Garmin iQue 3600 Available for Pre-Order

Posted By: Ryan Thursday, April 17, 2003 9:51:22 AM

Online retailer Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders for the highly anticipated, GPS enabled Garmin iQue 3600. The first units are expected to begin shipping on July 1st.

Garmin iQue3600 Click For LargerThe iQue 3600 uses Palm OS 5 and is powered by Motorola's 200 MHz DragonBall MXL microprocessor, The iQue 3600 boasts internal memory of 32 megabytes, SD memory expansion slot, and a 320x480-pixel transflective TFT display with more than 60,000 color combinations. Additionally the product integrates Garmin's new Que Technology the company's premier application that delivers the benefits of GPS-based location awareness to PDA users.

The iQue 3600 measures 5.0" x 2.8" x 0.8" (72 x 128 x 20.3 mm) and weighs 5.2 oz. It carries a MSRP of $589 USD, but can now be pre-ordered for $549 from Amazon.com with an expected ship date of July 1st.

GPS Navigation Features
The differentiating feature of the iQue 3600 is its integrated GPS capabilities. Garmin's innovative Que technology delivers location awareness, electronic mapping, automatic route calculation, turn-by-turn voice guidance and map data interface to the iQue 3600. Que technology enables users to see where they are, find a street address or point of interest, know where the next turn is via visual and voice guidance, get back on track when they've strayed off course and navigate efficiently to their desired destination.

The iQue 3600 features a unique, flip-up GPS antenna that locks in place at two different angles to optimize GPS signal reception and viewing, and it folds discreetly in the back of the unit. When the antenna is in the upright position, it will automatically turn on the GPS navigation function and begin acquiring satellite signals. Likewise, when the antenna is in the closed position, the GPS function will automatically shut off to preserve battery life. The iQue 3600 provides the user with typical accuracy of 20 to 30 feet, or less than 10 feet when receiving corrected GPS data from the Wide Area Augmentation System in the North American coverage area.

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Which version of OS 5.x?

gfunkmagic @ 4/17/2003 10:49:15 AM #
Accoring to pics posted in the forums, the iQue uses Palm OS 5.3. Is this correct? And if so, what is the differrence between OS 5.2 and 5.3?

http://www.palminfocenter.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13121

Processor Speed & Bluetooth

GearHead @ 4/17/2003 11:27:16 AM #
Hi all,

Germin listed the at theri site that the ARM processor is at 200 MHz. At PIC it's listed as 150MHz. Now which one is true?

Also is this unit going to come with Bluetooth?

Thank you all!

Free 802.11 No More Wires!!!

RE: Processor Speed & Bluetooth
Admin @ 4/17/2003 12:00:06 PM #
Looks like the specs changed from the original announcemtn. I updated the article to show 200mhz. It, unfortunately, does not have bluetooth.
RE: Processor Speed & Bluetooth
M1 @ 4/21/2003 7:07:02 AM #
Well I'll be - which bright spark at Garmin decided not to include bluetooth?! They just cut their sales by at least half.

A GPS unit with no internet connectivity - looks great, I'd love one but no BT no way.


RE: Processor Speed & Bluetooth
coop @ 4/25/2003 10:11:37 PM #
I understood from another post somewhere (I'll have to troll around to see if I can find it) that BT was not included because of interference between the BT tranciever and the GPS receiver.

coop

RE: Processor Speed & Bluetooth
palmpiloteer @ 5/6/2003 7:22:10 AM #
Why don't Garmin use the 400 Mhz from the Tungsten W?

RE: Processor Speed & Bluetooth
palmpiloteer @ 5/6/2003 7:25:16 AM #
They can integrate BT and switch between BT and GPS. If you use GPS you don't need BT.

RE: Processor Speed & Bluetooth
icarus @ 6/4/2003 7:42:37 AM #
NO Bluetooth !

I was very much interested in having Bluetooth. So I contacted Garmin in this regards.

Here is the answer from Russ Watts, Service Support, MIS & GSM Diagnostics, Garmin (Europe) Ltd:

"BlueTooth is not being included with the iQue 3600 unit. There is a SDIO slot, which you can utilise with third party BlueTooth adaptors.

There are no plans to incorporate BlueTooth into any of our GPS/GSM/PDA devices."

What a petty! But at least we now know where we at in this regards.


presently using m105 - waiting for Garmin iQue3600 with Bluetooth

320 x 480 Screen resolution

robrecht @ 4/17/2003 12:29:54 PM #
Does anyone know if the 320 x 480 Screen resolution only works with the map program? Or will it also work with the other preinstalled utilities and/or all of the other 320 x 480 capable programs that work on SONY virtual grafitti screens?

Thanks, Robrecht
RE: 320 x 480 Screen resolution
abosco @ 4/17/2003 12:49:42 PM #
Nobody is exactly sure at this point, so we'll have to wait to see the specs on it, including the screen and sound API's. If they use the Palm OS 5 screen API and don't create their own like Sony used to do, then the Garmin should be able to take advantage of all screen space the NX series can.

-Bosco
Proud Member of the Top Non-Mods
Members: abosco and ImpReza M3
Now accepting new applications

only good for travellers?

graph @ 4/17/2003 12:43:05 PM #
DO you think a builtin GPS is only good for frequent travellers?

i really like to have GPS on my palm but im not sure if i want it all the time. i still like to have the mouse GPS attached to the handheld coz it can get better signal by pointing it towards the sky directly and have palm near in sight and out of the sun.

RE: only good for travellers?
abosco @ 4/17/2003 12:52:16 PM #
Well for me, when I finally do get my license, I'll be using a Bluetooth GPS solution with my then current Palm. It'll be so much easier to understand roads and routes to places and cities that it'll be well worth the cost. I'd say the Garmin would be good for frequent travelers. It all depends if you have enough money to spend on such a luxury, really, and if it's worth it for you to spend that money according to the frequency you think you would need it.

-Bosco
Proud Member of the Top Non-Mods
Members: abosco and ImpReza M3
Now accepting new applications
RE: only good for travellers?
graph @ 4/17/2003 6:24:35 PM #
if money is not an issue i would still not like to have GPS to my device which will add bulk on times that i dont need it. i would rather get it separately,,, but anyway doesnt matter as long as we have new brands coming out.

For the perpetually lost

edyaw @ 4/17/2003 12:58:56 PM #
I can't wait for this product to come out! To have a Garmin GPS/Palm that tells me where to go (no comments please) hopefully will fix my problem of getting lost all of the time. As for July, I was really hoping for the May date. Easily lost geeks aren't very patient.

RE: For the perpetually lost
mikecane @ 4/17/2003 1:38:50 PM #
Just don't try it in NYC or other dense metro areas. The GPS signal won't penetrate.

How much memory will be available to the user?

mg @ 4/17/2003 1:46:24 PM #
From those 23MB?

Only Non-Clamshell 320x480 Color Screen?

Barnaldo @ 4/17/2003 2:36:15 PM #
Am I correct in thinking that this is the only Palm OS PDA offering a 320x480 color screen in a non-clamshell format? The only other ones I'm aware of are Sony's NR, NX, NZ series clamshell devices.

I've wanted this screen format (with virtual graffiti, of course) without the built in keyboard and other stuff like that for quite a while, and the 3600 is the only one I've heard of that seems to be offering it. Is this actually the case?

RE: Only Non-Clamshell 320x480 Color Screen?
Sho-Bud @ 4/17/2003 3:00:58 PM #
Yes it is. In the discussion forum I posted a link to the Dutch Palmclub-site, which has a lot of interesting pictures of the Garmin taken at the Cebit. It really looks cool and most likely will be my next PDA.

RE: Only Non-Clamshell 320x480 Color Screen?
mikecane @ 4/17/2003 7:38:48 PM #
You fiend! You could have posted the URL. I had to go search. Here it is, kids:

http://www.exception.nl/cebit2003/

Man, is that a frigging UGLY Soft Graffiti area!

A fool and their money are soon parted

mikemusick @ 4/17/2003 3:43:32 PM #
"$549"? Lousy price. Some GPS "outfitters" have already been advertising pre-orders below $500 for at least couple of months. Whether that's just a come-on remains to be seen, but Garmin GPS's have historically been heavily discounted, and I don't see the iQue being any different.

I also don't understand the "pre-order" nonsense. Garmin is not a computer company who trickles products out for a couple of months, making most prospective buyers wait. When the iQue is released, the pipeline will be full, and for everyone. Pre-ordering just means you commit your money sooner and have less wiggle room when retailers start competing with shipping product.

RE: A fool and their money are soon parted
Fammy @ 4/18/2003 10:38:06 AM #
Well, pre-orders do two things.

1. Guarantee the consumer they will get the product (if demand is high).
2. Put money in the retailers' pockets sooner.

Sometimes pre-orders also include incentives, to help the retailer do #2. Maybe a free case, etc to those who pre-order.

_____
Fammy

RE: A fool and their money are soon parted
mikemusick @ 4/18/2003 10:56:30 AM #
Yes, I obviously understand the *idea* of pre-ordering. But not with Garmin products. They are very, very careful to fill the pipeline immediately on new products. For that matter, that's likely why the ship date keeps slipping - nobody gets 'em until *everybody* can get 'em.

A pre-order may help you with a specific retailer, but once they hit the streets, if Retailer A runs out, that's their own stock ordering problem. Retailer B or C will likely have it, and some of them at less than the pre-order prices.

RE: A fool and their money are soon parted
GPS4FunLady @ 6/18/2003 5:39:29 PM #
As a Garmin retailer, I can say that your comments are not entirely correct. Garmin has delayed release because they've still been adjusting/modifying & improving the product (the other reason final specs aren't out).

The very first initial production runs will be smaller, to get the production kinks out. After that, larger "normal" production runs will occur, but shipments of enough product to fill the sales channels WILL TAKE TIME. Garmin IS NOT hoarding production runs in order to ship "everyone at once". Garmin will be inspecting 100% of all output for a while, which also slows the release process.

The vendors who will have the units the soonest will be those who ordered large enough quantities, as early as possible to the January announcement date. But since everyone has been selling these since then, everyone should have a large quantity of backorders to fulfill first. There MAY be a few vendors who don't have everything sold from their 1st 4 weeks of shipments - depending on the size and timing of their Garmin deliveries. But as time goes by, more of their future deliveries will also be pre-sold.

Crossing our fingers, Garmin is hoping to start shipping to vendors by early mid-July. I'll believe it when it comes in the door.

So, based on my previous experience with Garmin releases of popular new products - initially (if you don't have it on order yet), you may be lucky enough to get on a backorder list that is only 2-3 weeks long (after initial release), but it may take a lot of looking . Beyond that, if you wait until August to order, you will have to work hard to find one to ship the same day. For very popular products like this will be, it can take 2-3 months to fill the sales channels so that most dealers have them in stock.

But, you are welcome to wait to place your order when you are ready and take your chances.

Regarding price deals on the iQue:
If you wait until August, I don't think you'll find much better prices than what is out there as "unpublished prices" when you add to your cart. You may have to search around to get the absolute lowest price, but I think the low prices are out there NOW, without waiting.

Remember that for most reputable Garmin dealers do not charge you for the product until it is shipped, so if you find a better price or can get it earlier elsewhere, you probably can cancel a pre-order before it is shipped. At least that's how we operate.

Jo Ann

GPS4FUN Lady

sound and basemap

uncle bob @ 4/20/2003 12:56:38 PM #
anyone know if the iQue has a sound out jack? i doubt the sound would be loud enough to use in a car for navigation. i was wondering if i could pipe it through the stereo.

garmin gps units have "basemaps" for n. america or europe built in and they can't be modified. bummer because the price for the european versions ("atlantic" as garmin calls them) is so much higher than in the US. wondering if this will also be the case for the iQue.

robert

RE: sound and basemap
coop @ 4/20/2003 9:41:26 PM #
The iQue has a headphone jack on the top left, away from the stylus.

They have a holder for it that's a bean bag with speaker and (I think) power connector. It allows you to move the iQue from car to car without having to connect anything other than power.

The base map in the NA versions is the NA map, the Euro one comes with the Euro basemep. You can purchase the "other" mapset and load it if you want.

Major Flaw?

WebMarc @ 4/25/2003 11:32:10 AM #
AFAIK there is no exteral antenna conneciton, just the flip up on the back (which is fine if you're wandering around on foot). If the unit is in a car, I presume this means that the entire unit needs to be strategically placed to make sure satellites are visible.

I have a ragtop car, so this isn't a problem for me... but what about those metal (RF shields) roofs on most cars?

Thoughts?

RE: Major Flaw?
coop @ 4/25/2003 12:21:31 PM #
"AFAIK there is no exteral antenna conneciton"...

There is an external antenna connection, on the top, right beside the stylus...

Go to the website and click on the link for "SD expansion slot". A popup will appear, with a pix of the top of the unit.

The external antenna connection is clearly labelled.

http://www.garmin.com/products/iQue3600/#

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