Pocket Navigator = old and crippled version of Memory Map Navigator.
What's so much better about MM Navigator?
http://www.gpspassion.com/en/software/mmv4/mm_v4f.htm has a review
covering version 4 of PN and MMN (and the extra features of MMP.) MMN
is up to v5.
Here is a quick summary from the above link:
"The Maptech version doesn't allow all the various map types, 3D view,
Sync Views, and prior to V4 didn't contain the enhanced overlay manager
on the PocketPC, allowing you to list marks, routes, etc, in tabular
form (which is a nice feature). And of course, no printing or support
for creating and calibrating your own maps."
And the professional version adds the following features in addition to
the standard version:
- CSV (comma separated value) and ESRI Shapefile format. CSV is good
for managing data using a spreadsheet. and Shapefiles are widely used
for distributing geographic data.
- Support for large format printers, Tabloid (11" x 17" and larger)
inkjet printers
- Hi-res display for Pocket PC using Second Sight wearable display.
- Adds support for the free PocketAIS plugin. AIS target display on
both Pocket PC and desktop.
There are further features in the new v5 as well. See
www.memory-map.com.
MM has an upgrade program where all you pay is the difference between
what Maptech charges for Pocket Nav and what they charge for Memory Map
Navigator or the Pro version. The Pro version even has support for AIS
display on the PocktPC.
http://www.memory-map.com/software_upgrade.htm can give you the cost to
upgrade to MMN or MMP. This is probably the cheapest route.
Upgrading will probably be cheapest way to get MM, but FYI for anyone
else buying new: The cheapest retailer for the Pro version that I have
found is the Canadian http://www.maptown.com. They have the Pro version
for US$173 (vs $225 retail) for the retail boxed version delivered to
the US. They also have the retail box version of MM Navigator for $111
delivered to the US, but it's cheaper to just buy a license from
http://www.memory-map.com and download the software.
Don't forget you need a PDA with add-on GPS too, so if you don't have
either you should look for a bundle. We got ours from Maptech themselves,
everything for like $600.
Sure, but I assume you have that already.
Is that a VGA screen on the Maptech PDA? I've spent:
$170 Memory-Map Pro
$330 Dell Axim X51v 624Mhz VGA PDA new on e-Bay
$140 OtterBox 3600 w/ Through-the-Box Connection Pod
$20 Power dongle on e-Bay
So $660 total, but that includes a top-of-the-line PDA, MM Pro, and
deluxe waterproof case. Not bad for an extra 10%.
Why Memory Map is not more well known i beyond me. It is written by an
active sailor and cruiser and it is by far the most intuitive and easy
to use chart plotting software out there IMHO, and it is blazing fast,
like no other bar none.
I feel the same way about Pocket Navigator compared to the other stuff
I've used, but if you say MM Navigator is that much better it's worth a
try.
They have a 10 day demo of MMN, but I could not get the demo for MMP to
activate its extra features.
Designing for the PDA is probably similar to what designers faced when
developing the original Maptech for DOS. Limited resources enforces
design discipline. The later Maptech stuff looks like someone just
threw together a bunch of VB or Delphi widgets and called it a day.
You're right. Richard, the guy behind MM, has a background in
intergrated systems.