TurboRush
04-14-2007, 09:14 AM
I feel like contributing to this forum. I always see a lot of questions about what is a good GPS and it really comes down to:
1. Budget
2. What features you want
For me, I don't need or care or what any kind of crazy features some of the high-end models, like MP3 player, etc, all I wanted was:
1. All street level maps for US and Canada
2. Easy to travel with (too much travel for work)
3. Quick satellite identification
4. Touch Screen
Nuvi comes in at about $400 now a days I think and is touch screen, about as thick as a deck of cards, easily fits in your pocket, and comes with a case. It has all street level maps preloaded, goes a good 5hrs on battery if you want it to. Does text to speech, i.e., "turn left on Main st", not "turn left". It does have MP3 and Bluetooth capability, but I don't care or utilize either. If you go up to the Nuvi 360 you get a built in traffic receiver, which would probably be nice, but after the free trial ends you need to pay for the service, which I probably wouldn't, so I don't miss that. Although I wish I had it a few times when I was sitting in NYC traffic.
This is my 2nd Garmin and I believe Garmin has the best all around product on the market. The interface is usually straight forward and easy to understand, they get satellites quickly and are dead accurate. Plus you can't beat the "Points of Interest", over 6 million. Saved me a bunch of times on travel when I needed a Walmart and instead of wondering aimlessly I just typed in Walmart and it showed me where the cloest one was.
The TomTom is a good option for the "everyday" person who doesn't know any better. I found it be lacking a lot of detail compared to my Nuvi (I drive by the FoxRun mall and its marked off and labeled "Fox Run Mall" on the Nuvi, the TomTom just showed a big blank area. Magellan's are decent units, but have horrible interfaces, they are far from intuitive, at least what I have seen.
One down side to Garmin, which I obviously can't comment on the others, is customer service. I had a problem with my first unit that they replaced with a brand new one, but just getting someone on the phone was a big pain in the *** and constantly got the "oh hi Chris, I was just about to call you" BS.
Overall, if you are in the market for a GPS, this is definitely the best product I have purchased in the past 2 years and you'll wonder how you lived without it. Just think about your budget, desired features, and then look at Garmin.
Please note, these are my opinions, other users experiences with products may have varied and products may have improved over time. So if you disagree with me, to f'in bad.~soldier~
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=6290
1. Budget
2. What features you want
For me, I don't need or care or what any kind of crazy features some of the high-end models, like MP3 player, etc, all I wanted was:
1. All street level maps for US and Canada
2. Easy to travel with (too much travel for work)
3. Quick satellite identification
4. Touch Screen
Nuvi comes in at about $400 now a days I think and is touch screen, about as thick as a deck of cards, easily fits in your pocket, and comes with a case. It has all street level maps preloaded, goes a good 5hrs on battery if you want it to. Does text to speech, i.e., "turn left on Main st", not "turn left". It does have MP3 and Bluetooth capability, but I don't care or utilize either. If you go up to the Nuvi 360 you get a built in traffic receiver, which would probably be nice, but after the free trial ends you need to pay for the service, which I probably wouldn't, so I don't miss that. Although I wish I had it a few times when I was sitting in NYC traffic.
This is my 2nd Garmin and I believe Garmin has the best all around product on the market. The interface is usually straight forward and easy to understand, they get satellites quickly and are dead accurate. Plus you can't beat the "Points of Interest", over 6 million. Saved me a bunch of times on travel when I needed a Walmart and instead of wondering aimlessly I just typed in Walmart and it showed me where the cloest one was.
The TomTom is a good option for the "everyday" person who doesn't know any better. I found it be lacking a lot of detail compared to my Nuvi (I drive by the FoxRun mall and its marked off and labeled "Fox Run Mall" on the Nuvi, the TomTom just showed a big blank area. Magellan's are decent units, but have horrible interfaces, they are far from intuitive, at least what I have seen.
One down side to Garmin, which I obviously can't comment on the others, is customer service. I had a problem with my first unit that they replaced with a brand new one, but just getting someone on the phone was a big pain in the *** and constantly got the "oh hi Chris, I was just about to call you" BS.
Overall, if you are in the market for a GPS, this is definitely the best product I have purchased in the past 2 years and you'll wonder how you lived without it. Just think about your budget, desired features, and then look at Garmin.
Please note, these are my opinions, other users experiences with products may have varied and products may have improved over time. So if you disagree with me, to f'in bad.~soldier~
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=6290