I've been tempted with some of the DealExtreme Windows CE knock offs. Can't you stick TomTom on some of those too?

I got an ebuyer value one for about 30 quid, and then TomTom accidentally fell of the internet onto it.

I thought that was the case with these. A huge screen is tempting to have a dedicated satnav.

I used to find TomTom on my WM phone much easier to follow than Google Nav on my Desire. Not quite sure what it is, maybe the lines too narrow or the colours too similar but on a few occasions I've been confused where to go at junctions with lots of roads off them.

One of the things I liked best about my Navman was that all the roads were grey except the one you were following, which was green (and I think motorways, which might have blue). It was really nice and easy to follow. I'd show you a picture but every single screenshot of the actual device on Google Images seems to show the exact same image.

I tried the eBuyer G422 before Xmas, it was dire. The supplied software was awful; even after replacing this software with iGo, the voice directions were difficult to understand due to the feeble internal speaker which distorted when turned up loud enough to hear.

You can put TomTom on most of the generic ones, though there seems to be a problem with stability on the Windows CE 6 ones with more than 64MB of RAM, apparently TomTom doesn't expect 128MB of RAM so screws up if you're not careful. There's no such problems with iGo, in fact it works better with 128MB RAM if you're planning on adding loads of plugins.

The update speed depends on how much information is in the data files, plus how complicated the current location is. I've been using the full UK and Northern Ireland Navteq maps, complete with the full UK POI data (albeit only displaying parking and fuel on the live map) and 3D buildings for main cities. With text to speech enabled I'm still getting around 10 FPS most of the time. I did try running with the elevation data (which renders the map in 3D instead of on a 2D plane), but that dropped the display to approx 2-3 FPS at times.

 

If you check the "User Pictures" section of Deal Extreme, you'll see more pictures. I'll try and upload some shots later.

Hm, very few of the map display. I swear, when I get a satnav I'm going to make a video of it in use as I'm driving around.

PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW

You can change the colour scheme on TomTom's I have blue motorways on mine, and green A roads, it looks just like a road atlas!

That sounds more sensible than some of the colour schemes I've seen. Any chance of some pictures? :$

This, for example, is a horrible confusing mess:


(I know the numbers in yellow circles aren't part of the display, but even so.)

Is it possible to make the non-road parts grey or maybe less garish than that yucky peach colour?

edit: a video of the GO LIVE 1000 in action showed it having much more subdued colours, so hmm. Still, this was based on a ~10 second segment in a 4 minute video, most of which was spent blathering on about the menus and cables and other uninteresting stuff. This is reet annoying :@

blimey, just follow the red bit and you should be fine!

Well, having watched a splendid video of the GO LIVE 1000 in action it actually looks rather nice, much nicer, in fact, than the TomToms of old.

So yes, I shall indeed follow the red bit :D

Well, I managed to grab a rough video on my mobile.

This is iGo Primo v1.2 with:

• UK & NI Maps
• 3D buildings
• Full UK POI list, showing parking and fuel on maps.
• UK Text to speech
• Default colour scheme

http://img689.imageshack.us/i/igo1.jpg/
http://img339.imageshack.us/i/igo2.jpg/
http://img844.imageshack.us/i/igo3.jpg/
http://img202.imageshack.us/i/igo4.jpg/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvNGDuZnAvA

The video is with it using the inbuilt 2GB memory which is sluggish compared to a fast MicroSD, but it's fine for my occasional use.

See now that is useful! Thank you so much :D

Hmm, now I'm wondering what it'd be like to have a 6 incher (y,j)...

I downloaded it through tomtom home yonks ago, couldn't tell you what it's called but there's plenty about on the web http://www.colorschemeeditor.com/index.php?p=schemes&lang=EN has several options including Michelin colours and OS map colours amongst others, or the ability to make your own schemes!

So what you want is software with a highly legible map (or the ability to customise colours and produce one).

You don't care about colour schemes so long as the map is legible?

( And no, that's not being pedantic, it's being precise and clear - exactly the same thing you're asking for in a sat nav. :P )

I have not been in any of you. (Despite what many might wish.)


It's perfectly normal for people to have specific requirements - but unfortunately it's also normal for people to suppress them for everyday things, and not pay enough attention to what they really want.

If you did, everyone would be happier, and the world would be a better place, and I wouldn't have to moan so much. :P

(cheer)