The challenge I find for mobile *phones* is no unregulated international service or expensive roaming charges, some challenges in privacy matters, and there are a dizzying array of choices of devices.

So, here is my wish-list for a GPS device and maps to work with it. Note that I am ignorant of the technology and have yet to even read this section to get up to speed.

wishlist (#1 is lowest priority)

1. anonymous (or at least private - I buy all my electronics for cash and register to 'Joe Smith')

2. international (can use effectively in all of South-east Asia, including Myanmar and Vietnam. Ideally, I don't want to have to buy new subscriptions every country I go to. Additional Asian areas such as South Asia, especially India, would be useful)

3. reliable and fast tech support

4. Not proprietory (not be like Kindle which maintains a 'monopoly' on its Amazon format, i.e. I want to be able to use whoever's maps on it - my choice, not that of the manufacturer)

5. can place pins/stickies (i.e. customize maps to mark places, with some notes)

6. good value - cheap isn't usually the best bang for your buck.

7. portable - all the devices I see in Canada are intended for cars. And when I ask about maps they don't have anything for Bangladesh and the Philippines.

Hmm, does a easy to learn and use combination of hardware and software exist?

Now to read what is available in the real world...

2 and 4: I believe the manufacturers of these GPS navigators make a lot of their profit from selling the maps and updates.

You have two simple choices which you could describe as online and offline.

Online is buy an Andriod or iPhone and use Google maps. Wherever you go you will need to get a local sim card and get access to mobile internet; not a big deal as 3rd world countries generally have pay as you go and its cheap. Disadvantage with online is it only works when you have a signal; not a big deal when exploring towns and cities, but a big negative when out in the countryside.

Offline means buying a dedicated gps device and loading maps of the places you go. Dedicated GPS devices may not have the latest tech in terms of electronics but they work very well. They tend to have the most information; eg points of interest and generally are up to date. There is very little choice if you want maximum flexibility; that is you need to buy a Garmin device. Garmin are number one and you can get maps made by loads of different companies for your device.

So what do you when you go traveling? Well you take your dedicated gps AND your smartphone. Then you have the best of both worlds.

Back to that wish list... Well that is exactly what it is; now back to reality; above is what is realistically available.

Online is buy an Andriod..

Offline means buying a dedicated gps device ... you need to buy a Garmin device.

Offline - there are several Android products on the market for this, some free. No need to go into the sticks with anything but an Android phone and a weather proof case.

Thank you for your replies. My understanding is that some android devices (e.g. Samsung Galaxy Tab) and even ipad2 3g model have assisted GPS - that is, no 3g subscription is required to use google maps although in that case they have limited capabilities. I don't need navigation (how to get from wherever I am at the moment to location X), just maps that I can customize (adding pins for say favourite restuarants) and researching wher something is. I am very fond of google maps but won't pay roaming fees from a western country or anything more than cheapo buy-at-7-11 SIM cards. Anyway, one has to pay for time, whereas offline or with A-GPS there is no fee.

Does nayone have experience using built-in GPS, for example with google maps, with either their 3/4g service turned off or they never had it in the first place.

I refuse to use a 'smart phone'. I use a $20 nokia.

Instead of a GPS unit has anyone dealt or know if it is possible to connect a smartphone with GPS ability to a

tablet and mount it on you dashboard,, i suppose it could be done or someone already doing it ? Please reply.

Update: I just checked at a Canadian big box store. There is a huge amount of confusion and ignorance among staff about what will work and what will not. After talking to a Mac salesman (at an Apple store) he seemed to be the most informed. He said he owns both the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the ipad2, and that both of their 3G models will allow non-connection (no phone subscription or it turned off) google earth capabilities to work. But in a limited way and only if one has already downloaded/uploaded/sideways-loaded the maps from a connected, i.e. wifi location. I prseume this means one has to actually zoom in on every square block you might want to explore when unconnected. This sounds potentially problematic and impractical. And I read somewhere that although his will work, it won't work

The smaller Samsung looked really appealing but I am told it does not have a gps chip.

Anyway, I went in to turn in my ipad2 wifi model as inadequate for my mapping purpose and it seems I have several choices...

1. Dedicated GPS device - cheap for hardware but one must buy maps, and at least in Canada Asia is not well represented in map offerings. And just like Apple, they seem to make their money from maps, and they aren't cross-platform/device transferable, i.e. garmin maps won't work on Tom-Tom. But the biggest downside for me is that the screens are way too small, especially on the chubby hand-helds.

2. Expensive tablet with 3G connection

3. Expensive smart phone ditto.

We haven't quite gotten to super-portable mapping for John Doe.

Instead of a GPS unit has anyone dealt or know if it is possible to connect a smartphone with GPS ability to a

tablet and mount it on you dashboard,, i suppose it could be done or someone already doing it ? Please reply.

Android phones let you precache maps for an area withing 10 miles of any selected point on the map. Tap and hold > tap on "Precache map area.

I have refrained from commenting because this will upset the smart phone fans. If you want a reliable GPS, choose a dedicated unit. They are simple to use and you don't have to be a techie to use one. The maps are MUCH better and far more detailed. I do prefer the native ESRI Thai map to the Garmin SEA map. It has better Points of interest and shows more decent roads than the Garmin map. I have four Garmin units and chose Garmin because maps are easily available for most of SE Asia. I use the Rotweiler maps for Indo China. It will cost you $50 for all the maps including Thailand. The Thailand map is missing some recently completed roads and points of interest are out of date but the Thailand map will still get you where you want to go.

Before the smart phone guys tear me apart, I do have two GPS enabled phones. One is the Nokia with Nokia maps and the other is an android phone. The GPS on the android phone is much better for some reason. It finds the satellites much faster and is more sensitive. I have had different maps installed and Google is as good as any although they doesn't have navigation for my area. Both will pin point your location and prevent you from driving in circles. Either of my phones is good if you get lost but they cannot compare to a dedicated unit. With a dedicated unit, you don't have to worry about an Internet connection and the cost. The battery life for a smart phone using GPS stinks.

I have not traveled to Vietnam, Laos or Burma but have used the Rotweiler map on a small hand held Garmin Etrex in Cambodia. The screen on the Etrex is quite small and I wouldn't use if for driving but still consider it much better than a smart phone.