Review on Palm GPS Car Kit 3224NA by Lindsay Campbell

I was surprised that it came with an external GPS receiver. From what I've read, I assumed the external receiver was sold separately. Before purchasing, I knew I wasn't going to get a good, compact handheld GPS that is a device. I didn't mind the extra parts, cables etc as I really wanted to use the Palm Tungsten E2 for more than just my Excel spreadsheet. It was not entirely clear whether the base station had a built-in GPS receiver. Apparently yes, because. The device works without an external receiver. External can be used when a stronger signal is required. Previously this was not necessary. Pros: 1. Nice little unit. works well. The maps are clear and the points of interest are really handy if you need to find a restaurant or gas station.2. The stand and power cord are all you need. An external receiver is just a plus.3. The volume is very loud and clear.4. The power cord is designed for both the GPS receiver and for charging the Palm.5. Fast redirection of courses.6. A lot more, but I can't remember all the details. Cons: 1. The device acquires a GPS signal in about half a minute. If you start moving before he gets the signal, it may take a long time.2. The instructions for installing the cards are not clear in the user manual. This is a separate installation from the main app and the instructions indicate that you need to install it but don't include the steps.3. It's a bit awkward to deal with the car mount. I use the Palm for other purposes, so I have to take it out and put it back in all the time. The mount isn't as portable as today's portable GPS units (but I knew that before I bought it). It is not clear what is the maximum supported SD card. I bought a 2GB SD card and found later that it doesn't work with the Tungsten E2. I've seen other similar reports from others online. I had to go with a 1GB SD card. This is a PDA limitation, not a TomTom device. I would recommend this product to anyone who knows what they are getting into. This is not a portable GPS device like those available in the market. This is great for people who want to use their Palm for more than just jotting down schedules and notes.