Ryan Joseph
11-12-2004, 06:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/PIN_200.jpg" /><br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Pocket PC with built-in GPS receiver<br /><b>Manufacturer</b> Navman<br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://pocketpcthoughts.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=3646462">Pricegrabber</a> [affiliate]<br /><b>Price:</b> $399.99 to $499.99 USD<br /><b>Specifications:</b> 400MHz Intel XScale processor, 64MB RAM, 32MB ROM, QVGA Display, SDIO slot, integrated GPS system<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><br /><li>Very clear, bright screen (no yellowing);<br /><li>Awesome software;<br /><li>Device is nice and small;<br /><li>Everything is included...<b>Cons:</b><br /><li>...except a cradle;<br /><li>GPS not as integrated as I would have liked;<br /><li>Antenna gets in the way;<br /><li>GPS fix is sometimes slow.<b>Summary:</b><br />The PiN is a very stable PPC/GPS solution that will flawlessly navigate you to your destination 90% of the time (and get you very close the other 10%). I set it on the female voice and she helped me so much that I gave her a name, Viki, the AI from <a href="http://www.irobotmovie.com/">I, Robot</a>. :D<br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><br /><span><b>What's in the box</b></span><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN15.JPG"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN15.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Figure 1: The box contents...Viki's accessories (Click for larger image).</i><br /><br />Viki arrived with her suitcase of accessories:<br /><br /><li>AC adapter;<br /><li>Car adapter;<br /><li>Windshield mount;<br /><li>USB sync cable;<br /><li>Manuals and literature;<br /><li>Microsoft Outlook and ActiveSync install CD;<br /><li>SmartST software (with 3 CDs of maps);<br /><li>32MB MultiMedia card (this is way too small...the map of PA alone was 45 megs).The unit ships with almost everything one could possible want. There's a really cool windshield mount for use in the car and the mount is even shaped so that the cigarette lighter adapter can plug in while the device is in the mount. Very nice. :mrgreen: <br /><br />There's also a very nice leather slip case with a hard front which protects the screen. I felt very comfortable carrying the unit around in this case in my pocket.<br /><br />The most notably absent item was a cradle. For a device this expensive, I expected a full cradle, but the unit ships with only a USB cable and AC adapter.<br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><br /><span><b>The SmartST software</b></span><br />The PiN ships with Navman's SmartST navigation software. It comes with two components, a desktop version and a handheld version. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN01.JPG"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN01.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Figure 2: The desktop program...Viki's database (click for larger image).</i><br /><br />The desktop part of the program is well designed but has a few flaws. First off, it's slow starting up. This isn't a big deal because you rarely use the desktop program...just to transfer maps once in a while. <br /><br />Next, the program doesn't work unless the PiN is connected via ActiveSync. Again, not a huge problem because you really only use the program to transfer maps.<br /><br />Thirdly, the program requires you to insert the map CDs to function. The maps take up 3 CDs and there's no ability to install all the maps...CD swaping is required. :?<br /><br />However, one of my favorite features is the ability to add maps to a memory card via a card reader and not just through the ActiveSync connection. When transfering 60MB maps, a USB 2 connection makes a HUGE difference. :wink: <br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN09.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 3: The main menu...your wish is Viki's command.</i><br /><br />The handheld version is where the real power is. It sometimes takes a few minutes to get a GPS fix, but once it does, Viki knows where you are. The first time I put an address in for driving directions, I was surprised that there was no From field, just where I wanted to end up. Then I realized that it used my current position as the starting point. Way cool. :mrgreen:<br /><br />For general mapping purposes, SmartST displays a view from straight above with North being up:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN03.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 4: The view from above...Viki's watching you.</i><br /><br />But when you're en route, the software shows a very cool 3D map view that rotates with your movement so you're always facing your route:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN04.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 5: The route view...Viki's guiding you.</i><br /><br />When a route is in use, the device speaks directions out loud to you. There are both male and female voices. I chose the female voice and, as I said, found her so helpful that I named her Viki. The speaker on the device is very loud and very clear. Most of the time I left it at half volume and could still hear it over the engine noise.<br /><br />Viki also seamlessly switched between states. Other GPS software that I've used will work fine until a state border, then it will stop and say, "Loading New Jersey" for a few seconds before going back to the map. Not so with SmartST. It treated it as if there were no break.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN05.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 6: GPS status...Viki knows where you are.</i><br /><br />As far as the actual directions go, Viki was pretty good, but she didn't know everything. Some of the more notable hiccups were: once she completely didn't know where a massive four-lane freeway was and insisted on showing my position out in the middle of a field...as soon as I got off the freeway, she picked right back up again; once she told me to take an exit that wasn't there; more than once she directed me along dirt or gravel roads that, in my opinion, shouldn't be considered roads at all :?; etc.<br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><b><span>The device itself</span></b><br />The PiN is small as Pocket PCs go...but that GPS antenna on the back throws the measurements off. Here are comparison shots with an iPAQ h1945 and an i-mate PPC Phone:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN10.JPG"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN10.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Figure 7: Side-by-side comparison (click for larger image).</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN14.JPG"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN14.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Figure 8: Side-by-side comparison, antenna open (click for larger image).</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN11.JPG"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN11.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Figure 9: Stacked comparison (i-mate on bottom, 1945 in middle, PiN on top) (click for larger image).</i><br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><b><span>Additional software</span></b><br />The PiN ships with three additional software programs, eBackup, eMenu, and MP3Player.<br /><br />eBackup is a simple backup utility that allows backup of whatever data you want to either the device memory or a storage card:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN06.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 10: eBackup...Viki cannot be erased.</i><br /><br />eMenu is a very ellegant program launcher. It allows you to organize programs into groups, select background images, and always shows the device's vital statistics at the top of the screen:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN07.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 11: eMenu...Viki is here to help.</i><br /><br />MP3Player is, creatively enough, just that. It doesn't really function any differently than the Windows Media Player except for one important feature...it has a graphic equalizer. 8O Very nice!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/joseph-oct04-PiN08.JPG" /><br /><i>Figure 12: MP3 Player...let Viki entertain you.</i><br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><b><span>I Wish...</span></b><br />I wish the GPS was more integrated into the system. With my Phone Editing device I can just tap on a phone number to call it. I was hoping that a GPS device would allow simply taping on an address in Contacts to navigate to it. Now I realize that this would call for a major change to the core OS...like Phone Edition. The actual OS is different which is what allows phone calls to be so tightly integrated into the system. Perhaps someday there will be Pocket PC GPS Edition. That will be a good day. 8) <br /><br /><b><span>Conclusion</span></b><br />I am going to have a very hard time breaking up with Viki. She isn't the perfect companion and has her flaws just like everyone else, but she really knows what she's doing and, most of the time, will get you where you need to go. They always say not to get into a relationship with someone you know is leaving, but my heart got the better of me this time. :ppclove: