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Reviews
ASUS
GPS Solution
 The
big box the ASUS GPS Solution comes in is misleading as it shows
the dash of a car with a built-in GPS system as well as an ASUS
MyPal Pocket PC. The ASUS GPS Solution doesn't come with either
of those. Instead, it consists of a Holux Bluetooth GPS receiver,
a variety of adapters and connectors for use with Bluetooth-equipped
ASUS Pocket PCs, and some utility software. You'll find a vehicle
power adapter for the ASUS, a suction-cup gooseneck PDA holder,
and a variety of international power plug adapters to go with
the GPS receiver's little power brick that charges the receiver's
internal battery via a USB cable. That same cable can also be
used to leech power from a notebook or desktop computer. What
it means is that this bundle is meant to be used with an Asus
Pocket PC. However, it is not limited to  Asus
products. The gooseneck PDA holder works with almost any PDA,
and the Bluetooth GPS puck likewise can communicate with other
Bluetooth-equipped PDAs, or even via USB. The Holux GR230 Bluetooth
GPS receiver itself looks like a very small mouse. It's a marvel
of design and engineering. It has an on-off switch, a data port
in case you want to use it via USB instead of Bluetooth, and an
antenna connector (the package does not include the antenna).
Once turned on, the little receiver communicates via three lights.
 One
indicates charging status, one satellite reception, and one Bluetooth
connection. The GR230 acquired satellites quickly and offered
good reception. About the only criticism we have is that its battery
is internal and cannot be replaced. So you need to keep it charged
via USB. The accompanying GPS Viewer software is really just a
demo program. It lets you connect to the receiver and view its
data. However, you still need third party mapping software to
actually use the received for something.
ö Kirk Linsky
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