Any GPS Users/Geeks out there?

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H

Harryoke

New DJ
Dec 22, 2006
681
2
60
Central FL
Hey there...a question for you all...

I thought I might want to get a GPS, and now that I have used my first one, I am sure I want to get one. I want to check on the opinion of those of you who use them....

What is the difference between a $149 dollar GPS and a $499 GPS, LOL? The $150-200 ones such as the Nuvi or Tom Tom seem to do what I would want...what are the downfalls of going cheap, or the bennies of spending a little more? What would tick me off about a $150 unit and would spending a hundred more be better?

Any recommendations of specific brands or models?

I would look for it to talk, touch screen and be battery or AC operable...and not sure how updates work...wouldnt want something that would be obsolete out of the box in that respect.

THANKS!!

H
 
Here are some thoughts. I recently bought a GPS unit after having used my sister's unit.

I have the Magellan Roadmate 1412, she has an older Garmin model (not a NUVI).

They all work basically the same. They don't all use the same mapping systems, so one unit might take you in one direction while another unit will take you a different way. Either way, you will get to your destination.

You will want something that you can upgrade the firmware as well as the maps on. Most have that available but you want to make sure.

You're going to pay more for a widescreen model than you will with a regular sized display. I chose to pay more for the 4:3 widescreen model.

You definitely want to get a unit that has "text to voice". These units will tell you to turn on the street name as opposed to "turn in 50 ft.".

When you get into the higher priced models, they will usually have such features as traffic notifications, mp3 players, picture viewers, etc... I didn't need the other features so I stuck with the Magellan 1412. The Magellan 1412 retails for $299 but I got it on sale at Staples for $249.

Purchase the best unit you can for the money you're willing to spend. I have used both the Garmin and the Magellan and I like them both. I originally wanted to purchase a 4:3 Garmin Nuvi but all of the ones that had text to voice began at a price level that was higher than I wanted to spend. I settled for the Magellan and I have no complaints at all.
 
H,

I have the Garman Nuvi 200W. Its the basic model, no frills, no real time traffic, no text-to-speech (says street names). But it works well.

I suggest you go to one of the manufacturer websites for the GPS unit you are looking at buying, and do a comparison.

Groovielou
 
A number of the more exensive models have features I will never use, such as MP3 players and gif/jpg viewers. The less expensive models work well for me without these frills.

One feature I do like is that the sofware is programmed to say the name of the street you are turning onto next. I had a GPS without that and really missed that convenience.
 
Tom Tom 1XL. Large screen, great maps, USB interface so as to do some route programming in the office from the home computer as well as retrieving regular map updates. You'd be surprised how many new streets pop up the GPS doesn't know about unless kept current. One new street may change the entire route structure from what an older unit says that isn't current or can't be easily update.

Some on-screen goodies aren't available on the cheaper models so check out the frills too. If you love having toys, then get all the bells and whistles the toy has to offer. It's a Man Law to do that. Come on, don't chince out now (and don't fruit the beer either).
 
Cap Capello said:
... USB interface so as to do some route programming in the office from the home computer as well as retrieving regular map updates....
Click to expand...

So I assume the updates are free on the updateable GPS? And I assume the cheaper GPS do not offer the feature of updates...or else that is a feature I will have to specifically look for?
 
Harryoke : I didn't shop around. The Tom Tom purchase came by way of several GPS users who referred me what I just told you.

Yes, the updates are free.

Nope. Have not done comparison shopping but did mention the features I found best to aid you in yours.

I did not mention that it has an internal battery, comes with the 12v car adapter that plugs into the USB connection, has lot of options in route planning (fastest, shortest, scenic, tolls ok, avoid tolls, time and distance to destination, your mph, day & night modes, software locking, show hotels, restaurants, filling stations, parks, police stations, hospitals, and another page of points of interest. It accesses 5 or 6 satellites at the same time for precise vectoring, has many selectable voices, and makes your morning coffee if you treated it well overnight.
 
And with all that, after a quick Google, it is WELL within the price range!! Keeping this cheaper will let me buy MORE fruit for my beer, LOL! (I only lime Coronas and Miller Lites or crap lagers, LOL...I never fruit my Guinness.)
 
Man Law is Man Law, Harry!!!

Even the worst of beers doesn't deserve fruiting.

beer.jpg
 
We got all our djs magellan GPS' last christmas i use a Garmin C340 i think is the model number they are both about the same. You may want one that is EASY to update especially if you have a lot of new roads coming up. They are a GREAT tool. You should verify addresses in it though and not just punch it in and go if you're going to a gig you may find that the GPS doesnt have the right address
 
a lot of good advice here. I have 2 magellen's. the 2nd one i got says the name of the street...which is very nice....technically you never even have to look at the thing once you've put the address in.

the 2nd one i got is a magellen crossover, which does roads, nautical, and hiking.

My units have not been easily updateable, but i'm guessing that most are never going to have updates for every city.

I still think the cheapest GPS is much better than not having one.


i truly believe in the very near future, a gps will be as common as a radio. They will be much better at receiving data...so instant updates.
right now...mine has "points of interest", but i think ads will be purchased like yellow page ads....so when a driver wants an italian restarauant near him, it'll be updated with current ads....or a restaraunt could send out a "flyer" or coupon to cars in the area to instantly fill up available seating.
 
Nuvi 350.... paid $199... does everything I need without paying for a bunch of stuff I don't need. I have put photos from events I have done on it, and I show them to potential clients....

It does text to speech.

BTW, interesting aside... I rented a car in Florida 2 weeks ago for $160 a week, including taxes... they tried to upsell me a GPS for $75 a week! Let's see... 25,000 dollar car for $160 a week... $200 GPS for $75 a week.... you figure it out.
---
Harryoke said:
So I assume the updates are free on the updateable GPS? And I assume the cheaper GPS do not offer the feature of updates...or else that is a feature I will have to specifically look for?
Click to expand...

That depends.... Garmin does sell map updates.... I bought mine at amazon and they have a Garmin store that sells updates.
 
I have a TomTom GO700... it's a few years old but works just as well as it did when new. I've only updated the maps once.

Once Cap saw how effective it was at getting us around downtown Atlanta during a NAME conference, he was sold on it. As for me, I can't imagine going back to the old days of Mapquest printouts and Rand McNally road atlases.
 
Harryoke said:
Hey there...a question for you all...

I thought I might want to get a GPS, and now that I have used my first one, I am sure I want to get one. I want to check on the opinion of those of you who use them....

What is the difference between a $149 dollar GPS and a $499 GPS, LOL? The $150-200 ones such as the Nuvi or Tom Tom seem to do what I would want...what are the downfalls of going cheap, or the bennies of spending a little more? What would tick me off about a $150 unit and would spending a hundred more be better?

Any recommendations of specific brands or models?

I would look for it to talk, touch screen and be battery or AC operable...and not sure how updates work...wouldnt want something that would be obsolete out of the box in that respect.

THANKS!!

H
Click to expand...

What are you planning to use the GPS for? I'm assuming for driving, but the type you get will depend heavly on that. I have a Garmen Legend CX that I absolutly love. You pull up the garmin map on your computer, select the area you want a detailed map of, and it sends it to the GPS's microSD card via USB.

If anything, make sure you get a GPS that will allow you to upgrade the maps, and has expandable memory. Otherwise, your investment will be short lived for detailed maps.
 
Another dumb question...can they get reception from anywhere in the vehicle, or does it need to be prominently mounted near a window? If you are holding it in your pocket, will it work in buildings, or does it lose contact with the satellite easily, like a satellite radio?
 
Magellan Maestro 4210 GPS System
Reg Price: $299.99
On Sale: $169.99
You Save: $130.00

on the Bestbuy.ca Site or pick up in Canadian stores
for this price I'm headed out after work

Ontario Taxes 13%



Magellan 4210
 
can they get reception from anywhere in the vehicle, or does it need to be prominently mounted near a window?

It can be mounted anywhere in you car but a direct line of site to the sky is your best bet.

If you are holding it in your pocket, will it work in buildings, or does it lose contact with the satellite easily, like a satellite radio?

It will work in your pocket, but if you have a nuvi with the flip up antenna it will lose signal once you fold it down. It won't work indoors but a couple of GPS's have whats called dead reckoning. If you go in a tunnel or in the city with big buildings it does a great job of maintaining your location.
 
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