NPUG | HandMap

HandMap

by Clayton “Randy” Jones
(NPUG #25)
02/13/00

Handmap Screenshot HandMap is map software for your Palm. I have searched many different map software packages on the Internet and this one seems to give you the most “bang for your buck.”

HandMap is freeware but there are two other versions that you can pay for. One is HandMap Deluxe (which allows for 3rd party built maps), cost $16.00 or HandMap Pro (same functionality of HandMap Deluxe and also supports plugins such as a GPS Tracker), cost $35.00.

Some of the nicer features of HandMap are the ability to zoom in and out from 1X to 64X. You can also use an intersection finder if you’re not quite sure of the exact location of a particular address. You can also create your own landmarks, I used it to locate and landmark the hotel I am going to be staying at in San Francisco next month. This software also allows you to produce a route from point A to point B. For my trip to San Francisco I have developed routes of places I would like to tour that are points of interest in the city.

There are two additional programs that add value to HandMap - MapIt and MapMaker (both free to download). MapIt lets you digitize scanned pictures of maps to export to HandMap. MapMaker lets you create map modules for HandMap, it does not allow you to create your own maps, it converts special type files (Arc View) to HandMap format.

For the most part this is excellent software with lots of functionality. One of the drawbacks that I can find is the cost of each map. If you want a particular city the cost is $6.00 most of the time, but if you want a region (i.e. Middle Tennessee) then you have to download the surrounding counties to be able to get the entire region or get the entire Southeast U.S. region map (which is really big, not much detail) for free (for registered versions). This could add up quickly. Another drawback, in looking for map software I wanted something that would allow me to download a map of the city/region that was up to date so that I could use it feeling confident that it was correct. For the most part these maps are current as of 1995, some have been updated to 1998 depending on the city/region.

One other comment, right now the only cites/regions available are U.S. cities/regions. There are no international maps yet. On PalmGear H.Q. this seems to be a strong point of contention. Unless you plan to travel abroad this probably isn’t a problem.

If you are looking for map software at a decent price this is the way to go as compared to other map software programs I have researched. There is cost involved but not as pricey as some other software products. If you are going to be traveling quite a bit this could add up to substantial cost but, consider the alternatives. Definitely one of the pluses are the additional programs that allow you to create or export other maps, this doesn’t hold you down to purchasing additional maps from the author.

For more information, please visit the HandMap Network web site at http://www.handmap.net/

Clayton “Randy” Jones
(NPUG #25)

HandMap

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