Founded in 1991by American Gary Burrel and Taiwanese Min Kao, Garmin is a product of two people who believe that there’s more to do in the Global Positioning System technology than what existed that time. Garmin is obviously derived from the names of the founders. The $ 4 million dollar capital the two were able to gather from friends, investors and their own savings jumpstarted the company with 12 engineers and a rented workspace in Lenexa, Kansas.

Garmin was originally name ProNav, but was changed in 1991 due to a claim of trademark infringement by a competitor, who had the name NavPro on one of its GPS receivers.

Garmin’s Early Products
One of Garmin’s first products was the dash-mounted receiver GPS 100. Originally aimed at the marine market and sold at $ 2500, the product became a hit immediately after its launch at the 1990 International Marine Exposition in Chicago. In 1991, the company came out with a handheld GPS that also sold like hotcakes among military personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during the Gulf War. Other Products include the Forerunner for recreational runners and the in-car navigation series called the StreetPilot.

The iQue Line
It was in 2003 that Garmin PDA was launched, particularly the iQue line. It is basically products combining Garmin PDA devices with GPS receivers. The 3600 is a Garmin iQue PDA and GPS that came out in 2003. The first among its kind, it has a software that enables the device to use maps on its expansion SD memory card and has a voice guided turn-by-turn navigation. Another novelties of the Garmin GPS iQue PDA is its version 5.2.1 Garnet Palm OS and a built-in voice recorder, integrating contact and appointment locations.

The 3200 on the other hand is also a Garmin iQue PDA with GPS handheld equipped with MP3 player and message playback. A newer version of 3600 is the 3600a. This Garmin PDA GPS is dubbed by the company as a real pilot’s Palm. Combining the convenience of Palm and Garmin GPS aviation portable, this Garmin PDA has a Jeppesen, terrain and US obstacles databases, a Terrain mode offering pop-up warning when proximity conflicts come into view, a detailed sectional chart-style view and an aviation cradle mount. When used on the ground, Garmin PDA 3600a users have the option to download from MapSource and choose from formats that would enable it to effortlessly shift from plane to automobile.

Garmin for PDA enthusiasts is definitely worth the investment. The Garmin PDA line may come expensive but looking at its features, those who really need one will find the devices a necessities rather than forms of luxury or extravagance.