Review: Garmin MobilePC Windows Navigation Software

Fiberoptic · 05-03-2008, 10:57 AM

By Robert D. Wray, MP3Car.com
May 3, 2008

Retail 59.99 Without GPS: MFG# 010-11018-00 (tested)
Retail 99.99 With GPS: MFG# 010-00685-00 (not tested)

I have been testing the Garmin MobilePC product in my internet connected Car PC for a couple of days. Here are some overall impressions:

Setup was a breeze (install, GPS detection, ect)
My favorite part is the Gas prices fed in through their online service. It is unclear to me when my free trial of this will expire. Weather and hotels is nice but has little day to day practical use.
No on screen keyboard make this application very challenging to use with a touch screen computer.
POI data seemed to be slightly stale in my area (see police.jpg) – This police station has been closed for years and is now a car dealership. The county headquarters is 2 miles away and has been there for 2 years.
In fairness to Garmin it wouldn’t be correct to judge the entire data set just because my police station is off.
There is no media integration (mp3 playback, Rear seat entertainment, Bluetooth phone integration, Video playback, reverse cameras, engine diagnostics or other thing. Because this is lacking in the core of the product it prevents a harmony in the user experience. IE: Your music won’t be muted or paused when a navigation command is issued.
Software works in full screen mode and is very similar to other Garmin products I have seen.
I have used the software for 2 weeks and it has NEVER crashed.
Resume from hibernation also causes no problems.

Marvin Hlavac · 05-03-2008, 12:09 PM

Nice review & screenshots!

* I wish I could test the gas price service, but unfortunately it's not working up here in Canada;

* Let Garmin know you'd like them to add an optional OSK in future versions. If they know there is enough demand for it, they will add it.

-zip- · 05-03-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac

* I wish I could test the gas price service, but unfortunately it's not working up here in Canada;

Woofnstuff · 05-04-2008, 01:49 AM

how do you add additional, other maps into it?

rijndael · 05-04-2008, 01:55 AM

you didnt mention which GPS receiver you used....that might help for those of us who already have a GPS dongle i guess you would call it.

thanks.

ptk · 05-04-2008, 12:53 PM

I posted in another thread.

for those with GPS dongle OTHER than garmin, you have to enter activation code that came on the inside of the box. it will need internet connection to do the activation. once activated, it will work with bluetooth, usb or serial USB.
for those who already own Garmin GPSr, you don't need to do activation. in fact, you can just download the update and install and viola.

as for adding other map, as i post in another thread, http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gps/...ml#post1208770
it function just like Garmin Mobile XT. Ie it use the gmapsupp.img, gmapprom.img and gmapbmap.img format.

which also means it uses the same unlock code system. ie gmapsupp.unl, gmapprom.unl and etc.

you can generate this from mapsource. in fact, mapsource seemed to detect the installation but i had trouble exporting the map to GMPC.

Marvin Hlavac · 05-04-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ptk

... in fact, mapsource seemed to detect the installation but i had trouble exporting the map to GMPC.

ptk, what seemed to be the problem, and what did you need to do to get it working?

Thanks

Fiberoptic · 05-06-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rijndael

you didnt mention which GPS receiver you used....that might help for those of us who already have a GPS dongle i guess you would call it.

thanks.

I used a GPS adapter that has not been publicly released. I can't give any more details other than it uses NEMA standards over a com port. It worked well. I also tested this on a UMPC with a BU-353.

mstaedt · 05-07-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ptk

I posted in another thread.

for those with GPS dongle OTHER than garmin, you have to enter activation code that came on the inside of the box. it will need internet connection to do the activation. once activated, it will work with bluetooth, usb or serial USB.
for those who already own Garmin GPSr, you don't need to do activation. in fact, you can just download the update and install and viola.

I wasn't able to unlock the program without the activation code with my Garmin GPS-18 serial receiver.

Not a big deal - I bought the program, so activating it doesn't hurt my feelings too bad.

ptk · 05-07-2008, 09:13 AM

mstaedt.
cool. perhaps Garmin was referring only to the GPS10/20? like you, i bought the program, though i wish i can just buy the software and not the map (i have no use for USA maps.)