Paradigm shift -- the times they are changing

[Bains]

I have supported Street Atlas in client environments for over 7 years. The usefulness of the product is undeniable but the support costs are high since there is no network version and client systems have to be actual computers with a GPS receiver of some type attached.

Recently I worked with Garmin Nuvi and TomTom devices. These devices are absolutely unbelievable at the price point available today. While on the road they offer a better human interface with reasonable features and no cluttered screen -- much safer. It is obvious that this will be the standard user interface for the future for the automotive market.

There is no doubt that the evolving market will settle on a price point of around $120 for a market of 10+ million devices per year for the new car market plus the existing market.

Nobody wants a computer in their vehicle if they can avoid it. Use of the SA product for planning is great. Use of SA enabled computer along with a separate GPS receiver for navigation is obtuse and distracting for the driver at best. Use of the newer devices with their user interface metaphor is 'better' and much safer for the solo driver.

My view is that Delorme should determine how to 'download' their data into the Garmin and TomTom devices if possible or deliver an ancillary device in competition with Garmin and TomTom that has the reduced functionality of those type of devices but has the ease of use of those type of devices.

Here is some real world experience from one client - data that should be considered...
• Client has just purchased 37 Garmin Nuvi devices for about $80.
• Marketing interns are inputting route information for sales and delivery staff to assist them in their routine duties. This cost is about equivalent to the per system installation time and configuration expense for a laptop system.
• Client has avoided $40 per system upgrade costs for SA plus installation and maintenance time.
• Client has received a $29 credit per vehicle on insurance if they do not have a computer available to the operator while driving.
• Client will avoid Joto-desk installation costs for future purchases
• Client will probably implement netbooks instead of laptops in the future.

Bottom line is that in my view the computer based SA paradigm will most likely die a slow death over the next 5 to 7 years. Having a download capability to a single function automotive use GPS device will be essential and preserve the value of the SA software. Absent that capability, SA will probably become the GPS equivalent of Wordperfect versus Word -- still there but not really on anybody's radar screen.

[alandb]

Interesting post. I participate in several Garmin and TomTom forums. Many posters there are predicting the slow death of the stand alone portable PND to be replaced by smart phone navigation apps. These forums for the most part reflect personal PND use rather than business application like you are talking about, but it is still interesting to hear both points of view.

I started with Street Atlas/LT-20 for family trips and now use a Garmin for navigation. But I still like SA for trip planning and transferring routes to the Garmin. And since I always take my laptop along when I travel, it is my "security blanket" in case my Garmin fails (not unheard of). I could very quickly pull off the road and get my inverter, laptop and LT-40 hooked up and navigating for me. So for personal use I think the combination of SA and a portable PND is still a great combination.

[Dan Lawyer]

#1) PNDs are a dying breed and even good ones are getting dirt cheap (as your prices show). There are just more of them than customers who want them. Had DeLorme done one years ago (when I suggest it) they would have a dying product now.

#2) Cellphones are quickly becoming the new PNDs

#3) There will always be a market for laptop navigating software, just too many folks that don't like tiny screens.

#4) DeLorme needs to make a DeLorme netbook cellphone

[RRLover]

I guess it's way too late for DeLorme to form an alliance w/RouteBuddy, similar to their
workings w/Groundspeak. I can't think of a more complete package for any OS than combining
RouteBuddy, XMap, and a PN-XX device. Add comercial transport mapping, and the SA databases,
There ya go!

Norm

[dakboy]

#1) PNDs are a dying breed and even good ones are getting dirt cheap (as your prices show). There are just more of them than customers who want them. Had DeLorme done one years ago (when I suggest it) they would have a dying product now.

#2) Cellphones are quickly becoming the new PNDs

#3) There will always be a market for laptop navigating software, just too many folks that don't like tiny screens.

#4) Cellphone screens are too small, and I don't want to have to keep my laptop in my car just to navigate. Where does that leave me? Right in the middle - a TomTom or similar in-vehicle navigation device. You're saying that this market is "dying"? In NY, it's illegal to do anything with a cellphone other than dial a phone number to call someone with a handsfree device. So cellphones for navigation isn't viable at all, if you're looking to stick to the letter of the law.

[Sanaghan]

I think Topo will stick around. There will always be a group of people who go in -- or actively seek out -- areas without cell phone reception.

I have that they're putting cell phone towers in every park out there. Life without risk is boring. Reducing risk brings people who don't appreciate where they're at or why they're there.

....seen one too many minivan or car with everyone staring at the TV but the driver, as they drive the parks.

[grumman581]

My cell phone has a GPS and map on it. I've used it once or twice just to see if it actually works. I don't like it since the screen is not big enough. I don't like the Tom Tom devices either due to their small screen size. As far as I'm concerned, anything less than 1024x768 for a moving map is just painful to use and as such, I avoid it if at all possible. I've been buying the various Delorme products for 10 years now in the hope that they would finally make it do what I need it to do with respect to saving drawn objects in a text format and then being able to subsequently import the objects and get EXACTLY what you started out with. Quite frankly, I'm starting to get fed up with them and am seriously considering not buying anymore Delorme products. It does a lot of things very nicely, but those are not the things that I *need* it to do.