Re: A new, simpler GPS?

Peter Clinch wrote:

Outdoors Magic have a review of the new Satmap Active 10 GPS unit at
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/5155

Thanks for the heads up on this.

It suggests it's a fair bit easier to use than the ones we're familiar
with to date, and perhaps significantly works easily without
connecting it to a PC, which could be a real point in its favour.

Perhaps, but then you wouldn't be able to save tracks. May not be important
for some people though.

Not an in-depth review for the serious GPS-o-phile to pore over the
fine print,

I don't intend to start another big GPS argument here but I would like to
make a few comments for the benefit of those who don't own a conventional
GPS and may be weighing up the pros and cons of each. The reviewer's first
anti-GPS paragraph is not only overly harsh, it's blatantly inaccurate. Not
the sort of thing I'd expect to read in a serious review.

"Let's start of by admitting that we've found conventional GPS units
unremittingly user hostile."

Unremittingly user hostile? That sounds like an extreme exaggeration of a
technophobe.

"They're next to useless unless teamed with mapping software run on a PC"

Utter nonsense. Even with no map and no waypoints, a GPS can still do more
than a compass. For a start you can mark the position of the car, and
secondly you can record a track which will lead you back to the car, so even
if you haven't got a clue where you're going, it will lead you back. The
grid ref will always tell you where you are in conjunction with a map, and
the compass screen works like a compass, so you can navigate with it like a
compass, determine your exact position and find your way back. How is that
next to useless? If you put in a few manual waypoints it becomes even more
useful.

The problem here is that he's comparing a GPS with a map. It's not a map,
it's meant to be used in conjunction with one, just like a compass, so
that's not a valid criticism.

"and even the simplest operation seems to involve 50 sub-menus and multiple
button pushes."

Again, a gross exaggeration. Yes, there are a lot of sub-menus on the more
advanced models, but they're context sensitive to the screen you're on and
you rarely need to go through more than three menus at most. Most operations
involve no more than two or three button pushes.

"And don't start us on the near useless comedy on-screen mapping..."

As I said, a GPS is not meant to be a substitute for a map, it's a
substitute for a compass (or an addition to a compass), so criticising the
mapping is not valid. Presumably he's talking about road mapping, which is
obviously only intended for use on roads. But in regard to that so called
"comedy mapping", it's worth pointing out that it has two advantages over OS
maps. The first is that the road positions are extremely accurate (unlike OS
maps), showing slip roads on roundabouts and separate lanes on dual
carriageways. This is rather important for such an accurate device.
Secondly, a lot of GPS road mapping has auto-routing, which is something the
Active 10 can't do. The Garmin Topo UK topo mapping is a good option for
walkers, even if some aspects aren't up to OS standard.

I realise that GPS users know all this already, I just point these things
out for the benefit of those who don't, since those review comments are
misleading.

but if you want something really simple to use and the
existing units haven't really lit your fire then this one could be
worth investigating.

I must admit, I really like the look of this unit. Unfortunately there are
two major problems as I see it.

1. Some bugs which should be sorted out before I'd consider buying one.

2. The expense of having to buy yet more maps! This OS licensing is really
taking the piss. Either they should produce maps in compatible formats so
that they are interchangeable between different software products, or
seriously bringing the prices down. Granted, the 50k mapping is quite
reasonable, but personally I'd want to use 25k mapping on a device like
this. For all of Roger's criticisms of the OS covering their maps with too
much crag detail, it would be nice to see that detail in conjunction with a
GPS position.

So at the moment, I see this as a nice addition to my current GPS, but not
really necessary since it can already do most of what I need. If I had money
to burn I'd buy one tomorrow, but that ain't gonna happen. It may be a good
buy for someone who spends a lot of time walking in the same areas (i.e.
national parks), but right now it's strictly in the luxury category for me.
And I'd wait until they sort those bugs out first anyway.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk


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