GPS
- Thread starter Jay
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I sell these for a living, so I know all about them 
I'd go with Garmin over Tom Tom, myself. They'll perhaps be a bit more expensive, but there's seriously 10x easier to use. There's a few features on GPS units that will drive up the price, and I'll go over some of the basic ones here (assuming, of course, that you're not looking to spend some obscene amount of money):
1) "Speaks directions" vs. "speaks street names": There are some GPS units that will only say directions based on distance, ie. "Turn right in .2 miles" versus those who actually say the street name: "Turn right in .2 miles at Lake Street." You could always look at the unit itself for the street name, but it's honestly not the safest thing when you're driving. All of the higher-end units will say the street names, but if you're looking for the most basic of basic units, that's something to know.
2) Traffic: I have traffic on my GPS, and I honestly love it. It's something that's totally free, doesn't require any extra cables, and automatically gets up-to-date traffic information and reroutes you accordingly. So if you're about to get on the highway and the GPS senses there's an accident, it'll take you on sidestreets or whatever is the fastest route.
3) Pedestrian Mode: this is a cool feature on some of the Garmin GPS units. The typical GPS will expect you to go 40 MPH or whatever the speed limit approximately is when you're driving in the car, so using it to go hiking/walk around cities/etc. is not practical. GPS units with a pedestrian mode allow you to walk/bike with them, use them to figure out public transit routes, etc.
4) Advanced Lane Guidance: some people think this feature is cool. I don't really care about it. You know when you're on a highway and it splits off into two highways? Advanced Lane Guidance shows a picture on your unit showing you whether the highway you want to be on is on the left or right side. But you have to look at your unit while you're driving 65 MPH on the highway to really make good use of it, so meh.
5) Bluetooth: This tends to be a really higher-end feature. If you have Bluetooth on your cell phone, you can connect it to the GPS unit and use it to make hands-free calls etc. I've heard it doesn't work as well as it should for the price you pay for it, so you might be better off investing in a nice Bluetooth headset if this is something you'd be interested in.
There are features I didn't cover here, but these are some of the main ones. I seriously spend hours of my day selling this shit at work, so if you have any other questions, just let me know.
I'd check out the Garmin 265WT or the Garmin 1300T, personally. If you really have your heart set on Tom Tom, let me know and I'll hit you up with some recommendations for them too.
I'd go with Garmin over Tom Tom, myself. They'll perhaps be a bit more expensive, but there's seriously 10x easier to use. There's a few features on GPS units that will drive up the price, and I'll go over some of the basic ones here (assuming, of course, that you're not looking to spend some obscene amount of money):
1) "Speaks directions" vs. "speaks street names": There are some GPS units that will only say directions based on distance, ie. "Turn right in .2 miles" versus those who actually say the street name: "Turn right in .2 miles at Lake Street." You could always look at the unit itself for the street name, but it's honestly not the safest thing when you're driving. All of the higher-end units will say the street names, but if you're looking for the most basic of basic units, that's something to know.
2) Traffic: I have traffic on my GPS, and I honestly love it. It's something that's totally free, doesn't require any extra cables, and automatically gets up-to-date traffic information and reroutes you accordingly. So if you're about to get on the highway and the GPS senses there's an accident, it'll take you on sidestreets or whatever is the fastest route.
3) Pedestrian Mode: this is a cool feature on some of the Garmin GPS units. The typical GPS will expect you to go 40 MPH or whatever the speed limit approximately is when you're driving in the car, so using it to go hiking/walk around cities/etc. is not practical. GPS units with a pedestrian mode allow you to walk/bike with them, use them to figure out public transit routes, etc.
4) Advanced Lane Guidance: some people think this feature is cool. I don't really care about it. You know when you're on a highway and it splits off into two highways? Advanced Lane Guidance shows a picture on your unit showing you whether the highway you want to be on is on the left or right side. But you have to look at your unit while you're driving 65 MPH on the highway to really make good use of it, so meh.
5) Bluetooth: This tends to be a really higher-end feature. If you have Bluetooth on your cell phone, you can connect it to the GPS unit and use it to make hands-free calls etc. I've heard it doesn't work as well as it should for the price you pay for it, so you might be better off investing in a nice Bluetooth headset if this is something you'd be interested in.
There are features I didn't cover here, but these are some of the main ones. I seriously spend hours of my day selling this shit at work, so if you have any other questions, just let me know.
I'd check out the Garmin 265WT or the Garmin 1300T, personally. If you really have your heart set on Tom Tom, let me know and I'll hit you up with some recommendations for them too.
C
Chazwozel
Yeah, I heard of an awesome one. It's called a 'Map'. Each state has their own, you lazy son of a bitch.
We use a Garmin Nuvi 200 that we picked up a couple of years ago during Black Friday. It's served us REALLY well and has been what I'd consider to be accurate for a bottom tier device. It doesn't say street names (our next one will) but it hasn't been a problem so far. For reference, I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and drive all over the place when making guitar/gear deals on Craigslist.
We are going to look at the Nuvi 250w (I think that's what it is)...looks like it's going to cost $100 on Black Friday. Any thoughts on that?
We are going to look at the Nuvi 250w (I think that's what it is)...looks like it's going to cost $100 on Black Friday. Any thoughts on that?
R
rabbitgod
I use GPS when I survey and I agree with Garmin over Tom Tom. Tom Tom is good for one thing and it's difficult to use. My experience with Garmins has always been good usability. I don't use traffic or preset routes when I survey so in the end that doesn't matter too much to me, but the rest of the interface always seems clear and usable.
You can't honestly think a map is comparable to a GPS
C
Chibibar
My parents have a tomtom. I like it because it says street names (it is VERY nice to have) I don't even look at the screen when driving cause vocal direction is nice.
I am interested in getting one myself and Garmin looks interesting. Tomtom CHARGES you for traffic update
Does Garmin charges you for map updates too? (tomtom charges a lot of money for it)
I am interested in getting one myself and Garmin looks interesting. Tomtom CHARGES you for traffic update
Does Garmin charges you for map updates too? (tomtom charges a lot of money for it)
Wow, this post is made full of win. I have this feeling in me... is this how it feels to be enlightened? Thank you! I appreciate you so much!I sell these for a living, so I know all about them
I'd go with Garmin over Tom Tom, myself. They'll perhaps be a bit more expensive, but there's seriously 10x easier to use. There's a few features on GPS units that will drive up the price, and I'll go over some of the basic ones here (assuming, of course, that you're not looking to spend some obscene amount of money):
1) "Speaks directions" vs. "speaks street names": There are some GPS units that will only say directions based on distance, ie. "Turn right in .2 miles" versus those who actually say the street name: "Turn right in .2 miles at Lake Street." You could always look at the unit itself for the street name, but it's honestly not the safest thing when you're driving. All of the higher-end units will say the street names, but if you're looking for the most basic of basic units, that's something to know.
2) Traffic: I have traffic on my GPS, and I honestly love it. It's something that's totally free, doesn't require any extra cables, and automatically gets up-to-date traffic information and reroutes you accordingly. So if you're about to get on the highway and the GPS senses there's an accident, it'll take you on sidestreets or whatever is the fastest route.
3) Pedestrian Mode: this is a cool feature on some of the Garmin GPS units. The typical GPS will expect you to go 40 MPH or whatever the speed limit approximately is when you're driving in the car, so using it to go hiking/walk around cities/etc. is not practical. GPS units with a pedestrian mode allow you to walk/bike with them, use them to figure out public transit routes, etc.
4) Advanced Lane Guidance: some people think this feature is cool. I don't really care about it. You know when you're on a highway and it splits off into two highways? Advanced Lane Guidance shows a picture on your unit showing you whether the highway you want to be on is on the left or right side. But you have to look at your unit while you're driving 65 MPH on the highway to really make good use of it, so meh.
5) Bluetooth: This tends to be a really higher-end feature. If you have Bluetooth on your cell phone, you can connect it to the GPS unit and use it to make hands-free calls etc. I've heard it doesn't work as well as it should for the price you pay for it, so you might be better off investing in a nice Bluetooth headset if this is something you'd be interested in.
There are features I didn't cover here, but these are some of the main ones. I seriously spend hours of my day selling this shit at work, so if you have any other questions, just let me know.
I'd check out the Garmin 265WT or the Garmin 1300T, personally. If you really have your heart set on Tom Tom, let me know and I'll hit you up with some recommendations for them too.
Do you have Price quotes on the Garmins? Garmin 265WT is for sale at 230$ canadian here.
C
Chazwozel
You can't honestly think a map is comparable to a GPS[/quote]
Dude, it was a joke. Lighten up a bit old man. I'm probably the worst person in the world with directions to anywhere, and get lost in my own home town. GPS has been a Godsend to me.
sorry, I can't tell sometimes! I'm kind of sad mine got stolen out of my car. Which is mostly my fault for leaving it out in the open/in my car, but it still kind of sucks. At least it came after I'd been in Austin for about a year, so I know my way around now.
The 250W or the 255W? The 250W is an older unit; the 255W is pretty nice. If you don't need traffic or anything, it's a good bet. You might want to look and see how much the 255WT is going for, though; it's the exact same unit, but with free traffic updates, and a lot of the time (depending on sales and such) it's only 20 dollars more or something. As someone who has traffic on her GPS, it's saved me a ton of time. I'll often have it going even if I know where I am, just so if there's construction traffic or an accident or something I can avoid the delay.
Garmin charges as well, yeah. They have a lifetime update package for, like, 120 dollars or something though - that's something to consider. If you have the unit for even 2 years, it pays for itself.My parents have a tomtom. I like it because it says street names (it is VERY nice to have) I don't even look at the screen when driving cause vocal direction is nice.
I am interested in getting one myself and Garmin looks interesting. Tomtom CHARGES you for traffic update
Does Garmin charges you for map updates too? (tomtom charges a lot of money for it)
I'm glad I could help! We don't sell the Garmin 265WT at my store, so I have no idea how much it's going for currently, especially in Canadian dollars. It's just the newer model compared to the 255WT, and I was under the impression that they were generally about the same price. Since I'm not earning any revenue for my store either way, I thought I'd point you to the newer model
If you can find the 255WT for cheaper, I'd go with that one, unless you don't want traffic, in which case I'd go with the 255W.I hear about that happening all the time. At least once a week I'll have someone coming in to buy a new GPS because theirs was stolen.
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Chibibar
Ooo... Lifetime update? that is something to consider.
Thanks for the GREAT info HowDroll *hugs*
Thanks for the GREAT info HowDroll *hugs*
You can't honestly think a map is comparable to a GPS[/QUOTE]
It is the same thing. Just one is automated and the other takes planning.
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Chazwozel
You can't honestly think a map is comparable to a GPS[/quote]
It is the same thing. Just one is automated and the other takes planning.[/QUOTE]
Yeah but a GPS is easier; you can type in Burger King and it'll give you where one is for the next 50 miles.
T
TotalFusionOne
Samsung Impression + Google maps + about 4 lines of editing the JAR file = Free google maps using my GPS anywhere I have phone signal.
Or you could get one of those GPS things and spend $70 every three years updating to the new maps as roads change.
Or you could get one of those GPS things and spend $70 every three years updating to the new maps as roads change.
Yeah. No maps have the quickest route between A and B, or the location of gas stations, food, stores, etc.
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Chibibar
True, but HowDroll said there is a lifetime 120$ map updates so, that is totally worth it
Another art form lost to technology. Giving directions.
Nowadays I ask how to get to a friends house and they will just give me the street address.
---------- Post added at 08:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------
[/QUOTE]
But are you going to use a small electronic device that gets jostled around in your car after 3 to 6 years? -not to mention that they are one of the most stolen things right now.
I'll also predict that you will be able to buy a better GPS with better features for less than $70 in 3 years time.
Nowadays I ask how to get to a friends house and they will just give me the street address.
---------- Post added at 08:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------
True, but HowDroll said there is a lifetime 120$ map updates so, that is totally worth it
[/QUOTE]But are you going to use a small electronic device that gets jostled around in your car after 3 to 6 years? -not to mention that they are one of the most stolen things right now.
I'll also predict that you will be able to buy a better GPS with better features for less than $70 in 3 years time.
T
TotalFusionOne
True, but HowDroll said there is a lifetime 120$ map updates so, that is totally worth it
[/QUOTE]Is this linked to an account or the device itself? Also, I still don't find that worth it myself. I find out a lot more using google maps.
THAT BEING SAID I also wanted to get this phones for reasons other than the mapping software, so it was worth it for me to just add on the app and fiddle around with the permissions. I can see how that wouldn't be handy for some. Also, I'm a little confused on whether I'm going to be allowed to use my phone for GPS in NY since I'm traveling up there today.
My Nokia 5800 needed no editing of any JAR file for Google Maps to work flawlessly with the GPS. I have no sense of direction, so being able to just see my little dot moving around the streets, even when walking, is a fucking godsend. Not to mention that yesterday when I was walking all around Mexico City, I just searched for "starbucks" and got the location to the nearest one and plopped myself down with a mint mocha in one of their comfy chairs while I waited. I would have NEVER found this starbucks any other way, it was 2 blocks in the other direction and inside a mall. I love Google.
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TotalFusionOne
Yeah, Samsung and ATT have some sort of pact together that says their phones can only come with the pay-per-month GPS program working at the get go.
However I'm not breaking any restrictions by editing. So it's game on, ATT. Game on.
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Chibibar
LOL. I would have ask for direction if I was lost for 30 minutes or more (not after 9 hours)
but that is me.
maybe the guy just wanted a quiet drive.
D
Dusty668
Hey Howdroll, now tell him about Geocaching.
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