NaviGadget

Garmin iQue M4 GPS PocketPC Review

Mar 27, 2006 gps navigation, reviews

Garmin has for years had a PDA/GPS combination based on the Palm operating system. Now they have entered the Windows Mobile arena with three units, the M3, M4 and M5 PDA. This review covers the middle model, the M4.

The M4 is a good design, with a solid function as a Windows Mobile PDA, but also works well as an integrated GPS using the Garmin City Navigator North America NT software preinstalled and all maps already installed. Out of the box, this device is GPS ready! This image shows the M5 model, but all three are essentially the same size and shape, with the differences being in speed, maps installed and the availability of Bluetooth…

The Test

The box contained the Garmin itself, with an integrated screen cover, power adapters for wall charging and car charging, cables to connect it all together and a stylish windshield mount to hold it in place in view of the driver. The GPS is integrated into the PDA itself, contained in a flip up patch on the back of the PDA. You can see it deployed in the picture. As soon as you release the catch to allow the antenna to flip up, the GPS turns on and the City Navigator software starts. The software and maps are pre-installed in internal memory that is in addition to the typical PDA memory. On the M4, you get North America, including the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. The M5 also includes South America. European and Pacific Rim basemaps are available from Garmin.

Garmin has been in the navigation business for a long time, and the software maturity shows it. The user interface is easy to understand, and the map displays are beautiful… read