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The
iQue was a big first for Garmin last year—and is still the only PDA
with a built-in GPS—but it’s not particularly at home on a boat.
It will plot on BlueCharts but can’t yet display their included tide
predictions and is light on conventional marine navigation functions.
Plus it’s not waterproof and the normally smooth relationship with
Garmin’s PC mapping and routing software had to be awkwardly modified
to work around the iQue’s Palm V operating system. On the other hand,
the Palm OS means that the iQue can easily synch with your computer’s
to-do lists and address book. In fact, this PDA can map such an address
with a stylus tap, then route you to it with verbal street turn directions
in a wide choice of languages. Perhaps ironically, the $589 iQue also
does a good job of running more marine-specific Palm charting programs
like Fugawi or Maptech’s Outdoor Navigator. It also has a lovely,
if battery-sapping, screen. Note that Garmin regularly posts software
updates for all its active products, so my complaints might be history
tomorrow.
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