GPS System?

[Marilyn. 340]

I was thinking of getting this one....

http://www.amazon.com/TomTom-3rd-3-5-Inch-...7152&sr=1-1

they have a refurbished one at RAdio Shack for 100 bucks...

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...rentPage=search

Edited May 30, 2008 by MarilynP

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Don't know anything about Tom Tom I'm afraid - but you can get some reviews for comparison on CNET, Engadget or Gizmodo - one of the gadget sites.

The amazon blurb for that says that one of the spoken languages you can get for it is Australian. What's that when its at home?

Edited May 30, 2008 by Number 6

[Heracles 417]

The latest Tom Tom is good. But I think Garmin is easier to use.

[peejay 327]

I just bought a Garmin Nuvi 650 about a month ago. I've never owned an automotive GPS before, but have a Garmin 76 that I use to go hiking. Anyway, I'm sure there are cheaper units with smaller screens, but I wanted one with a big screen because my eyes aren't young anymore. It takes a few trips to get up to speed on how it operates, but most people should be able to figure it out. The touch screen to navigate the menues is very easy to operate. Just about all GPS units will let you enter an address and will get you there. Often I don't like the route it has chosen and deviate from it when I am familiar with part of the route already. The unit just recalculates the route from that point, but will decide the route it still thinks is best for the rest of the way. They especially earn their keep when you are lost. In that case you don't care which route you take as long as you get on the right track again to your destination.

The Nuvi 650 is the bare bones model in that screen size catagory and cost me about $250 total online and shipped to my house. It does not come with the hardware necessary to get the optional traffic updates. I would have to buy the power cord that has the FM receiver built into it (for $150) and subcribe to the traffic service at extra cost. I decided it would be too expensive for the limited amount of time I would actually need it or use it. The maps are accurate and I have never lost a signal. It has worked flawlessly so far.

I did have to update the maps myself. Often the units sit on the shelf and the installed maps are old. I registered on Garmin's website and downloaded the latest maps available. You have 30 days from registering the unit to do so. After that you must purchase the latest maps to keep the unit up to speed with new road information in the future. They keep building new roads and you have to update the map database in any unit you buy.

My advice. Get on the Garmin website and look at their line of units. You can compare the features of up to 4 different units to see the least feature you want that fits your budget. You can also look at the units in person at retailers near you to get an idea of how they look. Once you decide on a unit you can look for the best deal online at the retailers. The Garmin site only lists their MSRP and you can always get it cheaper elsewhere. I shop online to get out of paying the 8.25% Texas state sales tax.

[Marilyn. 340]

I read a review on Amazon.... . the person had bought a Garmin and a TomTom.. he wanted to try them both out .. he ended up returning the Garmin...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I read a review on Amazon.... . the person had bought a Garmin and a TomTom.. he wanted to try them both out .. he ended up returning the Garmin...

Which models did they buy?

[Marilyn. 340]

I read a review on Amazon.... . the person had bought a Garmin and a TomTom.. he wanted to try them both out .. he ended up returning the Garmin...

Which models did they buy?

i am pretty sure it was the cheaper ones... I think it was the Garmin Nuvi 200 and the tom tom 3rd edition .. but I can't remember now

[I luv my chappara 0]

we just got Magellan 4250, it's easy to use and accurate... it has bluetooth also...

it tells the street name and miles when u turn in left/right direction.... and it will tell u that u are approaching to the street that ur going to turn & have confirmation sound that u turned in correct direction,,

Some GPS don't tell the street names.. like it will just say: "turn left on .5 miles"

it's confusing when we are in busy city and have many streets/roads...

[Marilyn. 340]

thing is my hubby basically knows his way around LA.. I think he just not quite familiar with all the little side streets and stuff...

i think he would be fine with just the basic directions...

Edited May 30, 2008 by MarilynP

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yeah you don't really need more than that - unless he's a truck driver (there are special map programs for that which factor bridge heights into the routes).

I'm sure either would work out well; at that price you have to make concessions. I have a Nuvi 200 which works well enough for me (we also have a Street pilot 330 that we got 2 years ago). Biggest problem I have with Garmin is that while you can save Favorite addresses you can't add points of interest to the map itself. And I occasionally get the thing where it will tell me that I've arrived when my destination is on the other side of the dual carriageway.

[Marilyn. 340]

thansk for all your help guys

we will be taking a look at the Tomtom and Garmins I guess... those are the two people tend to mention the most...

[Niels Bohr 72]

I've been using many 100 dollars GPS systems. They work very well. As an Engineer, I don't look at Brands. I look at practicality. Trust me, the price is in the marketing and the psych of human nature that reliability is built around name brands. I see many of us fall into this category. They are the victims of capatalism.

Edited May 31, 2008 by consolemaster

[Marilyn. 340]

well, I am looking at practicality too.. there doesn't seem to be that many different brands of GPS systems that I could see..

it just so happens that Tom Tom and Garmin seem to be the ones that people say are good for the price...

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

the only GPS system i've used is for geo cacheing.

[Marilyn. 340]

We ended up getting the TomTom 3rd edition for about 150 bucks at Walmart... we drove around all over and that was the best deal we found.. we tested it out on the way home and it works pretty good so far...

Edited June 1, 2008 by MarilynP