Author Topic: Any advice on a decent GPS? (Read 4018 times)

Jerry · « **on:** December 12, 2007, 09:44:46 AM »

I have no clue. Do they have a volume control? My hearing is not great.
Yes a birthday present, for me from spouse.
Can the eaSILY BE MOVED FROM VEHICLE TO VEHICLE?

Cindi · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2007, 10:29:49 AM »

Jerry we are kinda in the market for one too. We will be getting one come spring time just before camping starts. I can tell you the main things that I will be looking for in our unit. Text to speech is a plus. What this does is tell you to turn right on Oak Street in a half a mile instead of just saying turn right in a half mile. It's nice to hear the actual street name you need to turn on. Another thing to look for is a unit that offers many POI's (points of interest). These are the types of places such as, banks, restaurants, gas stations, museums and so on. The more to choose from the better. In your case you may want one with a larger screen such as the 4.3" instead of the 3.5". Here is a link that might help you with your search.
http://www.gpsmagazine.com/
Good luck!!

maryvonne · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2007, 11:01:15 AM »

We recently bought the Garmin 650 and are very pleased with it so far. We used it in Seattle last weekend and didn't get lost once. Volume is adjustable and there are several voices to choose from. In our case we preferred the male voice with a slight British accent, so we now call our GPS "James" and thank him every time he gets us to where we need to go. There are a lot of custom settings to chose from including the lead time on turns. It will tell you for example to turn in 200 yards right onto Oak street and remain on the left.
Ours has a nice size screen and was very easy to use. It sure beat trying to read the map book we had last time.

Maryvonne

Jerry · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2007, 11:55:10 AM »

Thank you two! It helps a lot.

I have been going to auditions and it can be a challenge. I know so cal well. I pity the young actors who come here and how tough it must be for them to find destinations.

Lynda · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2007, 02:45:49 PM »

I have the Garmin 650 too, and absolutely love it. I drive a pretty far distance to koi shows, and haven't gotten lost once. It got me all over Atlanta in September, and the fact that it tells me that I'll be turning or exiting ahead of time was very helpful in a blinding rainstorm. It transfers from my vehicle to my husband's in seconds - and he doesn't seem to mind taking directions from a woman as long as she lives in a little box on the windshield.

Mine is named "Shirley" because she's always so "sure" of where she's going....

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2007, 03:04:36 PM »

I got a Garmin for my son a year ago for Christmas, from Costco. He loves it! He has only been living here all his life and been taken to many places in SoCal but he doesn't have any sense of direction at all. So the GPS really helps him to places out of our valley!

mascot · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2007, 03:14:15 PM »

RIDICULOUS! everyone knows that we never need to ask for directions!

Jerry · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2007, 03:54:35 PM »

Yes Michael, us real men don't need no stinkin directions!

I was told about the TOM TOM ONE also, not bad , but the above mentioned one has it beat.
Amazon shows the reviews, pretty neat.
Garmin it be!

Mikey · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2007, 04:39:12 PM »

If you have a laptop you may wish to consider using Microsoft Streets & Trips. It turns you laptop into a mapping gps. http://www.microsoft.com/streets/default.mspx

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2007, 05:15:38 PM »

I don't know if I'm 100% sure about having to carry my laptop with the GPS package in my car....too much to carry!

I was in a airport shuttle van where the driver had his eyes on the laptop more than he should have. Maybe his package didn't have voice directions but it sure scared me when he drove like a maniac and kept typing at the same time!

EagleEye · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2007, 07:02:11 PM »

Jerry,
Garmin is the leader for sure. You can't go wrong. Fortunately, right now, there are a lot of very good GPS on the market.
A Garmin street pilot is a good choice, and you can decide how much you want to spend.
Even if you got the bottom of the line, you would have something that would do what you need it to do.
The more expensive ones have what is called blue tooth, which is probably more than I understand, but it is lots of music to boot.

The best of luck to you,-----Just go to a store and ask or go on line and look and you will find what you want.

Steve

-Greg- · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2007, 09:28:51 PM »

Jerry, Garmin for me as well. I have an old Garmin Ique 3600, it is almost 5 years old and preforms as good today as it did when I purchased it. Also, the maps are upgradeable to adjust for new roads, business's, addresses, etc.

Greg

Cindi · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2007, 06:10:15 AM »

I compare Garmin and Tom Tom to Chevrolet and Ford. I think the little guys that are coming out with new units will be just as good as a Tom Tom or a Garmin, but for a bit less. Tom Tom and Garmin will probably always be the front runners as Chevy and Ford are, but the little guys are out to compete with the big guys so they will make a comparible unit. Just do your homework and read reviews and you will be all set. My friend just purchased a Navigon 2100 and let me tell you, that thing is awesome and she didn't break the bank buying it either.

El Jefe · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2007, 07:48:42 AM »

I bought the Tom Tom one XL (they now have an XLS) and I I used it on my recent trip. I took a map for back up but never had to use it really, let my own paranoia get to me but it took me to my 4 locations without flaw. Went from Tallahassee to Charlotte N.C. to visit a friend, from there to Bowie Maryland to visit my Dad Sister and brothers, and from there to Brunswick Ohio to visit my Bro and sister in law. Then home from there. It told me everything I needed to know including places to eat (even listed their phone number) Retail stores when my wifes florida clothes no longer kept her warm in Maryland LOL great unit I was satisfied.

Andy

Jerry · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2007, 08:23:40 AM »

Thanks all. Will look at it today or tomorrow. Probably buy from Amazon, they do make buying easy. Even remember ones credit card number.
Garmin will be the one.
No laptop Mikey. I am gadgeted over my head as it is.

Oh, my wife is buying it, a birthday present.

Brian · « **Reply #15 on:** December 13, 2007, 11:41:27 AM »

I've got a Magellan Crossover GPS that I can load lake maps and hiking maps on as well, so I've got one unit that works for the car and the boat, which makes it nice! I call my GPS Maggie. It has the voice directions as well that says left turn on Oak Street in 2 miles, then again at half mile then again at so many yards or feet.

Jerry · « **Reply #16 on:** December 13, 2007, 03:49:56 PM »

Does Crossover have a model #?

EagleEye · « **Reply #17 on:** December 13, 2007, 04:48:12 PM »

Birthday Present????????????????????

You don't really mean that your getting older do you?

Have a GREAT Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Jerry, this isn't the time to screw around with the new guy on the block---Get what works.

Steve

Jerry · « **Reply #18 on:** December 13, 2007, 11:09:59 PM »

You said it Steve. I have gotten some awful "bargains." If I don't learn now I never will. Besides, the wife is paying!

Brian · « **Reply #19 on:** December 14, 2007, 06:52:36 AM »

Jerry,
The model number is 2500T. Our Wal-mart carries it for just under $300.00. It is water resistant too, but you may not need that feature in sunny California!!!

https://www.magellangps.com/products/product.asp?segID=391&prodID=1753

Mikey · « **Reply #20 on:** December 14, 2007, 12:21:33 PM »

Today's Fry's advertisement has the following GPS units for sale:

Garmin NUVI 350 Portable Car Navigation= $450

Nav730 Portable Car Navigation= $130

Magellan Maestro 3140 Portable Car Navigation= $270

Sanyo NVM-4050= $200

TomTom GO 920 Portable Car Navigation= $500

Jerry · « **Reply #21 on:** December 14, 2007, 04:57:21 PM »

I saw the add! Checked out the 600 at Best Buy, very nice. A lot less from Amazon. No tax or freight!
However the reviews on Amazon have me going nuts. Looks like the NEW 660 is the one.

Jerry · « **Reply #22 on:** December 15, 2007, 11:56:10 PM »

We did go for the 660, as I said too much info can make one crazy.
Costco will ship it plus tax and freight. It still is about 35.00 less than Amazon, but, and a big but it is.
NOT happy? Costco will take it back.
299.00
9.00 frt
24.00 tax
__________
$332.00

Mikey · « **Reply #23 on:** December 16, 2007, 08:09:21 AM »

Is that the Garmin?

Jerry · « **Reply #24 on:** December 16, 2007, 09:38:29 AM »

YES, Garmin.

Mikey · « **Reply #25 on:** December 19, 2007, 08:39:19 PM »

Jerry: Here's something else I just heard advertised to help you avoid traffic on the freeways.

http://www.trafficgauge.com/radiola/

Jerry · « **Reply #26 on:** December 20, 2007, 08:09:56 AM »

Mike we both listen to KABC Radio!
Here is my daughter with Doug Mcintyre

Mikey · « **Reply #27 on:** December 20, 2007, 08:20:03 AM »

What event was she at where she met Doug?

Desertponder · « **Reply #28 on:** December 20, 2007, 08:30:36 AM »

Our fire dept. just put Garmins in all three ambulances.
I've used it a few times but it certainly does not direct you
in the shortest route to the scene. Saturday night it directed me completely
around the block when I could have gone straight and been right there.

I'm not impressed.

I suppose they would be great for people who
travel a great deal but I wouldn't want one in my car.

Mikey · « **Reply #29 on:** December 20, 2007, 11:09:16 AM »

Yes it's true that sometimes they don't find the most direct route, just like MapQuest, but they will get you there. When I worked patrol we carried a small pocket guide that contained every street in the city. A glance at it would quickly give the hundred block and cross streets and that's all one needed. GPS for patrol cars would be a waste when a 50cent pocket guide does the trick.

We have used one with our laptop on a few trips both in and out of our state. What's great is that we can zoom out and determine for ourselves if it is taking the most direct route. The large screen of a laptop helps. This last summer we found ourselves up the coast south of Big Sur and we were trying to find a really neat restaurant that we had eaten at several years prior. We remembered the name but couldn't remember its location. The gps loaded laptop was able to search names and found the restaurant. I thought that was pretty cool.