Rand McNally 0-528-52183-7 StreetFinder Deluxe GPS Navigation System

User Review: - You thought cell phones made drivers dangerous...
People attempting to use this thing while driving should have to mount flashing strobes on top of their vehicle. I bought this thing last year (when it was already a few years old) to use with my IIIxe. Why? Because I'm an impulse buying gadget freak. I should have researched more. I only paid [money], as I ordered it new from the marketplace sellers...but sadly, it's not even worth that.

The software doesn't seem to play nice with 98SE or XP...it seems to have a limit on the number of commands you can issue before it crashes out...completely wiping the map you spent an hour customizing. On the Palm, the maps are hard enough to read sitting on the couch...reading them in the car takes some serious visual acuity...we're talking some breed of hawk, here. I had to ask my girlfriend to drive around town just so I could fiddle with the device from the passenger seat.

I don't think I've used it since that day. It just takes up room in my glove compartment. And lastly, no...this thing will not fit in your pocket. Maybe if you frequently carry VHS tapes around in your jeans you won't notice...but I can barely stand my Palm in my pocket by itself. The GPS adds a few inches and about half a pound to the package.

If you really want a GPS, you'll be willing to spend the money on a real one. Stay away from this thing. Just go tear up some money if you have the urge to order it....

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User Review: - Look Elsewhere - Not Ready for Primetime
I bought this product because I have a Palm IIIxe and wanted a GPS system I could use while traveling. Boy was I disappointed!! The bundled StreetFinder Deluxe 2000 PC software lacks sufficient detail to be useful. (It couldn't find my own address, while other software - notably Microsoft's Street & Trips - has no problem.) Whole neighborhoods are missing! You can download little subsets of your maps to the Palm, but because the PC software lacks detail, the Palm version really leaves a lot out to save on memory space. Going to Rand McNally's website doesn't help - there doesn't seem to be a way to upgrade the maps, so you're stuck with what you have (which isn't much.) I also had problems with the GPS. It is suppose to work on its own battery when fully charged, but I can only get it to work with the Palm when it is plugged into the cigarette lighter. When the GPS does work, the Palm StreetFinder software and downloaded map crashes a lot, requiring a complete system reset on the Palm (not fun to do while you're driving.) You also have to go through the Palm menu system to enable/disable the GPS (not fun while you're driving and the GPS is mounted to your windshield!) I would really stay away from this product, save your money, and look elsewhere. This doesn't live up to the claims. Rand McNally should just stick with paper maps.

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User Review: - Manual for how to Use GPS for Palm III
I have now had the GPS for the Palm III for a month and still not able to make it work! Help desk is only open M-F 8-5 and thus not able to call to get much help as you need to be outside and talk to them to see if it is working.

The first thing I had to do after loading the software on the computer was to download an update to the software. Still have never been able to make it work. Instructions are very poor.

Guess this Is why there are only 2.5 stars!

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User Review: - A Good Product, but Some Surprises...
This is generally a good product, but there are some surprises one need to be aware of:

1. It is not a fully functional GPS for someone who likes technical details. I expected to find out how many satellites it was tracking, etc. It only tells you if you have a signal or you don't. It frustrating if you want to know if you have several satellites in your particular area for future comparison when in the same area you can't get a signal.

2. The maps are good and easy to load, but you have to be careful with balancing the size of the map and available memory. It's easy to fill up Palms with 2MB of memory. Serious users will need 8MB of memory.

3. I found that the palm will connect maps if they overlap. A pleasant and unadvertised surprise when I had a map of Arlington adjacent to Washington DC.

4. The antenna for the palm III has a very snug fit, and anything on the back of it will push it out and break the connection with the palm. I was disappointed since I had a Velcro strip glued to the back of mine that I had to remove.

5. The window/dash mount is a good one. The problem with using this while driving is that you can't safely use a stylus and some of the buttons are too small to push without hitting several at once. Small, steady fingers or long finger nails help for quick adjustments while driving.

6. This is for road use. I haven't seen any topographical maps (for camping) or marine charts for boating.

7. When you have a signal, it is incredibly accurate. I always saw accurate tracks of my position going up on ramps/exits and when crossing a street on foot.

The product was good, but not up to commercial use. It is missing several features found in marine GPS like bearings to waypoints, course over ground, speed over ground, etc. It was great for finding that friends house deep in a confusing part of town or when coming out of the subway.

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User Review: - bad design
Do not buy this GPS. It is a nightmare of craftsmanship. Not only it takes years to lock on to satellites, it loses signal quite often. The street finder software is good for nothing. It generates huge maps and takes long times. The physical properties of this GPS are not good either. It is made of soft plastic that breaks with minor stress. Mounting a plam on a GOS is not a good idea. When the car moves, using stylus becomes quite a challenge. Deserves zero star.

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