http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/software/reviews/review2.php?id=28
Under the new rules for reviews it would no doubt get a lower score - methinks maybe it is time to update the review. I am still using it extensively. Can't really say I've found many more niggles, but have found some additional features that I didn't spot 1st time around. As you might expect, there are a few minor mapping discrepancies/omissions at the level of the smallest roads - I don't know whether that is from cartography errors or road changes since publishing.

I've not seen it for <GBP �200 either - I suspect Nokia are controlling the pricing.

SwitchBlade 17 Mar 2003, 20:33

The essential question is Tomahawk, would you reccomend the GPS extra to the 9210 or a dedicated GPS unit to someone who was after GPS and had a 9210 but wasn't sure which to choose.

Tomahawk 18 Mar 2003, 10:23

Good question Switchblade - that comes down to what you want to achieve and what else is available at what cost. For me, it was money well spent. I like the 9210 for several reasons, but a key one is that it combines PDA and phone functions so I have only one unit to keep track of. Similarly, the LAM-1 is a very neat add-on to that existing equipment. I also like advanced technology and this is a well integrated solution.

I mostly use the LAM-1 for finding my way to new locations while driving. As long as I have an address to get to, I simply sit at home or in a hotel to plan the route, then plug the GPS in when I get in the car and a couple of minutes down the road I have the position updated on the plan. For this kind of use, the LAM-1 is excellent.

These days you must be able to get a simple handheld GPS unit for <�100, but that only gives you a position - it won't have the maps and route planning functionality. I've not yet seen a handheld GPS unit complete with maps and route planning functionality, so I can't evaluate that as an alternative. Can you point me to one to look at?

The other alternative is an in-car sat nav system. Last I looked, these were pretty expensive and not much use when you leave the car.

The only real limitation of the LAM-1 is nothing to do with the LAM - it's the size of the 9210 screen. It's pretty good but, for maps, bigger is always better - the trouble is that increasing screen size increases the unit size. If the 9210 had a screen the size of the Revo's it would be perfect for me.

barflux 19 Mar 2003, 08:19

Before I started the application and before attaching the module, it was at 8.6MB and is the same after. I will try it later today with a route calculation I guess then it will use some mem.

Tomahawk 19 Mar 2003, 08:42

You don't specify which memory your 8.6 MB is referring to. Is this RAM, C or D? The one I would expect to be consumed when you fire up City Maps or Route maps is RAM. Fired up individually, on my 9210(i), they each use ~1.2M of RAM without GPS attached. Both running together take ~2.1 M. C/D memory is not affected.

barflux 19 Mar 2003, 18:42

Hi, I don't know if it is the RAM, (I am looking in Control Panel, the one you select Memory, and it say Device Memory 8.6MB free and 7.4 Used, My D: 79MB used and 43MB free). Not run out of memory yet, unlike my old 9210. So I am guessing it is not the RAM.

How can you find out how much RAM you have left?

Nick

Tomahawk 20 Mar 2003, 08:06

Device memory is like C drive on PC. To find out how much RAM you are using you need a utility like:
- Switcher (freeware - good tool, also allows you to shut apps you can't get at with the std s/ware)
- AppMan (shareware, but IMHO the best utility app around)
- Smart Memory (shareware I think, but I don't use it - I think either Dazler or Switchblade rates it highly)
- iDisk (freeware, just shows memory use)