The Garmin iQue M3

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's essentially a more budget version of the iQue M5 they introduced earlier this year, but Garmin's new iQue M3 GPS Pocket PC does have a little something the M5 lacks: they've installed the same automotive-centric user interface found in their StreetPilot C series of handhelds that lets you easily navigate everything with your finger rather than a stylus (which can be a serious beyotch to handle while you're driving). The rest isn't so bad, either: a 3.5-inch, 240 x 320 pixel LCD touch screen, 32MB of ROM, 64MB of RAM, a 312MHz processor, and an SDIO expansion card slot. Should be out later this month. Click to see some hands-on shots of the M3 that we took yesterday.

[Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

It looks quite like a Palm in its styling and its large font interface.

[Aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Sexy.

[Fabian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

No specs yet?

[Fabian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I mean besides the major stuff already posted.

[shagam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Any word on price?

One HUGE question, can the interface work in a rotated 320x240 orientation, so that the unit can sit on a dash "landscape" style?

[Steve Mueller @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

According to the Kansas City Star, the price will be $499.

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Why did it take SO LONG for garmin to figure out that it's really dangerous to use a stylus to operate a carnav!? I think I'll get this one in the near future.

[k @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

The interface does work in both landscape and vertical orientations.

[k @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

The interface does work in both landscape and vertical orientations.

[Sky11000 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

But when will they become Mac compatable (or are they)?

[tpp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Comparison chart with the M5 would be mighty helpful.

Garmin, psst, slap a GSM phone on that thing, redesign the casing a little bit and you've just elevated yourself to gadget god form.

[Scoobydoo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I'd be happy if it could download traffic information through a bluetooth connection with my phone. It is sad to see what used to be little firms like TomTom mastering this kind of stuff, while the big boys like Magellan and Garmin lag behind more and more...

[Schlomo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

im glad to see garmin decided to go with hyperfast infrared rather than outdated bluetooth.

[KLove @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

M3 looks great, does the M5 have the 3D? I agree, comparison chart M3/M5 would be helpful.

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

In the M3, does the GPS work in sync with the address book like it does in the M5? Does anyone know the answer!?

[John Geer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Megagps.com has them for $449.99