Garmin iQue M5 - 3.5 in. Handheld GPS Receiver
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Similar in GPS Devices
- Form Factor: Handheld
- Map capabilities: Map cartridges / Data cards
- Receiver Type: 12 Channels
- Enhanced accuracy: WAAS enabled
- Screen Size: 3.5 in.
- GPS Type: Handheld (Outdoor)
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Lost nevermore
Pros
accurate. Light. Full functioned PocketPC. Good maps. Great in emergencies.
Cons
Not cheap. Antenna has potential to be broken off if not stowed when GPS off.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
It's like buying a navigation system and getting a free PocketPC with it. Handy, light and very useful, especially in unfamiliar towns.
I bought my wife an Ique M5 for Christmas. And it has been a wonderful little gadget! I wish I had one of these for myself.
The M5 is a general purpose Pocket PC, with Word, Excel and a few other programs already installed. The computer will keep your phone/address list, schedule, and more. It's a full function PDA with a cradle that serves to charge the unit and to syncronize the files with those of a laptop or desktop.
But where the unit really shines is when you flip up the antenna on the back. Automatically, the unit switchs to the GPS software and finds the satellites.
The first thing to note about this unit is that you WILL need to purchase an SDCard to put in the top slot. That is where the maps you transfer from your laptop go into. The cards aren't expensive, but the bigger the card, the more area you can hold at a time. We currently use about 130Meg of a 1gig card and hold the entire state of Texas in it.
You also need to get the unit to syncronize with a laptop/desktop before you do anything with it. Software that comes on CD with the I5 runs on your regular PC and allows you to select what regions of the country you want maps for. It's nice because you never have to worry about old maps or holding data you'll never, ever need. But if you don't have a regular computer with USB already, get the I4 instead as all the maps are preinstalled within it.
It takes a bit of practice to get used to using the navigation system. The most basic operation is to guide you to an address from where you are now. To do this, click on the Routes icon at the bottom of the screen and then press Find an Address. You'll start with the city name first, then the number and finally the street. You'll see a list of possible destinations, usually only one. Select it as your destination and then press Route to It.
That's all there is to it. The unit will then start speaking (through the cigarette lighter adapter, which you should have plugged in to operate longer) and directing you to your destination. If you go off course, the computer will automatically build a new route for you in 15 seconds or so. So if you realize there is traffic on the path it is giving you and want to take a different road, just take it. The I5 will determine the best new possible route for you.
There are many more features here that I'd like to talk about than time to discuss. Important features include a list of recent address searchs that reduces your need to input the same address over and over again. Another feature allows you to instruct the I5 to avoid things like toll roads and major highways. Be advised though, when we tried the "Avoid Highways" feature, the computer took us on and off the frontage roads instead of going to a nearby parallel road - apparently, keeping the distance down overrides everything else. Just be aware of it because going on and off frontage roads is more dangerous than just staying on the freeway.
The display shows you in a look-down orientation the roads around you and the course you are on. A heading line shows which way you are travelling. You can switch between North on Top view or Direction Travelling on Top view. We prefer the Direction Travelling view since up will then always show you what's ahead of you. Your course is outlined in pink on the display and data on distance and time to your next turn is shown as well (although those can be turned off if you like.)
In the short time we've had it, it has turned out to be a reliable little tool with a modest bit of a learning curve to use properly. It works and it works well - with the WAAS enabled the I5 can follow me walking around in only two steps. It has a large number of POI (points of interest) such as gas stations, pharmacies and hotels as well. You can find the phone number of the nearest pharmacy with a few taps on the display, as a realworld example of its utility.
The M5 is a general purpose Pocket PC, with Word, Excel and a few other programs already installed. The computer will keep your phone/address list, schedule, and more. It's a full function PDA with a cradle that serves to charge the unit and to syncronize the files with those of a laptop or desktop.
But where the unit really shines is when you flip up the antenna on the back. Automatically, the unit switchs to the GPS software and finds the satellites.
The first thing to note about this unit is that you WILL need to purchase an SDCard to put in the top slot. That is where the maps you transfer from your laptop go into. The cards aren't expensive, but the bigger the card, the more area you can hold at a time. We currently use about 130Meg of a 1gig card and hold the entire state of Texas in it.
You also need to get the unit to syncronize with a laptop/desktop before you do anything with it. Software that comes on CD with the I5 runs on your regular PC and allows you to select what regions of the country you want maps for. It's nice because you never have to worry about old maps or holding data you'll never, ever need. But if you don't have a regular computer with USB already, get the I4 instead as all the maps are preinstalled within it.
It takes a bit of practice to get used to using the navigation system. The most basic operation is to guide you to an address from where you are now. To do this, click on the Routes icon at the bottom of the screen and then press Find an Address. You'll start with the city name first, then the number and finally the street. You'll see a list of possible destinations, usually only one. Select it as your destination and then press Route to It.
That's all there is to it. The unit will then start speaking (through the cigarette lighter adapter, which you should have plugged in to operate longer) and directing you to your destination. If you go off course, the computer will automatically build a new route for you in 15 seconds or so. So if you realize there is traffic on the path it is giving you and want to take a different road, just take it. The I5 will determine the best new possible route for you.
There are many more features here that I'd like to talk about than time to discuss. Important features include a list of recent address searchs that reduces your need to input the same address over and over again. Another feature allows you to instruct the I5 to avoid things like toll roads and major highways. Be advised though, when we tried the "Avoid Highways" feature, the computer took us on and off the frontage roads instead of going to a nearby parallel road - apparently, keeping the distance down overrides everything else. Just be aware of it because going on and off frontage roads is more dangerous than just staying on the freeway.
The display shows you in a look-down orientation the roads around you and the course you are on. A heading line shows which way you are travelling. You can switch between North on Top view or Direction Travelling on Top view. We prefer the Direction Travelling view since up will then always show you what's ahead of you. Your course is outlined in pink on the display and data on distance and time to your next turn is shown as well (although those can be turned off if you like.)
In the short time we've had it, it has turned out to be a reliable little tool with a modest bit of a learning curve to use properly. It works and it works well - with the WAAS enabled the I5 can follow me walking around in only two steps. It has a large number of POI (points of interest) such as gas stations, pharmacies and hotels as well. You can find the phone number of the nearest pharmacy with a few taps on the display, as a realworld example of its utility.
