Tenevda

So what's the "MUCH easier way" to go from auto-routing <> off road and back? (I just unboxed my 400t & the maps SD today and I'm at the very bottom of the learning curve.) BTW- the owners manual Garmin includes should actually be called the "Quick Start Guide". It's basically worthless as a full owners manual for something so techniclly advanced. No examples, no demos, and lots of info missing that I had to gleen off of forums such as this. (Thank god for Google!) Such as: Where to put the Pocket Queries xxx.GPX files, or that you can have more than 1 .GPX file in the E:/Garmin/GPX directory, etc. I got that from posts from you all here. GARMIN - Are you listning???? I was hoping to do some hunting today now that I had one of my (very) rare days off. Instead I spent it on the computer searching the net & swearing up a storm at Garmin's document writers. Maybe tommrow before I hit the salt mines for another month I can get out and snag a few with the Colorado (But I'm taking the 60 CSx as a backup for now.) Thanks, Tenevda GPS-45, Nuvi 660, 60CSx & Colorado 400t owner

What is that all about? Wikipedia Entry, ISO 9000 For people who have been exposed to this process before, this sentence in the entry sums it up well: I've worked at two different companies that got their ISO Cert. In layman's terms it's: Do what you say. Say what you do. All processes and paperwork are documented, and employeess are required to follow (and tested on), proper procedures. The certs are good for aprox 3-6 mo. (I don't remember now) and to keep them the companies are audited internally every few months, and by an outside aditor twice a year. In the real world the ISO certs are not worth much except bragging rights when you're a vendor trying to atract new buisness. "I'm XYZ Company & we're ISO900X certified." So to bring all this on topic...Garmin is suppose to follow its own documented procedures. Tenevda

Yes. I've manage to baby an early Palm IIIxe for 6 years, & newer HP rx3115 for two years, for "other" daily projects w/o any breakage. But it wouldn't take much to damage them. (Mostly the display from what I've seen of other's damaged units.) I guess buisness folks are not that active with a suit, tie, and wingtips on. Oh ok. Let's be fair. Pantsuits and flats on. (I wanted to say skirts & high heals but someone's looking over my shoulder & my ribs are still sore from the last time...) There are "armor" cases out there that can help protect PDA's, but at a cost of a thicker unit, & a thinner wallet. I've got both a Body Glove soft case for the Palm and a Rhino Skin hard case for the HP w/o any failure. I like the soft case better myself. As for battery life, 5-9 hours of run time between charges is fine with me. Most of the time I'm driving between groups of caches anyway & I'll use the dash GPS in the truck for that travel time. The pocketPC PDA stays off time I get to the site and on the ground. Heck I could be recharging as I drive. But I do like the idea of a single unit that does it all. Internet Wi-Fi, GPS/Mapping, Data Logging, MP3 Player, Excel. Word, Calendar, Contact lists. If it only had a beer tap too. Tenevda

Has anyone (who geocaches) had a chance to see how the Garmin IPAQ M4 (available), or the M5 (discontinued but available to buy) PDA's w/ built-in GPS perform as a geocaching grade GPS? None of the online ads i've looked at mention being able to enter Lat & Long. Or do they mention their performance compaired to a regular GPS like a eTrex. I've been toying with the idea of a all-in-one box. GPS, PDA (for CacheMate), WiFi & Bluetooth for internet connection to Geocaching.com. As well as the usual address /calendar / contact / todo lists / MP3 player items of todays PDA's. Anyway in a crowded situation w/ muggles roaming around most folks would hardly bat an eye w/ someone carrying a PDA & earphones. But if they see a GPS the questions start flying.. The only down side is that the units are not waterproof as a normal GPS. They're setup for buisness folks. So i would have to get a flexable waterproof cover such as REI sells for PDA/MPS/cells. Tenevda