Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Houston
Posts: 6

The Geode

I've had my Geode for a couple of months now. There were some frustrating times with earlier software releases (& betas), but the current public release 1.3 is pretty decent. It is the original release made right. I've heard that the MMC store routine will be along in about 2 weeks, so the memory problem will be solved (this is the biggie for _any_ GPS/mapping solution.
There are a few rough edges, but the GeoDiscovery folks seem to be addressing them pretty quickly. The maps have been re-done, so if your maps are over a week or so old, re-download them, and you'll see a great speed improvement.
I only have stand-alone units to compare to (mostly Garmin), and although the Garmin units are a bit more sensitive and a bit faster (from memory, I haven't tested them side by side), the Geode still has a lot going for it. Well, not price, but a spiffy stand-alone w/maps is still a lot more.

Enjoy!

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Happy trails,
Bill

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland
Posts: 205

Re: the Geode

quote:

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Originally posted by DaveTheSane
I've been following this thread with a great deal of interest. There are a couple of questions I have regarding the Geode.

I read a Visor Central review which covered the Geode in fairly great depth. At the time of the review, however, you could not turn your Visor off with the Geode springboard module inserted in the Visor. Has this issue been resolved?

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Yes. You can now turn off the Geode while in the Visor.

quote:

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I know fairly recently, you could not access hardware for the memory cards that the Geode has slots for. Has this been resolved?

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Not yet. But it is the next feature to be implemented. Geodiscovery extended their 30 day return period to not start until after the MMC functionality is enabled, so they have plenty of incentive to get it done.

quote:

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Seems like I remember that you can get a cigarette lighter adaptor to run the Geode in your car. I could not find such an item on the web page however. Does the Geode come with this adaptor standard? If not how do you order one. Did I misremember reading that you can use one with the Geode?

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They will have one available. It was up on their online store for a few days as a pre-order item, but they recently removed it. They are probably waiting to put it back up until they have them available. If you have a Prism, people have been able to buy an adapter off of Ebay to get the combo to work. I don't think anyone has tried the adapter with a VDX or Platinum yet.

quote:

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I happen to live in Kentucky. When I went to the "free map" section of the Geode web page, I couldn't find a map of Kentucky. I was kind of hoping to use it since I know my home town fairly well "Louisville KY" but I don't know the state all that particularly well. I would really like something that could direct me to points of interest in Kentucky like museums and and state parks and the like. So far the only thing I could find on the Geode website for Kentucky is how to find Crispy Kreme doughnut locations. Is there anything else out there for Kentucky?

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I can find plenty of maps for Kentucky, including Louisville. If you are using the map finder, make sure you are clicking on the "Find Map" button and not hitting the "Enter" key. If you hit the "Enter" key, you get an error, which might make you think there are no maps available. They have both a Major Roads state maps and local (more detailed) maps available.

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I gather that the only mapping software you can use with the Geode is the software that is packaged with it. Is that permanent? I too would like to see the street names on the map without tapping the screen.

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Nope, it isn't permanent. Geodiscovery is working on making a NMEA transation program/layer available so that any NMEA compliant, Palm OS based, software package can be used with the Geode. Keep in mind that they will be improving their own software as well, and I don't think it will be too long before it will surpass the other packages available.

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At the moment, I openly acknowledge that the Magellan is a better gps at a better cost. But the Geode seems to have so much more potential. I'm not one of these guys that will go out and buy the newest tech toy when something newer and cooler comes out. I have a tendancy to sit on my stuff for a long long time. So the gps unit I invest in will probablly have to last me a very long time.

For that reason, I am seriously considering a stand alone unit. The only thing swaying me from this is the potential for having a "tour guide" built into the gps which can lead me directly to points of interest.

::whew, didn't mean to be that long winded::

Any and all input would be appreciated.

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The "tour guide" function, along with the MMC slots and great hardware, is the reason I decided to go with the Goede. I have been with the beta team since near the beginning, and I have watched this product evolve. It still has a way to go on the software side, but the interactions with the folks at Geodiscovery have given me the confidence that it will get there. I think you will find the current v1.3 GeoView software to be quite good, and, becuase the Geode is Flash upgradeable, a good, long term investment.

My .02

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Sven

If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 1

Great information

This is great information. It'll definitely help me to make a wise choice with a GPS unit. One quick question, Quo Vadis vs Rand McNally - which is better?

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Louisville KY, USA
Posts: 43

the Geode

Thanks sdoersam, you've probably swayed me into buying the Geode when our tax returns come in.

It really is cool the input we get back from these boards. ]

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There has never been a winner who hasn't fallen, there's never been a loser that got back up.

Dave

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 23

The geode is an awesome GPS.

I like the speed that i get locks for the satalittes
the Maps are a bit large but who needs detailed maps for an entire state all at once? Also this problem will be fixed when you can add 128 mb of storage to the geode for a small price (2 64 mb mmcs).

all in all i would say that if you need a GPS to do every thing tomorrow then dont get the geode.

if you can wait a few weeks and are willing to sacrafice instant gratification for the benefits of long term upgradability then get the geode.

my opinion (not having owned anyother handspring GPS) is that the geode will benefit and be more useful to most people because of its versatility and superrior hardware.

Thanks
troy

attached is a crappy picture of the geode inserted in a visor prism.
(blue light not included)

Attachment: mvc-013f.jpg
This has been downloaded 121 time(s).

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 64

Troy hit it right on the nose.

I own both the Geode and the GPS Companion. If you need to use it to find things and trace routes and such RIGHT NOW and can't wait, buy the Magellan. If you can wait for those features and want to have the best system available - with ultimate upgradeability, get a Geode.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 52

quote:

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Originally posted by twuelfing

if you can wait a few weeks and are willing to sacrafice instant gratification for the benefits of long term upgradability then get the geode.

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Houston
Posts: 6

In favor of the Geode

As a long-time user of GPS, I'd like to say a few good words for the Geode. It's made by a group who have taken the best in the way of chipsets (uniquely with WAAS, which provides an order of magnitude improvement in accuracy and position stability) and good Palm/Visor programmers. The present release (1.3) is quite good, and improvements are coming at a constant pace. 'Eventually' for software revisions doesn't mean years, but a couple of months. The crowning touch of the Geode is the memory management (probably in April), that will allow the Geode to have high-detail maps for most of North America all in memory at once... 128+ MB on MMC memory cards. No other Visor/Springboard GPS has any external memory at all.
The Magellan unit is stuck with 3rd party software entirely, and the maps (and the 'rented' app) aren't available for free download, as the Geode's is. They can't do that because it isn't theirs. I hope the Magellan unit works out, but the help information on it is scarce. It looks like Magellan is treating it as an 'orphan product' -- not a good sign.

__________________
Happy trails,
Bill

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Louisville KY, USA
Posts: 43

Thanks all

Thanks to the reviews posted in VisorCentral, and most recently in this thread in particular, I've broken down and bought myself a Geode.

Thanks to all for enthusiasm and insight on this product, I'm certain I'll be as happy with it as others seem to be.

__________________
There has never been a winner who hasn't fallen, there's never been a loser that got back up.

Dave

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 70

good luck with the geode

I own the magellan gps companion, and after looking over this thread & poll, I have to say I'm impressed with how much faith the geode owners put in the promises of the company. Before it was available, I was very impressed with the geode's specs, but when it came down to purchase time, the magellan seemed like a better value. All too often I have seen various companies talk up their products to dizzying heights before they release them, only to backpedal when the product acutally shipped. As of today, many of the promised features of the geode product are still not available (use of memory cards and inability to work with currente gps compatible programs being the biggest two to me) yet I look at the poll results and people have still voted the geode as the best gps solution for the visor. Maybe the geode can live up to it's promised feature set eventually, but right now I can't see how it could be considered number one. Paying twice the price for an incomplete product does not make sense to me, but for the sake of all the geode faithful out there, I hope things work out for the best. If you are trying to decide which gps to get and you base your decision on the poll results, I hope you have patience because you could be in for a longer wait than you think...

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tuffy

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

The poll is less than scientific. In fact, I'm pretty sure there was a bit of organized ballot stuffing from our friends who are also beta testers. You have to give GeoDiscovery credit - they have created some significan brand loyalty in some of their testers.

If someone is out there trying to decide which one to buy, I suggest you actually check out both units specs and reviews on this and other threads. I have both right now (don't ask - my wife is going to kill me if I don't return or ebay one of them), and they are great for somewhat different things. Geodiscovery has made some great strides, but the software still isn't quite there yet. However, I think it has the potential to be great. On the other hand, the Companion is a hell of a lot cheaper.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Houston
Posts: 6

I understand the skepticism of anyone who has a GPS in hand for about half the price of a Geode. Good luck, and I'm sure that you will enjoy it!
I have had a Geode since February. I think that it has better hardware, but that alone doesn't make up the difference. As I see it, the Geode was released a couple of months early. Sorry, it could happen to any product. It's happened to a lot in this technological world. One of the differences in the Geode is its upgradeability, and with quick turnaround the software is getting. Significant advances with a cycle of under a month. If you want to see what's coming, sign up as a beta tester. More than that I cannot say. The current beta software with the brand-new maps is by far the fastest thing I've seen.
For some purposes, the WAAS correction doesn't matter, but getting to better than 4m, repeatable, often better (the ultimate is about 2m, according to specs, and probably right) is very good for my work, and achievable with no other GPS I know (yet!).
The Nexian and Magellan are not firmware upgradeable (by the user), and although that's not everything, it says a lot about the manufacturer.
Any GPS is better than none, but the Geode is the best Visor GPS I've seen, and it's my choice.

__________________
Happy trails,
Bill

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

Don't buy the Geode

Well, I am on my second Geode and I STILL can not get a lock on my position. I have tried both Geode's in two different Prisms and get the exact same results from both. I will call again today long distance, be put on hold, and again explain to the tech support guy that I no longer want this piece of Sh*t and to give me an RMA number. I am sick of being a BETA tester for something that clearly doesn't work.

I have lost both data and a significant amount of time because of this product. It's time to ship it back.

__________________
Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland
Posts: 205

Slacker,

I'm beginning to notice a pattern of problems with you and electronics.... Seriously, I am sorry you have had so many problems with the Geode, but I would have to say that, from what I have seen on the boards here and at Geodiscovery, you are the exception. I have had great success with my Geode, and I love the progress that is being made. It has worked well for me since day one. I personally feel that the Geode is the superior product compared to what is being offered by its competitors. I hope you are able to find something that works for you.

__________________
Sven

If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.

Last edited by sdoersam on 04-11-2001 at 02:24 PM

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

Well they want to send me a third Geode to try. Two Prisms and so far two Geode's and a lot of time on the phone with tech support. I really don't think you can convince me that I am the problem.

I have an external GPS antenna (Co-Pilot) and Qou Vadis software. Now THAT is a combination! They work as advertised EVERY time I connect them together. I expect that the Geode should do the same thing for the price I paid. It simply does not do what it is supposed to. Period.

__________________
Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 4

Time to move on

Slacker,

It's really too bad that you're having so much difficulty getting your various Visor/Geode combinations working. You gave it your best shot, but didn't succeed. It's probably just bad luck. I agree that you should probably revert back to your limited capability standalone GPS receiver. Many of us, on the other hand, will enjoy the power that the Geode will ultimately bring to bear. My Geode works great, and I'm really sorry that you have not had an opportunity to experience the real Geode.

Best of luck to you. Adios.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 2

What about the HandyGPS

Hello Everybody I just got the HandyGPS Wednesday for $139.99 at www.planetGPS.net! It works great. The UbiGo software is very detailed, and I received a 3Dfix in about a minute every time. This is the most compact, user friendly, affordable GPS for the Handspring Visor on the market (and they come with great customer service). This GPS definitely received my vote.

Last edited by gorillageek on 04-13-2001 at 06:38 AM

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 68

I have not seen it on the product features page: does the HandyGPS provide NMEA compatibility?

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

Well, Geodiscovery convinced me to try again. I called HS and requested that they send me a replacement unit, which I received less than 24 hours later. When I slipped the Geode in and tried it out, it was like magic. I got a lock that stayed fairly consistent! I guess I will DL 1.4 tonight and give it a try.

It is a shame that two companies fight over pointing a finger instead of fixing a problem that affects customers (PAYING customers). This required me to use three Prisms and2 Geodes to get a working combination. Am I the only one that sees a problem with this??

__________________
Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 2

Nexian VS NMEA

Hey olivier101-The HandyGPS is not NMEA compatible. They will soon have many different mapping software��s to choose from. You can find more about the product at www.nexian.com Keep in mind that the only mapping software that they have currently is UbiGo (which is free for the first year). I hear that soon (by the end of this month) they will have Rand McNally Street Finder Deluxe Mapping Software that will be capable of point-to-point directions (I don't think there is a software for the Companion or Geode that is capable of Address to Address direction) and be in color! They also are supposed to be having International maps available (I believe they will be provided by www.tomtom.com). Nexian has great customer service and they back their product with a thirty-day money back guarantee. I've been pleased so far!