Didn't know Delorme existed but I'm a huge fan now!
Pros:
Small size, very fast, very accurate, easy to use, excellent customer service, excellent price
Cons:
Poor user manual(none)only softcopy, voice prompts rather computerized sounding
The Bottom Line:
I recommend the Delorme Earthmate GPS because of price, accuracy, customer service.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I was going to hit the road with some friends to Columbus Ohio from Massachusetts. My wife and I went to CompUSA to look at GPS receivers. We saw the little yellow matchbook sized receiver and asked the sales rep a few questions about it. After speaking with him, I decided to purchase it thinking that it's not so expensive ($119 less a $20 mail in rebate) and if doesn't work to my satisfaction, I'll just bring it back.
I got it home and loaded the software. Unfortunately there really isn't any manual so you need to take some time to figure out all the bells and whistles yourself. But after a while, you'll figure it out.
The next day, my friends and I headed out on our trip. I put in the origination and destination addresses, hit a button and BAM, my route was calculated. I was using it with my laptop and had the receiver on the dashboard. The connection was constant and always gave me my present position perfectly. I looked up ahead and saw an exit and sure enough, when I looked at the map, it was showing that we were going by the exit exactly at the time we were driving past it.
I never printed out one page of directions (like I use to). I relied purely on what it was showing me and providing on my laptop (using StreetAtlas 2004)
It gave me everything from elevation, to current speed to the miles to the next turn or highway (it uses voice prompts but they don't sound like natural voices. Very computerized sounding)to ETA, places to eat, rest areas, etc. It gave me everything I wanted. The only thing I'm not sure it will do is provide new directions if you go off course. I've never been thrown off course so I just don't know. I plan on asking that question to Delorme support, which by the way is very responsive. I've emailed them before and they have gotten back to me within a day with a very personalized email. I'm impressed.
So it got me to and from my destinations without any problems. Next, I can't wait until they re-release their Bluetooth power pack so that I can use it with my Handheld PC.
UPDATE: my review before stated that there was no Bluetooth available. However, DeLorme has now started shipping their Bluetooth Powerpack and mine is on it's way. I'll provide a further update once I try it out.
