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Garmin eTrex Venture HC

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: Garmin

September 13, 2007
This is our first and will be our last GPS for walking - If the others available are in anyway similar to this, anyway.

We bought this some time ago and managed to get it working. As one of the other reviewers commented, it certainly does have a high learning curve and require a lot of patience to get to grips with. Garmin make you jump through hoops to install this device. For example, why should I have to register online? I have bought it new, I have a serial number - why do I need to register online as well? The instructions that come with the device are not particularly comprehensive, either. You just have a work out a lot of it, yourself.

However, we did get it working and I even invested in MemoryMap mapping ... Read More:

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Garmin Nuvi 710 Satellite Navigation System with Traffic

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: Garmin

December 06, 2007
After much research on the web, including reading Amazon reviews, I opted for this unit against other contenders from Tom Tom and Navman. I have so far been extremely happy with it. I haven't experienced any slow start-ups as some have reported. Bluetooth works perfectly with a range of phones (probably because it's Parrot based). There is good support from Garmin and updating via the web is a breeze. You can also find things like free POI files on the web. The range of features is impressive, although the map isn't current with a local section of the A428 that has been turned into a dual-carriageway in the last year or two. It's useful to know that the unit comes with a protetcive case, the power-cable/traffic aerial, a windscreen swivel suction mount ... Read More:

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TomTom Go 920T With European, USA and Canada Mapping

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: TomTom

July 12, 2007
As many of the other reviews say the 920T is feature rich and many of them work very well. The satellite lock on is excellent, I've used the Navigation very successfully in UK and USA cities. It has flaws though, the menus are clunky, I've never found how to set speed preferences and as with most Sat Navs it can bizarrely recommend local routes several miles longer than the ideal.

What really annoys me is it's advertised as covering Europe - it doesn't. Well not unless Europe has suddenly lost Greece. Tom Tom won't even sell you an add on map for Greece (it doesn't do Malta either). So if you're off to Greece and counting on a Tom Tom to help you navigate - right now best forget it.

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TomTom ONE XL V1 Great Britain Satellite Navigation System

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: TomTom

April 23, 2007
I had an older model tom-tom which worked well but got stolen. This was a present to replace it and my disappointment in this supposed upgrade is immense. There was a ridiculous amount of farting about getting it activated using a product code to get an item code to get an activation code and so on. Once activated it worked fine....for a day! On it's second outing it just stopped working half way through my journey and hasn't worked since. The device freezes like a microsoft PC and no amount of re-sets can get it up and running. Also in the (albeit) short time it was working the voice distorted due to sub-standard speakers in the reduced size of unit. A frustrating and bitterly disappointing experience. I won't buy a tom-tom again.

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Garmin Nuvi 300 GPS Navigation System With UK Mapping

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: Garmin

November 25, 2005
Can't fault this! Easy to use, quick to set up. First satnav I've had so nothing to compare with but can't honestly see how it could be improved on! Even recalculates the route, without asking, when I took the wrong turning. Great. Even has the main roads, towns in Europe...... you have to buy an extra SD card if you want the street details in European countries.

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Sharp PWE500A Electronic Dictionary/Thesaurus/Quotations/Crossword dictionary/puzzle solver

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: Sharp

June 27, 2006
The dictionary is probably the best you can get in electronic form. I spend a lot of time every day reading/studying and this has been incredible help. My only complain is that the batteries do not last very long even when I don't use backlight. Also I wonder whether it makes full use of the technology available nowadays in terms of screen visibility. I personally find the crossword and puzzle solver function useless and I would rather if I had the chance to add an extra-language dictionary according to my preferences (e.g english-french or english-italian) surely there is the technology for creating a personalized gadget like that but none seems to bother.

I haven't used the puzzle solver or the crossword function but the dictionary and the thesaurus are ... Read More:

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Garmin Foretrex 101 Wearable Personal Navigator

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: Garmin

February 24, 2005
This bit of kit is brilliant, I need to be able to look down and get a grid for my current location instantly and this does that for me. Unfortunately I have now lost 2 units because the bloody pins that retain it to the strap are far too weak.

I'm buying a third but make sure you use duct tape or something!

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Garmin GMAP 60CSx Handheld

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: Garmin

May 05, 2006
So, reception is par excellence. Under trees it can lose confidence and the reception circle can widen but even when the unit has lost confidence I am usually bang on the point that it suggests.

I have been using it for general route tracking - the receiver even keeps a good track on a train!, GeoCaching - it lacks the notes section of a Colorado but it's great for this and I suspect more robust than a Colorado.

And finally tracking boat rides to dive sites and marking off waypoints for the dive sites. I didn't even hesitate to do this. The unit is rugged and I added one of the Garmin neoprene cases to it just to keep scratches off it when thrown into the dive bag with the other gear. I should probably tie a float to the lanyard so if it does go O/B it can ... Read More:

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Garmin Forerunner 301 GPS-Enabled Personal Trainer with Heart Rate Monitor

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: Garmin

February 24, 2005
Used the Forerunner 301 for the first time after it arrived today and I am extremely impressed. Downloaded the latest Training Center software and this works flawlessly on 64 bit Vista. The interface with Google Earth is a superb addition and proved the accuracy of the GPS - easily within the <10m tolerance as specified. I ran along beaches, a riverside and roads and all the GPS plots of my run matched in Google Earth spot on. This obviously means that the speed/pace readings will also be accurate and with the excellent totally flexible editable workout facility this is going to be a big motivator to get me back out training regularly to get me fit for Windsurfing. I will also be able to use the Forerunner to check out the speeds I can get up to on my Windsuring kit.
As soon as I get ... Read More:

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Franklin SPQ109 Collins Pocket Speller

Childrens Toy Shop > Computer > PDA: Other
from: Franklin Electronics

February 18, 2008
Used the Forerunner 301 for the first time after it arrived today and I am extremely impressed. Downloaded the latest Training Center software and this works flawlessly on 64 bit Vista. The interface with Google Earth is a superb addition and proved the accuracy of the GPS - easily within the <10m tolerance as specified. I ran along beaches, a riverside and roads and all the GPS plots of my run matched in Google Earth spot on. This obviously means that the speed/pace readings will also be accurate and with the excellent totally flexible editable workout facility this is going to be a big motivator to get me back out training regularly to get me fit for Windsurfing. I will also be able to use the Forerunner to check out the speeds I can get up to on my Windsuring kit.
As soon as I get ... Read More: