Review: Seidio G2500 GPS Powered Mount

[bkbroil]

Aximsite has posted a review on the Seidio G2500 GPS Powered Mount. I have recently installed an Arkon powered mount in my car and I love it. Of course, I don't really see a need for one unless you have a GPS system installed on your PPC but hearing those voice turn by turn directions are so cool. The author brings up the point about lots and lots of wires.
One of the terrific uses of a PPC is GPS. Today's mapping software gives good directions, and with location accuracy now consistently in the 15m range, there is little reason to be lost anymore. However, using a PPC as a GPS navigation system involves several challenges. One of these challenges is to get the PPC in a good location so you can see the screen, hear the prompts and not have it block critical controls or your vision. In addition, there are also requirements for wires, sometimes lots of wires! If you use a CF card GPS, then all you need is to hold and power the PPC, but if you use a serially connected GPS unit, then you need to power the PPC, power the GPS and connect the two. Finally, if you want to improve the sound quality and volume beyond what the tiny speaker in a PPC can handle, you need to connect either to your in-car audio or some other external amplifier, adding to wires and power requirement. The bottom line? A GPS/PPC combination can look like a spaghetti farm!
Closing Words
Seidio gets full marks for this well thought out mount. It holds my PPC in place snugly, provides power and sound amplification, and is well made. If you need a an uncluttered environment, this could be the mount for you!
One word of minor caution: Early versions of this mount had two problems--the first was that the connector cable from the RJ-11 to serial GPS units were occasionally mis-wired and were reported to fry the GPS receivers after a few moments. I believe all of the bad ones are now out of circulation, but make sure you ask from your vendor. The other problem was unique to the Dell Axim X5. Seidio originally had two small pegs on the bottom of the unit that were intended to guide the Axim into position using the two square holes on the bottom of the Axim. However, Seidio reported that the found inconsistent placement of these holes from unit to unit, so they stopped making units with the pegs. Again, check with your vendor if you get the Axim X5 unit. Mine did not have the pegs, and my Axim fit perfectly--snug enough to hold the Axim in place on the roughest of roads.
Pros:
Solid Suction cup mount
Creative flexibility in mount configurations
Nice additional touches in the "extras" (vent locks, power outlets, etc)
Reduces clutter
Cons:
None noted although there were early problems with Axim fit and GPS Serial cables

[knelson]

I think I may order one of these

[bkbroil]

Check out the Arkon products also....The speaker is really nice.