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Originally Posted by godidog
For someone looking for Linux devices, you don't appear to be looking very carefully.
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LOL, I should learn NOT to post when I'm very tired. I should have put the third company as Medion -- not TomTom. Medion GPS units are more popular in Europe when Aldi (a discount chain) has their intermittent sales. They run on a Windows OS.
Yes, TomTom is on Linux. Actually, it's an almost perfect system --- but it runs Tele Atlas instead of what the other companies run on -- Navteq. (Google and many online services use Navteq as well).
I really had problems in the section of America I'm in with Tele Atlas data.... while Navteq based systems tend to be smoother (but not perfect either).
I tried many different systems from friends out and have a Medion for Europe... but personally I hate the software and it's not simple enough for my wife to use because the software requires constant reinstallations and things of that nature after an extended period.
Seriously, if TomTom switched to Navteq tomorrow, I'd be the first in line. Or if another manufacturer switched to Linux. But since TomTom purchased Tele Atlas last year, I doubt that will happen...
This page sort of talks about those problems.... (but if only that was the extent of the problems I've seen I'd buy one anyway):
http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2007/06/t...iew.php?page=9
Maybe the new 2007 maps have fixed my specific problem -- should check it out.
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I think it would be hard to improve on the TomTom UI, and other navigation device manufacturers seem to think so, if their shameless imitation is anything to go by...
If you can do better, a fortune awaits...
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I agree. But manufacturers like Garmin have serious problems. If you want to simulate a route on any unit near my price range (don't know about their latest highest priced units but heard it's the same story) you are forced at 1x speed -- that's ridiculous! No one is going to sit through that and the only journeys worth simulating are the long ones....
And that type of thing. While everybody is adding worthless bells/whistles like jpeg viewers/mp3 players to their units that almost nobody purchases the units for -- I wish they just focused on their task and improved the deficient areas.