Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(87)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(36)

 

 

I've had mine since middle of August. I'll starte with the issues. In that time I've experienced the glitches mentioned elsewhere, but not enough to give up on it. I had 2 hard resets with data loss (static electricity I now realize), many soft resets with no data loss (mostly when syncing), a few times the speaker noise problem (soft reset fixed), and short battery life when power isn't nearby. That's most of the bad, and most of this is fixed with v2 of the software now available on Garmins downloads site.
Since the sw upgrade to v2, no hard or soft resets, no lost communications on syncs anymore. I've loaded many new applets and none of them have given me any problems. Be SURE not to use any that aren't specific for OS5!
What's great?
- the screen is better than anything i've seen, more bright, more resolution, and is worth the tradeoff in battery life
- the speed, fast processor to speed autorouting makes it fast for everything else, too
- the integration with contacts and calendar for waypoints is very useful, really leverages the PDA/GPS into much more than the sum of its parts, more than what other (separate) packages can
- so far it's robust, i've dropped it and still works fine
- maps are very good. i took it to europe for 3 weeks of driving, including in italy (even rome), and it was painless with this device. it has every road in the country, like where i live. the system in my brother's car that cost $2K has no roads off the freesay where i live - useless. it is truly FREEING to drive along and see all the possible roads you can take around you, updating in real time, if you're like me and like to explore. truly great.
I could go on for a month, I love it that much. So I'll switch to how to overcome it's shortcomings:
- get the car kit, period
- get a 256 MB SD card, i paid under a hundred, with that, i can put most of california, for most of a US region or to have room for MP3's, get a 512 card.
- if you're not using it, cradle it. if you're in the car, put it on the car kit cradle whether using GPS or not. with these habits, i never have problems with battery life. and it charges very quickly, too. the v2 sw puts the default brightness at 50%, which is enough 90% of the time. i use about 30% when inside, and it's still brighter than many other and completely usable. don't enable waas, no satallites anyway and 20 feet is close enough for me, and helps battery. turn off IR receiver. set auto off to 30sec. it's instant on anyway. with these changes, battery life isn't an issue for me.
- i got the small sync cable with the travel kit, but the aftermarket sync cables will also charge from the USB so might be better, check it out, targus and belkin, among others.
- get a protective case. i got one for a toshiba pocketpc that's leather with belt clip. fits perfectly, and now i don't worry about dropping it
- the antenna works best when the FLAT top face is toward the sky, NOT when it's end is pointed at the sky. used this way, it locks under a minute even when moving for me, and never loses when moving after lock unless i'm in a sea of 3+ story buildings.
- i got the external antenna, and now i can take it off the car plate to use it and it still keeps the satellites, this is a nice to have but is not very expensive
- people have said the maps are worth $100. in reality the autorouting map sets are $300. i know, i bought it for Europe, but i DO NOT REGRET IT.
- sometimes it fails to find things that are in the database, but this is rare. r2 sw may have helped but haven't tested yet. there are a few map bugaboos, like a small break in the road that i routes you around, but these are rare.
- don't load any apps that don't say OS5 compatible
- use screen protectors - the ones for Sony Clie NX70's fit perfectly (don't get sony brand, too expensive)
- upgrade the OS to v2 immediately
- have patience if you've not used a PDA or Palm before, you will get through it. the downloadable PDF manual is very good. there are dedicated sites like palmgear with lots of useful info on getting along with your PDA, as well as software reviews and downloads.
- they have posted track log and waypoint conduits now, as well a map loader update. Garmin is seriously supporting this device, don't give up on it.
Bottom line is Garmin has realized the market for these is bigger than the combined market for all of their other products. So I do believe they will support the product, and will come out with even better ones in the future. But bottom line is it works great for me, it was a bargain considering what it does, and I wouldn't wait for an upgrade and have to live without it. It's a great GPS, and with the v2 upgrade, a great PDA. it's definitely the most useful device in my life today, moreso than my computer. i'm the kind of person that never gets lost, but i never leave the house w/o my ique now. it's fun, it's useful, and it makes life easier.

I installed the software per the user's guide and used it on the first day I got it (12/23/03). My wife was driving and I was reading about it in the car. I had the GPS on and was amazed at how the map moved (Track up mode) as we moved. It was accurate re: driving speed, location, odometer, etc. Then I tried the Que Route mode and tried reaching a destination. The thing kept saying "Off Route, recalculating" over, and over, and over again. I was pissed! Then I read some reviews and learned that I had to go to the Garmin website (http://www.garmin.com/support/download.jsp) to download "release 2" and "release 2 patch 1." After following the detailed instructions and re-trying the Que route, the navigation was perfect. No problems whatsoever. The unit is occasionally inaccurate as to street addresses, and is better with known intersections (gets you there within 10 feet accuracy). Some street addresses were right on the money, but others were a few houses off. Overall, however, it's a tremendous tool and a very fun toy.
Definitely get the 256 MB expansion card at a minimum and you absolutely need the Auto-Nav travel kit.

I have been awaiting the release of this unit for a long time. I even sold my Streetpilot III to buy this so that I could integrate my PDA with GPS. You have heard all the positives, here are my list of negatives:

1. The biggest disappointment is that there are a LOT of addresses that cannot be found by a simple search. I have not been able to find some very popular roads. Yet, when you zoom in on that road manually, there it is, name and all. That is bad, bad, bad. That MUST be fixed on this unit. With my job, there are many times I go to an address or street I have never been to before, so I cannot manually go there by the map. I need the unit to find it for me and send me there.

2.You have to use your fingernail to open the GPS antenna. The hole is too small to even use my pinky to open it.

3. The stylus is very hard to remove. I have to pry it out with my fingernails, as well.

4. In many instances, you have to save a POI or address that you enter as a waypoint before you can route to it. On the Streetpilot III, the GoTo feature routed right to it from the search menu.

If you need a PDA and GPS in one unit, this one will work for you. If you need a really good GPS, though, I would recommend that you wait for the new Streetpilot coming out in late summer 2003. The iQue is missing too much information to be effective as a standalone GPS. There are still more positives than negatives for this unit, though. Just be aware of the shortfalls before you fork over that green!

The new iQue 3600 from Garmin is truly amazing. For a very attractive price, you get a powerful Palm OS 5-based PDA that sports a screaming 200 MHz Motorola DragonBall MXL ARM 9 processor, 32MB of memory (some of which is reserved for system operations), and a nice 320x480 high-color screen, the highest resolution I've seen on a palmtop. The iQue 3600 weighs in at a little over 5 ounces with the built-in LiIon battery, and it's only slightly bigger than a Zire 71, and feels good in either hand.

So you can use it as a fast Palm PDA, but the true beauty of the iQue is its built-in GPS function. When you are out in the open -- GPS won't work indoors or in a dense forest since the satellite signal can't get to you -- the iQue picks up both GPS and WAAS signals (WAAS is a system that supplements GPS, the way I understand it) and, in less than a minute, tell you your early coordinates. Coupled with a mapping program (a very basic one is included), the iQue will tell you where on earth you are, accurate to about 10 feet! For a first-time GPS user like me, the result simply blows me away. Obviously if you don't travel a lot, or live in a big city like New York, GPS is of very little use. But for the road warrior as well as fancy gadget lover (I'm the latter), this is a must-have.

Both the GPS and the bright, large color screen suck battery juice like a puppy in Houston, so battery is weak on the iQue, about the only gripe one would have about this wonderfully implemented product. With GPS on continuously and screen set to mid-level brightness and running a mapping program off the secure digital card, you'll run out in about an hour! That's not a typo or exaggeration. If you can do without sophisticated map software and turn off backlight, you can probably manage for about 3-4 hours. If you don't use GPS -- but you got this really for the GPS, didn't you? -- using the Palm part for an hour a day will last you about 3 days with backlight on. Which is not totally bad compared to Pocket PCs, hehehe...

In short, the iQue does exceptionally well what it was designed to do. Granted GPS as a whole can be improved, but Garmin has done an admirable job with a well designed, well made product and the price should tempt every GPS user out there.

I don't know how I lived without this unit, well, after I figured it out anyway. I was amazed how the Ique 3600 worked in my car, boat and on my desk, it's even a Palm Pilot too. Now I plan my vacations, not by computer/web maps, but on my Ique 3600. OK, it did take me about 1 hour of fast reading to figure it out well enough to get me to work and back the same day. Now I can navigate at nite and in unfamiliar territory. When I go off-route on purpose or accidentally, it will w/i one block reroute me generally w/o sending me back to the old route and often picks a better route.
The manual is a little sketchy and vague, like no description of the location of the on/off button! But otherwise written so a computer geek would understand. I am still struggling with it.
Garmin has a help line and e-mail which helps too. For example I did not know how to keep my location on the screen without constantly dragging the map with the stylus. Now I just hit the black triangle (lower center) and the map now always shows my location in the center of the screen. Garmin has new software updates for the maps and the Ique system on their web site.
The voice command is the main selling point for me since my wife can't read maps too well, now I have another female voice in my car saying: "In .2 of a mile turn right." Shortly thereafter the female voice says: "In 200 feet turn right." At the same time at the top of the screen, it says: "Turn right on 5th Street." Wow, how do it know?
This device also gives you the time of arrival at your destination, altitude, and many other geeky items we need to know and wish we had know all these years. So far I am just practicing, but next week it's off to unfamiliar Seattle and a fun adventure with my new toy. Oh, it also is programed with restuarants, hotels, etc, not only their locations but their phone numbers as well! Get the extra memory chip, you'll need it and the auto navigator kit for your car/boat. I give it a 5+.

OK, First off this thing is a definite winner if you are looking for a PDA and a GPS. I had been looking for a GPS for a while and was planning on the GPSMAP 60CS, but Garmin kept delaying it. Then I started a new job and had a need for a PDA. I was also wanting an MP3 player. I came across the ique and started my research. I always tend to over research things before I buy. So here is my homework to better help you decide.

I really liked this device but was a little leary reading all of the negative comments about resets and lockups and the like.
Let me put the negativity to rest. GET THE UPDATES FOLKS!

My unit did not come with the latest updates, I went to garmins website and got all of the software and firmware updates. All went well and was pretty simple. I have had the unit for almost 4 weeks and use it daily, mostly the pda portion, probably used the GPS 35% of the 4 weeks. I have only had 1 lockup, it is very dry where I work and I picked the unit up and shocked it and it hung solid. A quick hard reset and I was on my way, no data lost.

Here are some items you will need to make your experience a good one. Although it does jack up the total cost a quite bit.

1. The Auto Kit
2. A gilsson Amplified GPS MCX / OSX antenna
3. ique AA Battery Extender Box
4. 512MB Sandisk SD Card
5. Travel kit is nice as it supplies a remote charger, usb data cable.
6. Leather Case

Numbers 1,3,4 are must have items, the rest are nice to have. Just do a google search for numbers 2 & 3.

About the only bad point I can voice is the battery issue. But there are ways around it. Item #3 will give you an additional 3-4 hours using rechargeables, this little device rocks and is cheap! under 10 bucks! Also turn down the brightness on the display, full blast will eat the batteries alive and it still looks great at about 20-30 % brightness. I can get 6-8 hours at a time using as a PDA/MP3 player and slight GPS.

The screen display at 16 bit color is beautiful! The pda functionality rocks, with an mp player such as aeroplayer installed this thing rocks as an mp3 player. Check out palmgear.com for pda software, just make sure you get applications written for palm OS 5. I have installed several and have not had any issues.

The GPS is great and the unit comes with a full version of city select 5 for the detailed maps. I have had accuracy of the GPS to within 7 feet using WAAS enabled. If you miss a turn the software will quickly reroute the trip and get you back on track. I can't say enough. Keep in mind though this is a pda and not a rugged device, although I dropped mine on my kitchen floor from about 2 feet with it on and it did not skip a beat. Garmin just recently added a few GPS tools like best fishing times and sun & moon info, I would like to see more GPS addons like this in the future, such as an application to figure out area, like walking around your yard and calculating acreage, things such as this would be simple enough for them to write. I hope they keep bringing us more apps for the GPS.

Definitely consider a 512MB SD card if you want to tote several MP3's and several detail state maps. I have one and am seriously considering a 1 gig card when the prices come down. Mind you I like to carry around 500 MB in MP3 and around 400 MB in maps.

In closing, if you would like a PDA, GPS, MP3 Player, the ique is a definite winner for the price. I have seen MP3 players for the same money and you don't get a PDA and GPS. If the unit would get about 8 hours just on the internal batteries this this would be 10 stars. Although with the item 3 listed above it really is not an issue. You really do get a lot for your money with this package. If you are walking the line of do I get it or do I wait, I say get it you will love it.

The previous reviews cover most of the bases, but I had to chime in. I bought mine from Amazon and just finished a drive across the country with it. The unit is not perfect, but I just love the look-and-feel and the dashboard mount, and the GPS functions are hugely more useful than I ever imagined...even if I know where I'm going. We needed a couple of resets here and there, found a few instances of old or missing map data, found some undocumented clumsiness in the interface, had to buy an SD card to store the maps, mysteriously lost voice navigation for awhile, and a few other minor annoyances. But it is immediately apparent that GPS handheld computers are the future, and this product is a killer if Garmin keeps working on the software and maps. This is my first use of a GPS, and I have my own wish list:

- Add a plug-in interface so third parties can integrate patches and useful info (e.g., restaurant ratings, road construction points, route descriptions) with the maps.

- Find points of interest along my route, not just near my current location or destination.

- Show distances to selected locations by the shortest route, not as the crow flies (very dangerous for estimating when you need to get gas).

I could go on. But for a first-generation product, the ique is awesome. Garmin is serious, and it will only get better from here, especially if they take the critical steps to create a competitive market for map patches and extensions. The maps are the weak link, since the US does not yet have the full infrastructure needed to maintain accurate maps in a timely fashion (e.g., as roads are built and businesses come and go).

I have had the iQue 3600 for over a week and have taken
several trips with it ranging from a few miles to over
300 miles long. In most cases, the iQue 3600 can be relied
on to give you correct directions to your destination.
However the map database does occasionally show its quirks.
On at least two occasions, I was advised to take a particular
road but the displayed name was incorrect even though the
actual direction to the destination was, as it turned out
later, correct.

The other problem is battery life. If you don't have the car
navigation kit, expect the battery to be completely drained
in around 8 hours of continuous operation, then too with
the backlight turned off.

Happily however the advantages outweigh the above problems.
The integration of the Palm OS Address Book and the GPS mapping
software couldn't be better. Just select an address, ask the
unit to locate it and you are on your way. Satellite acquistion
is fast, dependable and rarely takes more than a few seconds.
(except for the first time.) The 320x480 pixel TFT display is
bright and readable in any light condition. Two features of the
grafitti area are really nice- that it displays your input so
you can see what you are drawing and correct mistakes next
time. And that the entire grafitti area is virtual hiding
itself when its not needed. The increased display real estate
comes in handy when viewing moving maps. Getting a SD card
seems to be almost a neccesity as there is very little free
space on the built in 32 MB RAM to store detailed maps. I
managed to only save about three maps before the memory was
completely full. A 128 MB Secure Digital card on the other
hand is enough to store every detailed map for California.

For those familiar with Palm OS apps, all the usual apps are
there. I "beamed" several apps from a Handspring Prism and
they worked just fine.

I decided to get the Garmin iQue 3600 since I needed a new Palm anyway and liked the idea of having a portable GPS for hiking and travel. Here is a brief summary of my two-week experience:
Price - very reasonable for such a bundle.
Convenience of use - very good.
Memory - an SD card is a must. The internal RAM will get you nowhere since it is all taken up. I bought a Panasonic 512 MB SD and I don't regret it. Now I have plenty of room for maps, MP3 music, third-party Palm products (including memory hogs such as dictionaries and e-books).
GPS performance - as good (or as mediocre) as you can expect from a hand-held GPS. Very good when holding horizontally outdoors, reception lost when putting in you pocket, lost when going indoors, reasonable on a car dashboard.
Software - well, you know Palm OS with all its quirks and inconviences, but this is Palm, nothing to do about it. Unfortunately, Garmin's device-specific software (Que) is no better. Worthless documentation, unhelpful Help, and some quirky procedures (most notably in Tracks and Audio).
Most troublesome point - absence of external battery pack. What is the use of a portable GPS if you can't take it on a decent half-a-day hike? Palm's own Power-to-Go is incompatible. I got Power Runner (look for it on the Web) and it is excellen t on all accounts, except for being a bit heavy.
In summary, iQue 3600 is the best of its kind, simply because it is the only device of its kind at the present (for this reason it is also the worst ...). Be prepared to spend $... on the unit,another $... on a SD card, then another handful of dollars on Power Runner, then perhaps another handful on a Car Kit, and you are ready to go.

I've had Palm products for six years and my i705 just went kaput. I researched the Garmin and although have a GPS in my family car, wanted to have navigation capability when traveling for business.

Many pluses: although I just recently purchased the device, I still had to upgrade the firmware to version 3. The upgrade wasn't difficult, but I performed it after I had used it for several weeks and was leary about messing everything up. Instructions were clear and the upgrade was uneventful.

For those with Palms with the universal adapters (V, Vx, M105, etc), the Garmin uses the same univeral plug so the travel kits, car adapters, etc. will also work on the Garmin so you don't have to purchase additionally for the new product.

The GPS part works great! I recently traveled to Chicago and visited about a dozen customers. The iQue took me the the front door every time.

If you have an older version Palm device, your 3rd party software programs might not work with the newer version 5.0 software. Shouldn't be a big deal as you can upgrade them.

Do buy an expansion chip. I purchased a 256K and have more than enough room. You'll then have more than enough room on the handheld for whatever programs you want to add on there.

Negatives: Battery!!! You'll need the car kit so you can use this for navigation on trips. I use the PDA to read books on trips (saves packing space) and am wondering how long the battery will last on a long plane trip.

All-in-All: It's a keeper.