On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 02:39:35 -0800, bgeery wrote:

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.

I'm sure all that stuff is neat, but I probably wouldn't use any of it.
I'm not being flip, just realistic. Thanks for the report though, and
I'll check out the review.

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%.

We got the iPaq PDA, a sleeve GPS, and the Maptech software, bundled for
$600. This was ~3 years ago. Hardware prices have probably come
down since.

The bundle was supposed to include a Navman sleeve GPS, but came with a
nearly identical Transplant instead. I guess Maptech was out of Navmans
that day. That's fine, but we had a heck of a time trying to get support
from Maptech or Navman. Maptech basically blew us off, despite being
Maptech customer #3 of all time -- 20+ years -- and having bought every
version since. Navman were very nice, but perplexed as to why the unit we
had didn't resemble any of theirs!

Since then, I've had to replace the GPS -- strangely, with a Transplant
CF model that plugs into the original sleeve GPS. So I have a GPS plugged
into a dead GPS, plugged into (or onto) the PDA. It's a stupid
arrangement, but the only practical solution. The Transplant
people were great, after we finally figured out we were their customer,
not Navman's. They got a replacement to us in Canada within a couple of
days.

We're no longer too happy with Maptech, either their products or the
company. I do not want to give them any more money. I love how
they tell us to "just go to their website" -- when we're on a frickin' boat!

So folks, there's your Maptech feedback.

Note -- I'm glad we still have, and know how to use, paper charts.

They have a 10 day demo of MMN, but I could not get the demo for MMP to
activate its extra features.

I'll probably give it a go. Thanks for the tip.

Matt O.