| GPS manufacturers these days are locked in an | | | | processing power. |
| ever increasing fight to win over customers, not a | | | | Unfortunately even the dedicated sat nav units |
| day goes by without this or that new feature, to | | | | haven't kept up in the processing dept, not that |
| entice you away from your money. | | | | they were ever there in the first place. |
| The one thing that never really keeps up with all | | | | So what's the solution? |
| this is the processing speed of each unit's | | | | You probably own one, a pda or personal digital |
| processor. | | | | assistant, or a pocket PC |
| Having city maps for use on foot or, pub guides is | | | | Pocket PC sat nav isn't widely used due to the |
| very good but it slows down things where you | | | | need for some loading of software and and a |
| need it the most out on the road. | | | | spattering of computer knowledge, nothing that |
| When I first started using sat nav units, the thrill | | | | involves needing the intellect of Einstein. |
| of simply having a unit tell you where to go, was | | | | Speed is the main advantage of pocket pc sat |
| pleasure enough, and all this without even voice | | | | nav. Software is widely available that supports |
| commands, just a beep to announce an impending | | | | traffic information, speed camera's poi's in fact |
| turn or action, to see what that involved meant | | | | everything a dedicated unit will do only a lot |
| having a good look at the screen and figuring it | | | | better. |
| out, which was always interesting while driving | | | | Manufacturers are now striving to make their |
| Thankfully along comes voice guidance, which did | | | | units ever more portable allowing it to be used |
| save me from an inevitable collision gaping at a | | | | while navigating on foot, using say Garmins city |
| screen figuring out that beep. | | | | navigator, or the other end of the stick, taking it |
| Voice commands however do take more | | | | with you so it doesn't end up being sold down the |
| processing power, so same unit slower | | | | pub for a tenner. |
| performance, especially in re routing calculations, | | | | Having pocket PC sat nav, gives you, portability, |
| often involving turns up one way streets, not | | | | processing speed, up to 624mhz far faster than |
| clever at all. | | | | any dedicated unit, and if you are into venturing |
| The early re routing speed of the first voice | | | | into the great outdoors, just load up a full |
| guidance units, made for some interesting | | | | ordnance survey mapping program for what ever |
| situations, 10 seconds is a long time to wait for | | | | area you need, and revel in lightning route |
| guidance when you are in a complex driving | | | | calculations, map redraws and much better sat |
| situation, and a wrong move could get you on the | | | | nav experience. |
| motorway with a next junction 6 miles sign!! | | | | Pda's aren't waterproof so for use in your |
| More features on sat nav units, like speed camera | | | | hillwalking ventures just drop it into a fully |
| warnings, and verbal warnings for speed limits, | | | | waterproof pack designed for the purpose and it |
| features for finding the cheapest fuel, and the | | | | will stay safe and dry. |
| most economical route, are now all demanding | | | | |