Garmin iQue M3 Review

Overview: Garmin iQue M3 is a step-down version of the famous iQue M5 PDA/GPS unit, offering similar capabilities for much lower price. Garmin iQue M3 costs only about $500 giving you all PDA and car GPS functions you might possibly need. Its only major lack is no built-in WiFi, but as it has an SDIO expansion slot you can easily make up for it with the WiFi card.

Features: Garmin iQue M3 has generally all the features you need to plan a road trip. That includes (1) automatic route calculation, (2) user-friendly interface that needs only little input from the user (an important thing if you're driving AND finding a way at the same time) as well as (3) MapSource City Select DVD added as a part of standard package with hundreds of street-level city maps available to download. What's more, as Garmin iQue M3 is just as customizable as a M5 model, it is possible to upload customized points of interest such as school or speed limit zones, your friends' homes or any other places you'd like to know about while driving.

Of course this Garmin PDA/GPS unit is much more than just a GPS device. With 64Mb of RAM and 312Mhz Intel processor, Garmin iQue M3 is also a powerful general-use PDA unit, especially if an SDIO card is installed. With large screen and easily visible buttons you won't even need a stylus t operate it unless you have to write something! The only major problem is the tendency of iQue M3 to crash – but it is a major problem for most other PDAs, too.

Pros: lightweight, easy in-car navigation, friendly interface, good battery life, easily customized, plenty of road and place information available, accepts lots of external programs.

Cons: lack of Bluetooth, often it takes some time before it calculates the current position, frequent crashes, some files from other Garmin PDA/GPS units can't be opened.

The bottom line: Garmin iQue M3 is certainly one of the most cost-effective solutions you can find. It is a very good device both for those wishing for a PDA unit with some extra features and those looking for a multi-function car GPS device. Though iQue M3 is not free of problems – especially frequent crashes may cause you missing a turn from time to time – it is still one of the best choices available.

Catherine Tower an associate of www.gottronics.com is in charge of the research department, where she gathers information and reviews the products, whether it be good or bad and stays up to date with all of the latest developments of the products.

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