit does have "tracking" logs which you can convert to routes for the same purpose. Tracking logs are just that -- where youve been within a period of time.
Battery life is not good. An hour tops using the GPS. I havent tried the battery save mode where signal updates are decreased in frequency (default is an update every second).
One final note --
Ive used the unit while flying in a commercial airline. Yes, it works - showed speed (458), correct altitude (32,000), and where I was over the US. Ive also used it on trains to track speed. As long as there is a window -- the unit will work if you can see the sky.
It takes a few minutes to lock onto satellites (unless youre at 32,000 feet -- then its almost instant), but once locked, it remains so even with tempory obstructions (bridges, buildings and trees). It gets really confused in cities with tall buildings as reflected signals off of glass play havac, but the unit was able to hang in there until it resolved its location within a few seconds.
Id recommend this unit for anyone who wants a multiple use device - PDA plus GPS. Its easy to use and is, in my opinion, well designed in hardware and software.
On: 2005-01-05
When I first saw this unit advertised, I could not wait to purchase one.
It has turned out to be the biggest piece of crap, I have ever wasted over $400 on!
The batteries last no more than one half hour. When I brought this to the attention of Garmin, they admitted the bads performance, and suggest loading a new updated driver, which I did. Still no improvement. I would hate to be lost in the woods and have to depend on the GPS to help me.
Do not buy this product unless they imporve the batteries
On: 2004-12-29
This unit, while attractive, is relatively useless without the included Windows software, which allows you to download the detailed maps.
Unfortunately, Garmin seems to have taken a demonstration build from whoever they OEM the unit from, and horribly break it. My brother, who I bought this for, has 25 years of professional software engineering experience. After wasting over four hours trying to install the maps, with the installer crashing over and over, he contacted Garmin support via email.
Garmin support told him to WAIT FOR THE CD TO STOP SPINNING BEFORE INSERTING THE NEXT ONE. GIVE ME A BREAK! Theres no way the lousy software they ship with the iQue works for ANY of their customers.
I am so angry at, and dissapointed with, Garmin. Thanks for ruining my brothers Christmas. Beyond a doubt this is the last product from Garmin that he or I will ever consider purchasing.
On: 2004-12-29
Garmin has done a great job of combining Palm and GPS technology. In order to use it to naviage in your vehicle, you will definitely need to purchase the auto navigation kit too. The kit lets you mount the iQue on your dash and keeps your battery charged. Two other accessories I recommend purchasing right away are a protective case (one with a zipper) and a screen protector.
In order to utilize all of the features of this gizmo, you will need to spend a few hours studying, entering data, and customizing it to meet your particular needs. However, the results will be well worth your investments in time and money.
Although Im very happy with my iQue 3600, there are three reasons why I have not given it five stars. First, it cant operate very long on the rechargeable battery. That is one of the main reasons why the auto naviagtion kit is indispensible. Second, the mapping software appears to be two or three years out-of-date. If you live in an area where there has been quite a bit of new construction, you will be more likely to notice this problem. Third, the instruction manual only covers the GPS capabilities of the iQue and provides very little information about the Palm OS 5 functons.
If you purchase an iQue 3600, I strongly recommend that you buy Rick Broidas book "How to Do Everything with Your GPS". After providing a clear general overview of GPS technology, Mr. Broida devotes 100 pages of the book specifically to the iQue 3600. These two chapters are very helpful and informative.
I hope this review will assist you in getting "up to speed" quickly with your iQue 3600. It really is an amzaing little machine.
On: 2004-12-14
I know everyone is happy after they buy a new toy, but this one is one of the best Ive ever bought. I purchased it from Amazon last spring, and still use it every day.
The GPS is the main benefit, I found it extremely helpful - especially the on-the-fly re-routing and estimated time of arrival. Its performed very well
I added a 1GB SD card, and use half for the maps which cover most of the major metro US areas and the Northeast US. The other half I use as an MP3 player (which works nicely in parallel with the GPS/Mapping).
Im very pleased - anyone want a used Pilot V?
On: 2004-12-11
This is a handy device. It has helped us navigate all over Europe and the US. Its been a life-saver on occasion. But it isnt perfect.
Pros:
1. It will get you there. Even if the Paris street changes names five times in one mile, it will find your hotel.
2. It will help you find things. Type in what type of restaurant you want in Prague and it will find you one.
3. It recovers if you mess up. If you fail to get off on that exit, it recalculates quickly and gets you there.
4. Pretty accurate. It knows the one-way streets. Just dont forget to take it off walking mode when you get in the car. OTherwise you will be driving through city parks and across pedestrian bridges.
5. Gives you altitude and estimated arrival time.
Cons:
1. Expensive - The complete Europe maps are $300. But theyre worth it. They give you all the detail you need to get around in the main countries.
2. You need to learn how to use it. This takes time.
3. Downloading your maps into the I-Que can be frustrating
4. Batteries dont last very long. Period. Get the car kit and use it to navigate in your car.
5. Maps take a lot of room on the I-Que, so youll only download parts of countries, not the whole thing. This can be a hassle if your plans change---you decide to go to Bruges, but you dont have the Bruges map loaded. Its at home on the computer.
On: 2004-12-10
This is a handy device. It has helped us navigate all over Europe and the US. Its been a life-saver on occasion. But it isnt perfect.
Pros:
1. It will get you there. Even if the Paris street changes names five times in one mile, it will find your hotel.
2. It will help you find things. Type in what type of restaurant you want in Prague and it will find you one.
3. It recovers if you mess up. If you fail to get off on that exit, it recalculates quickly and gets you there.
4. Pretty accurate. It knows the one-way streets. Just dont forget to take it off walking mode when you get in the car. OTherwise you will be driving through city parks and across pedestrian bridges.
5. Gives you altitude and estimated arrival time.
Cons:
1. Expensive - The complete Europe maps are $300. But theyre worth it. They give you all the detail you need to get around in the main countries.
2. You need to learn how to use it. This takes time.
3. Downloading your maps into the I-Que can be frustrating
4. Batteries dont last very long. Period. Get the car kit and use it to navigate in your car.
5. Maps take a lot of room on the I-Que, so youll only download parts of countries, not the whole thing. This can be a hassle if your plans change---you decide to go to Bruges, but you dont have the Bruges map loaded. Its at home on the computer.
On: 2004-12-08
At $500 this may be an expensive PDA but as a GPS unit its about the same price asGarmins Street Pilot 3.
Having used the StreetPilot at work, I could say that the GPS functionality is the same. But you get a Palm PDA for free.
The Street Pilot is sturdier and the screen a little brighter. Neither one of them are practical for hiking, Street Pilot is just bulky and the Ique is too delicate for a walk in the woods.
The GPS:
The installation of the data and software was pretty straight forward. It took me 2 evenings poking around with the stylus to feel comfortable with the unit. One advantage a portable unit has over a built-in car unit is that you can learn and practice comfortably at home.
A time saving tip: When you turn on the unit for the first time make sure to flip the antenna up so that it registers your first | | |
