Ask a Tech Expert Now- JustAnswerGarmin iQue M5
Manufacturer: Garmin Part number: 010-00344-00
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Thanks to excellent navigation software, the iQue M5 ranks among the best GPS/PDA combos we've seen--but it's too expensive.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 02/08/2010 |
CNET editors' review
Garmin iQue M5 price range: $598.00
- Reviewed by: Rick Broida
- Edited by: Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on: 04/13/2005
- Released on: 01/05/2005
The good: No larger than most standalone PDAs; excellent navigation capabilities; Bluetooth; vibrating alarms; includes windshield mount and car charger.
The bad: Expensive; screen is hard to see outdoors; no jog dial; no Wi-Fi; average battery life.
The bottom line: Thanks to excellent navigation software, the iQue M5 ranks among the best GPS/PDA combos we've seen--but it's too expensive.
User reviews
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Really hoped to be able to post a better review...
by 000599311201 on July 9, 2005
Pros: good GPS functioning, xlnt attempt at integration w/ PDA, xlnt connecting of contacts to locations
Cons: locks up too often, poor menu logic (especially for windows), steep learning curve, unpredictable
Summary: I was pretty determined to get ahold of one of these because I really liked the idea of having a PDA and (a true) GPS, all in one unit. I ...
Summary: I was pretty determined to get ahold of one of these because I really liked the idea of having a PDA and (a true) GPS, all in one unit. I first tried the Garmin 3600. The Palm organizer functions were awesome, but the GPS integration was WAAY too limited and anti-intuitive to even waste my time with.
I was hoping that the M5 had significantly improved some things... because the 3600 wasn't far off. I hoped that the few negative reviews I saw on the M5 would be due to a particular unit malfunctioning, (or user ineptitude) but unfortunately there indeed are a few things I personally found annoying if not downright problematic. I'm not sure if this is Microsoft's "my-bad" or Garmin's, (I suspect Garmin) but here goes:
1) I would have expected the M5's options to follow standard Windows logic. Some basic options you'd expect are simply not there... such as "view". Garmin forces the user to either memorize the "taiwan-eez" translated manual (although better than the 3600), or fumble waste-ingly through seemingly endless "possible" menu choices where your desired option "might" be found. I'm sure this is certainly achievable over time, but I found the option mapping simply irritating and un-intuitive enough to give up on trying to master. (I figure that if I delve into a product 100% for 3 days or so, I should be able to fully understand how/what I need to do to accomplish my needs. If not, well then...)
2) The unit locked up on me far too many times in the 3 days I used it, requiring resets that affected many of the user specified settings -- including your home location, & map view choices. Ramification of this is that when your map reappears, it's suddenly back to Kansas -- instead of California (go figure)and has to be (once again) redefined.
3) I found the unit's EXPECTED functioning far too unpredictable involving such things as: (a)data entry, (minor, but in some fields it automatically gives you a 1st letter capital, others it won't); (b)what information is retained & what is lost upon reset, (sometimes it would lose certain settings, other times it would retain those same settings -- sometimes retained certain programmed button settings, but other buttons in the same menu were reset(??). So, you're never quite sure what you need to reset and what you don't, until you're using the thing, and realize it's (once again) not the way you set it up to be.
4) One of the options Garmin touts is that you can create an appointment from a contact, but this is misleading -- almost verging on false advertising. Unless I'm missing something--which is always a possibility, you can GET to the appointment MENU from a contact, but there is no link provided between the contact's information and the actual appointment. No name... no address... no phone number, unless you enter it again into the appointment. While I don't recall trying this feature specifically, I have to say that the PDA functionality on the Palm-based IQUE-3600 felt far superior -- but the problem there AGAIN was the GPS program/integration mapping (which is now far better on the IQUE-M5). I actually felt completely dis-inclined to even USE the PDA functions on the M5--not so on the 3600.
5) There is no basic "cancel" option in GPS Routing - I'd think this should have been a pretty logical feature. It does allow you to "stop" gps navigation, and then "resume"... but not to "cancel". You can always just "start a new route", but then my GPS locked up (for the 5th time) -- requiring soft reset...requiring re-entering many preferences...requiring my time...requiring my mental energy and patience... and, well... you get the idea.
6) I'd think that placing an electronic device--especially a PDA--on the dash, requiring constant direct exposure to sun & heat would cause problems for any sensitive device. This would be a logical explanation (in my mind) for some of the reset problems I experienced on the road, and I would suggest that anyone intent on buying this would pay the extra for an external antennae(although the M5 is already expensive). Still, many of my lock-ups were indoors as well...linking contacts and syncing, map changes, etc. The online upgrade (which I did try) required two re-starts to successfully download -- initial map installation resulted in lock-up as well.
Garmin deserves respect though, and in their defense, I think the M5 has lofty aspirations, which I really appreciate and I think the market would relish. However, their logic progression is clearly non-standard and (to me anyway) seems quite "willy-nilly". Now, (though I did get "A's" in college calculus, physics, English & computer programming) maybe my mind simply isn't flexible enough to grasp & manage their menu & mapping logic... But I suspect that ultimately, Garmin just decided that a complete re-write of their existing programming structure is simply to expensive to invest in.(??)
I'm giving the M5 pretty good marks though, because they did do a lot of things quite well. Integrating an organizer with Internet AND GPA must be an overwhelming task and I give them cudos for all they DID do right. Unfortunately, for me... I'm going to have to buy a Palm... and a separate GPS. But please do go ahead and give the M5 a try -- I WOULD recommend deciding for yourself, because for you, you just might love it!11 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This thing is incredible!!! AAAAA+++++++
by mailkc on May 21, 2005
Pros: Never crashes, saves time and gas, provides very useful info, small compact package.
Cons: Would like faster acquisition time.
Summary: I love my M5!
I am a Realtor and this thing has changed my business! I have used a Garmin 2610 before and couldn't decide between the 2610 and ...Summary: I love my M5!
I am a Realtor and this thing has changed my business! I have used a Garmin 2610 before and couldn't decide between the 2610 and the M5. I paid $561 delivered for the M5. Sold my Ipaq 4155 on EBAY so my net purchase was like $300. I love having the PDA/GPS combo unit. I can grab it and jump into a clients car and were set. It never crashes or locks up on me. The navigation is right on 99.9% of the time. It has shown me new ways to get around town I never thought of. It tells me what time I am going to arrive at my destination and constantly updates that time. It keeps a "foot print" of everwhere I have been for days! It doubles as an electronic yellow pages, it knows all the businesses, restaurants, everything with phone numbers and details! It makes a great map as well. It helps me write off my mileage for tax purposes. I can't imagine any Realtor or delivery person without one these! I highly recomend this unit!
KCUpdated
I forgot to mention I added a 1GB secure digital card which cost me $70 new. I was able to load detailed maps and business information for all of Florida and Georgia and still have tons of room for MP3's.
Some folks want wireless. Well you could buy a secure digital 256mb wireless card for $80 and you would be all set. I am waiting for the 1 GB wireless card.
KC11 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not ready for prime time due to miserable bugs in the required PC software
by tai4de2 on June 26, 2005
Pros: Good software on the device -- if you can get that far
Cons: Horribly furstrating getting the required software installed on the PC
Summary: This might be a great device once you can get it working, but getting that far may be an exercise in absolute, utter frustration. I literally had to debug and ...
Summary: This might be a great device once you can get it working, but getting that far may be an exercise in absolute, utter frustration. I literally had to debug and hack their installation software at every step in the process of getting the PC side up and running.
First, I put in the Companion CD that is supposed to kick off installation. Nothing happened. So I manually invoke the setup program from the CD. Nothing happens. So I then run the setup program in a debugger and finally I see an error message about some internal file. It turns out that my file associations for .hta files were missing. No idea how or why that happened, but there was no error message from the installer, nothing. Most people would have been dead in the water right there.
Then, their installer is prompting me to insert CD 1 of the included City Select software. And it refuses to acknowledge the presence of the CD, prompting me over and over. I can see the files on the CD from the Windows Explorer, or from the command prompt, etc, so I know that the issue is not with Windows itself, it is with their installer. This happened on 2 different machines, so it's not specific to any one particular Windows XP configuration.
So I try invoking the setup program directly off the City Select CD but it complains that it can't be invoked directly. So I try it on a third machine, and again using a debugger, I discover the special hidden switches that the Garmin installer passes to the City Select installer, and I am then able to invoke the City Select installer on the machine where I want it. That works. (Later, I had to maually copy some registry settings and files from the working installation on the third machine to get the unlock wizard running, but I suppose I can forgive that.)
So then I had things working, and I noticed that Garmin's web site has an update for the device software that's 2 releases newer than what's in the one I got. Their updater program is yet another piece of software that is not ready for prime time. When running it I got a whole variety of outcomes, such as "found new hardware" popups, error dialogs, and even "C++ abnormal termination" dialogs. And no update occured. Eventually after playing with this I was able to get the update onto the device but this was way, way, way, way too hard.
As cool as this thing might be, if you have some magical combination of programs or whatever on your Windows machine, you may never be able to use your iQue M5. They need some SERIOUS work on improving their PC software before this thing is ready for prime time.8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Expensive, but excellent performance
by Steve Hornby on May 18, 2005
Pros: sturdy, easy to use, fast, excellent support
Cons: expensive, does not come with Windows instructions
Summary: I purchased my unit in March/05 before we left for a six week holiday to Italy. I forgot my backup of "European countries" and then lost my installed copy. ...
Summary: I purchased my unit in March/05 before we left for a six week holiday to Italy. I forgot my backup of "European countries" and then lost my installed copy. Even with detail we managed very well with tracking our trip. I found it easy to use and appreciated the Windows OS as it interfaced flawlessly with Outlook on my PC and laptop. I was told that it was "slow" compared to some other units. I found that it's search time for locations, and its interface with XP more than satisfactory. I was also told that battery time was an issue. I carried a spare battery with me but seldom had an opportunity to use it. I had not originally planned to take it with always, but now I "don't leave home without it" Excellent
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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OK in US but a nightmare to adapt for Europe
by Mark C on May 16, 2005
Pros: Great general concept, great gps reception, PDA ok
Cons: searching for locations can be very frustrating
Summary: I first experienced and fell in love with using GPS for navigating on a trip to Germany last year -- the Opel in car model worked well. We blindly came ...
Summary: I first experienced and fell in love with using GPS for navigating on a trip to Germany last year -- the Opel in car model worked well. We blindly came to rely on it to get us everywhere. So after returning to the states I bought a Garmin 2620 -- it works fine. For a return vacation to Europe I desired something smaller that I could use while walking the streets. You can't buy the European version of the iQue M5 in the states. So I had to buy the US version then pay an additional fortune for the European maps. The European map sets aren't as well developed as US. Searching for a street or almost anything is a trial. You can be looking at a street on the map of Firenze in Mapsource (software uses native words for cities not an English translation), it might even pop up on Mapsource (the mapping software for the iQue M5) but ask it to search for it and it can't find it!! I wanted to plan routes and save them on the PDA -- maybe make traveling less stressful -- nearly impossible. I tried to plan them on mapsource utilizing my desktop PC -- couldn't transfer them. The desktop PC couldn't even find the PDA. Okay, I will transfer them to the SD card utilizing a card reader -- no can do. There are a bunch of other details related to attempting to plan and create these routes that also didn't work -- won't bore you with the details. It was one of those computer experiences that turns a normal, mellow, easy going guy into a red faced fountain of profanity. For US it is okay (still don't like "find" implentation in software).
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Fantastic easy to use
by normancj on April 14, 2005
Pros: Most complete on the market
Cons: ok a bit expensive
Summary: IT DOES HAVE WIFI, and when you factor in the extras like North America Roads, and the charger, and the base with speaker, and PDA, and active sync. This unit ...
Summary: IT DOES HAVE WIFI, and when you factor in the extras like North America Roads, and the charger, and the base with speaker, and PDA, and active sync. This unit is really great for the traveler who wants to get to where you want to go. For price shop Ebay! I cannot rate this product high enough.
4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Unit is Unstable
by fazzpowell on August 6, 2005
Pros: This is my first GPS/PDA so I don't have anything to compare it to.
Cons: Boots up sometimes with the screen dim, it doesn't remember it's settings. Need to reboot frequently.
Summary: The GPS function seems OK but sometimes when it says it's acquiring satelites, it's not. I have to "reset" or cycle it off/on. Also I like to ...
Summary: The GPS function seems OK but sometimes when it says it's acquiring satelites, it's not. I have to "reset" or cycle it off/on. Also I like to run it at full brightness but again when I turn it on sometimes it comes up at about 10% brightness - it cant' remember how I left it. The brigtness adjustment is not in the Settings or Preferences, even with the "Help" it's hard to find how to adjust it. This is my first PDA and GPS so I can't compare it to others fairly, but let me just say the menu and GUI "logic" seems counter-intuitive in many cases.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good deal if you need a PDA too
by bushland on April 13, 2005
Pros: It is comforably small ,Very good graphics
Cons: a chaged battery less than 10 hrs (poweroutlet)
Summary: I want/ needed a new PDA and for a few dollars more got very nice GPS device.After pricing everthing out I feel I got a good deal. I perchased ...
Summary: I want/ needed a new PDA and for a few dollars more got very nice GPS device.After pricing everthing out I feel I got a good deal. I perchased a WI-Fi memory card from sandisk. this device has bluetooth, which is new to me but I want to type my notes so I got a portable bluetooth keyboard. I ride a BMW motorcylce {poweroutlet)plugs for recharge! Love to ride and get lost but now I am not really lost!
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best GPS PDA Combo Available
by luftwaffe32 on April 30, 2005
Pros: Bast To Use, Built-In GPS, Great Design
Cons: No Wireless WiFi or Lan, Bluetooth only
Summary: I looked into many different options, I choose this Pocket PC due to the capability of having a built in GPS and not using my SDIO or compact flash slot ...
Summary: I looked into many different options, I choose this Pocket PC due to the capability of having a built in GPS and not using my SDIO or compact flash slot as the others do. Nor did I need a Bluetooth GPS module.
RECOMMENDED...Shop around, I purchased the unit for $569 delivered 2 days.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Handheld died during my trip.
by conraba on September 6, 2005
Pros: Great GPS Software. Voice instruction is very helpful. Point of Interest List is a big plus++. Windows and PDA functionalities are great.
Cons: No external memory included in the package. No Operating Instruction Manual. A/C power/charging adapter w/ speaker is very Fragile. Screen is very Hard to see during the day.
Summary: I bought the PDA Friday to use it over the Labor Day Weekend. Had to buy a 1 GB SD Card to hold to load all maps I needed. Tested ...
Summary: I bought the PDA Friday to use it over the Labor Day Weekend. Had to buy a 1 GB SD Card to hold to load all maps I needed. Tested unit for a short drive on Saturday and everything went smoothly. Then used the unit for a 400 mile trip on Sunday, it was near flawless until it voice prompt stopped telling me where to go, so i had it recalculate my route, went 9 miles out of route. Monday (Labor Day) was my schedule to return so I set my Route back to home, but when I was about to mount it on the car cradle, the M5 flickered and won't start-up (ie. pressing any button, flipping the attenna, resseting the unit). I still mounted it (thinking it was out of power) on the cradle, still charge light did not turn on. When I finally got back home tested it on the USB cradle, the unit has actually died and no charging light came up. I had the unit returned to the store for replacement but they ran out of new units. Will try online store this time see what happens this time. M5 has a lot to offer but for the meantime, I'm giving it a failing score.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Garmin
- Part number: 010-00344-00
- Description: The iQue M5 is perfect for today's mobile professional who wants to get from the boardroom to the hotel without asking for directions. Featuring the latest Microsoft Pocket PC software, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, the iQue M5 supports portrait/landscape screen orientation for easy viewing of documents, videos, and web content. It's powered by a 416-MHz Intel PXA 272 microprocessor, and it also provides the user with 64 MB of RAM, 64 MB of ROM and data back-up protection. The embedded Bluetooth transceiver allows the user to establish a personal-area network with computer systems and Bluetooth-enabled devices such as mobile phones, other PDAs, and printers. Check e-mail and view documents - then sync seamlessly with your laptop. The GPS antenna on the iQue M5 folds flush with the back of the unit. Press the antenna release switch, and it simultaneously powers up the iQue M5, acquires satellites, and defaults to the QueMap interface. Once the antenna switch is triggered, the M5 prepares to navigate. The antenna can be adjusted for optimal GPS signal reception in any vehicle or rental car. Featuring a built-in basemap of North and South America and Puerto Rico, the iQue M5 shows major highways, thoroughfares, railways, lakes, rivers, and borders. MapSource City Select CD-ROM is a standard accessory, so users can download detailed street-level map data, look up more than five million points of interest (POIs), and navigate to an address in the U.S. and Canada. World travelers can also add a European or Pacific Rim basemap from the installation CD. International versions of the iQue M5 will feature respective basemaps, mapping software, and language support. The integrated Que applications enable consumers to see where they are on an electronic map, look up a point of interest (POI), and route to it - all the while following voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions. If they miss a turn, the iQue M5 automatically recalculates a new route to get them back on track. Advanced routing features include the ability to specify roadways to avoid and find POIs near the current route. The iQue M5 even offers intuitive POI searches that are based on user habits. Another distinct benefit of Garmin's PDA/GPS integration is the patent-pending capability to attach a "location stamp" to a profile in the user's contact database or appointment calendar and navigate directly to these important business addresses.
General
- Product Type Handheld
- Width 2.8 in
- Depth 0.7 in
- Height 5 in
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 2.8 in x 0.7 in x 5 in
- Weight 5.9 oz
- Vibrating Alert Yes
Processor
- Processor Intel XScale PXA272 416 MHz
- Processor Intel 416 MHzXScale PXA272
Memory
- ROM 64 MB
- RAM 64 MB
- User Available Memory Flash: 15 MB
- Installed RAM 64 MB
- Supported Flash Memory Cards MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
- Compatibility SDIO
- Installed ROM 64 MB
Display
- Display Type 3.5 in Color TFT active matrix ( Transflective )
- Display type 3.5 in TFT active matrix
- Image 16-bit (64K colors)
- Display Resolution 320 x 240
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003 Second Edition
- Software Notes, Solitaire, Calculator, Jawbreaker, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, File Explorer, MSN Messenger, Pocket Outlook, Voice Recorder, Windows Media Player, Pocket Internet Explorer, Terminal Services Client
Input Device
- Input device type Stylus, Touch-screen
- Type Stylus, Touch-screen
Audio
- Audio Input Microphone
- Audio Output Speaker(s)
Expansion / Connectivity
- Wireless Connectivity IrDA, Bluetooth
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
- Port / Connector Type:Interface 1USB, 1HeadphonesOutput, 1Infrared
- Interfaces 1 x USB, 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Infrared - IrDA
- Connector Provided Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, IrDA
- Expansion slot(s) total (free) 1 SD Memory Card
Power
- Battery installed (max) Lithium polymer
Battery
- Battery Lithium polymer
- Capacity 1250 mAh
GPS
- GPS Navigation GPS receiver
- Receiver 12 channel
- SBAS WAAS
Product series
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Manufacturer: Garmin
Specs: Microsoft Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003 Second Edition, 64 MB, Intel 416 MHzXScale PXA272, IrDA, Bluetooth, 2.8 in x 0.7 in x 5 in, Stylus, Touch-screen
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Manufacturer: Garmin
Specs: Microsoft Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003 Second Edition, 64 MB, Intel 312 MHzXScale PXA272, IrDA, 2.8 in x 0.7 in x 5 in, Stylus, Touch-screen
Manufacturer info
- Garmin
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Garmin products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.garmin.com
- Address:
1200 E. 151st St, Olathe, KS - Phone: 913-397-8200
- Fax: 913-397-8282
