Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Deep Space.
Posts: 76

Was one of the 'lucky' few part of the beta program that could preorder on Dec 18th, but still no Geode. When did everyone else order and what shipping option?
Houston is not that far from Utah Valley - I think... maybe... hmmm... if I had a map and a GPS I could maybe measure but...

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 27

order

I ordered dec 29. 2nd day shipping. No geode yet. A guy in salt lake got his wednesday the 24. two guys in seattle got thiers the 25, yesterday. No geode for me yet. I am sad.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Posts: 89

The wait is on

I just called customer support at GeoDiscovery and was told that they are still fulfilling orders from December 17th. I ordered mine in mid January so I shouldn't expect it until mid February at the earliest. Darn!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Deep Space.
Posts: 76

When I called a few hours ago, cust. sup. said its backordered until March now. Good luck.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 13

Got my Geode Yesterday

Got my geode yesterday 2/2/01 (I'm in Southern California)
It seems to work fine, the accuracy seems to be reasonably high and certainly compares well with my etrex and my etrex, efig serial module and visor combo.
I really can't be certain because the geode software is so $%&^*! content free that I can't get my velocity bearing or my speed in mph (It's hard to read the KPH labels on a speedometer) yet.
The geo view mobile software downloads and syncs fine and was reasonably accurate. I tend to agree with the critiques in the geo view mobile discussion on it's usability. GeoDiscovery desparately needs to implemnt compatibility with preexisting software such as solus pro to make the geode really useful. In addition it needs to implement a better status display preferably on the order of the etrex screen which tells you your bearing and velocity, the direction and distance (as the crow flies) of your waypoint or destination and magnetic north.
One final pecadillo, You seem not to be able to turn the visor off with the geode in the spring board slot. Which is very problematic.
All in all the Hardware gets a A+ and the software gets a gentleman's C. The overall grade should shift to an A+ once GeoDiscovery implements backward compatibility with serial NMEA compatible palm software.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

I called yesterday, mine was sent out friday, got a UPS tracking number.. so it should be here by monday !!!!
I had ordered it on 12/19 from Geodiscovery.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pasadena, MD, USA
Posts: 11

Re: Got my Geode Yesterday

quote:

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Originally posted by monopole
One final pecadillo, You seem not to be able to turn the visor off with the geode in the spring board slot. Which is very problematic.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Can you just take out the battery to turn it off? Or is the battery compartment only available after it is removed from the Visor?

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pasadena, MD, USA
Posts: 11

Battery removing works

quote:

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Originally posted by EricG
Can you just take out the battery to turn it off? Or is the battery compartment only available after it is removed from the Visor?

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Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pasadena, MD, USA
Posts: 11

Followup

One quick follow-up on the battery removal process. Doing this will allow you to access the data on the Geode (and conceivably the MMC data), but will not acquire any satellite locks.

However, you have to remove the module and reinsert it in order to have the Geode start looking for satellites again, a fair trade-off until a software fix becomes available.

Just thought I'd let you guys know.

-Ryan

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 15

GEODE

Yes, I got my GEODE and here is my take on it:

1.- The packaging in which it comes in IS really deficient. All items were moving around in my shipping box. I compare this with the SOUND GOOD MP3 packaging ( that is an awesome job ).

2.-Set up is easy, files are just gigantic in size.

3.- No way to turn the thing OFF.

4.- Streets and Hwys are all unlabel, you have to touch the screen to know what avenue you are looking at.

5.-No real Points of Interest pre loaded in maps IE: of dining, gas ,atm's etc.You will have to wait for third party.

6.-You can't use the MMC capability as there is no file mover.

In general the product is average I will wait 30 days to see what they release. If nothing come out my unit is going back.

My wife on the other hand bought the MAGELLAN GPS and here is what I found:

7.- Unit is lighter.

8.- Software is pretty easy to load and use.

9.- Main streets and HWYS are all labelled.

10.- Some points of interest are pre-loaded.

11.- $140 cheaper.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Given a choice between a "cold restart" of the GEODE and running the risk of a HARD RESET, I'll choose the cold restart. I have a backup module but it's a pain in the a** to go thru the restore process..

Glad to know my idea will work.. Just can't wait till tomorrow!! As of Sunday night, my GEODE is just 5 miles away from my house sitting in a UPS distribution center waiting to be delivered.. Delivery package tracking is a mixed blessing..

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

davidi - Right now the MAGELLAN probably looks better, and at the moment just might be "out of the box", but in near future the GEODE is going to really go far beyond what you see today.. As you see the MAGELLAN now, it's pretty much going to stay that way, the GEODE on the other hand is built to be expanded, It may take a bit more than 30 days, it's features and what you can do with it right now are limited as it's just being launched, but watch and see what is done with it.. All the limitations you point out are all software, As a comparison, look at the difference between any version 1.0 of a product and subsequent releases (i.e. MS Windows - Windows 1.0 was really ugly). The ability for folks to (freely) exchange POI's (points of interest) as well as other GEOGRAPHIC data is going to be really amazing.. If you haven't checked out the GEODISCOVERY web site and it's forums, I highly recommend it.. especially the GEOEXCHANGE section.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pasadena, MD, USA
Posts: 11

POI's

quote:

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Originally posted by EricG
The ability for folks to (freely) exchange POI's (points of interest) as well as other GEOGRAPHIC data is going to be really amazing.. If you haven't checked out the GEODISCOVERY web site and it's forums, I highly recommend it.. especially the GEOEXCHANGE section.

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Deep Space.
Posts: 76

Just a note. I started adding all sorts of POI on my Geode, only to have it fatally crash later that night - loosing all these locations. Back-up module saved the day, but I still lost the new data.

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

I had the same problem. I was using the Geode, "exited" the program (hit the home icon to go to the launcher) and then pulled the module out. My Prism froze up, so I tried to do a soft reset. It wiped the whole memory. Fortunately, I have a backup module too, so I only lost a day or two's worth of data (most of which came back during a hotsynch).

This is the first time it's happened since I got the thing - hopefully it won't be a common occurrence.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

GEODE arrived today!! (and brought a New England Nor-easter with it) so I haven't really been able to test it, the snow, rain and slush put a damper on things.. Like most other "rf" devices I own, I have poor reception in my apartment, so I will have to wait till it's safe to go back out side . I like what I see so far!