PDA / pocket PC question for all you computer dinks

Creeping Death · Post by **Creeping Death** » June 24th, 2005, 6:45 am

I'm trying to find out if a piece of equipment exists or not. I have found something close, but am not sure if it will do exactly what I want.

What I am looking for is a pocket PC / PDA that has your usual calendars, to do lists, phone lists, etc that I can use as a business planner, as well as MS Excel for my spreadsheet applications, yada yada yada ....... business stuff. That can be found nearly anywhere.

My problem is that I also want to be able to use my pocket PC to be able to get on the internet (bluetooth tech), download GPS software onto my pocket PC, and navigate off of that pocket PC. Basicly, I want to do away with my GPS and have it all right there on my pocket PC that I use in my business.

Garmin makes a unit with built in GPs capabilities designed to be used with street maps, like this one:

http://www.garmin.com/products/iQueM5/

It looks all fine well and good, but I don't need to use streep maps. I want to be able to use topos. I want to be able to download mapping software onto the pc, flip up my GPS antenna, and navigate into the back country with one piece of equipment that I can mark waypoints onto my electronic topo that I have downloaded onto the pc.

Do any of you computer gurus know of such pc that you can do this with topo maps, instead of just street maps?

Black 6 · Post by **Black 6** » June 24th, 2005, 7:42 am

my father-in-law has a i-paq and it does what you want as far as the gps, i have a i-paq that does the internet. delorme has a topo program that you might like and you can down load a handheld tab so you can use your pda. i do not know if it works with the gps that my in-law has (nice setup, it is a holster that the pda fits in, so if you do not need the gps you can simply remove it and not worry about the additional bulk of the antena) he uses ms maps as an ex-officer he admits he has major dificultys in using regular maps and gets lost. my 2215 has bluetooth and i downloaded aol for it, it also has other programs built in to be able to connect with other devices and the internet through them. the 2215 is nice but has limits. look at www.delorme.com and you will find good maps. the do have a bluetooth gps but it is seprate unit. i have been useing the topo 4.0 on my laptop in the woods for a long time and like the fetures, i will be upgradeing to the 5.0 for hunting season this year with the gps on the hand held. as far as th in-laws, i will find out the model and where he got it and let you know. any questions?

by the way i prefer minor geek

Ruffner275 · Post by **Ruffner275** » June 24th, 2005, 9:49 am

I have a watch with a compass on my wrist, a pen and a notebook in my pocket. Why would I need anything else?

AbnRgr289 · Post by **AbnRgr289** » June 26th, 2005, 2:48 pm

Desert Sloth wrote:here you go CD...

Redneck PDA

I agree with DS, this one has always worked very well for me!

ANGRYCivilian · Post by **ANGRYCivilian** » June 27th, 2005, 10:19 am

Check out the Blackberry 7520 and MiniExcel

It's $49.99 through NexTel right now.

Creeping Death · Post by **Creeping Death** » June 27th, 2005, 11:28 am

Don't own one. This will be the first time I've purchased one.