|
Cellular forums Home > Archive > GPS > August 2006 > No Idea about GPS
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
|
|
|
| Hey there~
I have some questions...about GPS. Please help me out this
nontechnology oriented person.
I'd like to buy automobile GPS for my hubby. I'd like to buy one with
1) Attachable (Yeah...my city...if people see that, they will break my
car and...oh...don't wanna think about it)
2) Accurate & EASY to hand (My hubby got freaked out if he cannot see
the road on the map(usually,,,yahoo map print-outs))
3)Big enough screen( don't want him to stick his face and eyes on the
screen while he is driving...you know...then what will happen)
4)Appropriate price (well, I'd love to buy 1000 dollars one if I can,
but...that will leave...bloody scars in my bank account and will never
healed again.)
5)Tomtom? Garmin StreetPilot? ( I thinkg these two brands are people
mostly talk about...which one is better?)
Thank you so much everyone...I'm so...old...old....everyone out there
seems so so so COMPLICATED!
| |
|
| My vote is for the Garmin Streetpilot I5. It is ready to go out of the box
(no maps to load first), is the easiest one I have ever seen to set up and
use, and has excellent, clear voice instructions to get you from your
starting point to your destination. Technical knowledge about GPS systems is
definitely not required.
Although the screen is small, that is not a disadvantage (in fact, it is an
advantage). The small size allows it to be mounted on the windshield without
blocking the driver's view of the road ahead. There is a suction cup
mounting bracket for this purpose. Even though the screen is small, the
ongoing map information is uncomplicated but complete and is very readable
in all lighting conditions. I just took a 200 mile trip with my unit. It was
a pleasure knowing that I would be guided by voice the entire way. With the
voice instructions, I very rarely even looked at the screen because those
instructions were understandable and never wrong. Once I got off course
(took a side trip into a little town). No problem. The unit instantly
recalculated my route.
Before leaving your vehicle, just unpop it from the windshield and lock it
up in the glove box, or stick it in your purse. It is very portable.
The Garmin StreetPilot I5 is priced at about $350.
By the way, I'm old too - 74. I guarantee you that a senior citizen will NOT
find this unit too complicated.
| |
|
| abab wrote:
> 5)Tomtom? Garmin StreetPilot? ( I thinkg these two brands are people
> mostly talk about...which one is better?)
I'd go for the tomtom go 510; widescreen lcd, good loud voices. You can have
the display in standard 2d map mode, or in 3d (I find map mode better).
DON'T use the window mount - buy a vent mount for it, or just place it on
the dashboard. The robbers will look for a mount in the window - and even
the circular mark left behind after removing it (I'm waiting for my
insurance replacement to arrive). Charge it up at home, and you won't need
anything except the one box when in the car.
HTH,
Pete.
| |
| WC Calm 2006-08-13, 10:33 pm |
| On 13 Aug 2006 09:25:21 -0700, "abab" <jinhope20@gmail.com> wrote:
>I'd like to buy automobile GPS for my hubby. I'd like to buy one with
>
>1) Attachable (Yeah...my city...if people see that, they will break my
>car and...oh...don't wanna think about it)
>
>2) Accurate & EASY to hand (My hubby got freaked out if he cannot see
>the road on the map(usually,,,yahoo map print-outs))
>
>3)Big enough screen( don't want him to stick his face and eyes on the
>screen while he is driving...you know...then what will happen)
>
>4)Appropriate price (well, I'd love to buy 1000 dollars one if I can,
>but...that will leave...bloody scars in my bank account and will never
>healed again.)
>
>5)Tomtom? Garmin StreetPilot? ( I thinkg these two brands are people
>mostly talk about...which one is better?)
Even though you've indicated only two brands to consider, out of all
the brands I'd recommend the Street Pilot 2720. If you are looking
for an easy to use, navigational unit that is portable from vehicle to
vehicle, or from vehicle to home, this is the unit. The only drawback
(and I'm making a presumptions assumption based on reading your email)
would be the price. It is expensive (above $700, but well below the
$1000 you've stipulated) and more expensive than the Tomtom and most
of the other units from Garmin. But it ranks at the top in pure
navigation features of any unit for any brand (including the higher
priced units from Garmin)! The screen is excellent and the mounting
of the unit on the dashboard is very well handled with the bean bag
mount (set it down and forget it). It also has voice direction so
that you can keep eyes on the road. And it is out of the box ready
and you won't have to fool around with loading maps to the unit with
the exception of updating them every 2 years or so.
So the premium nav unit to get my vote is the Street Pilot 2720.
Enjoy!
--
Wayne
"In the future Mr.Calm, you must up your shipments of sand to the sea!"
| |
| Rex B 2006-08-14, 10:33 am |
|
abab wrote:
> Hey there~
> I have some questions...about GPS. Please help me out this
> nontechnology oriented person.
> I'd like to buy automobile GPS for my hubby. I'd like to buy one with
>
> 1) Attachable (Yeah...my city...if people see that, they will break my
> car and...oh...don't wanna think about it)
>
> 2) Accurate & EASY to hand (My hubby got freaked out if he cannot see
> the road on the map(usually,,,yahoo map print-outs))
>
> 3)Big enough screen( don't want him to stick his face and eyes on the
> screen while he is driving...you know...then what will happen)
>
> 4)Appropriate price (well, I'd love to buy 1000 dollars one if I can,
> but...that will leave...bloody scars in my bank account and will never
> healed again.)
>
> 5)Tomtom? Garmin StreetPilot? ( I thinkg these two brands are people
> mostly talk about...which one is better?)
>
> Thank you so much everyone...I'm so...old...old....everyone out there
> seems so so so COMPLICATED!
I bought a Magellan RoadMate 360 last month for my parents, who are both
in their 80's. My parent's Aren't big on gadgets, but they do like to
travel. They both picked it up easily and are very happy with it. It
does everything just like the OE nav system in my wife's Lincoln. Most
of the interface screens are even similar. The only major difference is
that the Magellan does not state the street name at the point where you
actually turn. Also, notice for next turn is given 1/2 mile from the
intersection, which is a little long for y tastes.
For $350 or so I would definitely recommend it. I will probably
buy one for myself the next time I see a bargain price on it.
| |
| helena 2006-08-14, 3:33 pm |
| abab wrote:
> Hey there~
> I have some questions...about GPS. Please help me out this
> nontechnology oriented person.
> I'd like to buy automobile GPS for my hubby. I'd like to buy one with
>
> 1) Attachable (Yeah...my city...if people see that, they will break my
> car and...oh...don't wanna think about it)
>
> 2) Accurate & EASY to hand (My hubby got freaked out if he cannot see
> the road on the map(usually,,,yahoo map print-outs))
>
> 3)Big enough screen( don't want him to stick his face and eyes on the
> screen while he is driving...you know...then what will happen)
>
> 4)Appropriate price (well, I'd love to buy 1000 dollars one if I can,
> but...that will leave...bloody scars in my bank account and will never
> healed again.)
>
> 5)Tomtom? Garmin StreetPilot? ( I thinkg these two brands are people
> mostly talk about...which one is better?)
>
> Thank you so much everyone...I'm so...old...old....everyone out there
> seems so so so COMPLICATED!
I'm a big fan of TomTom - and that is in large part because it's very
easy to use, like straight out of the box easy to use, and I loved
that. And they are easy to swap from car to car, or to take down when
you aren't in the car (I drive a lot of rentals lately, so that's a
concern for me too.) It's super easy for non tech oriented people,
which is what I was when I started looking into GPS. I'd say the Go
510 because it's a bit more affordable, though if you were to spend a
bit more the Go 910 has a nifty text to speech ability. The screen on
both those units is a pretty big touch screen, too. let us know what
you get and how your husband likes it!
| |
| R.Peffers. 2006-08-15, 3:33 pm |
|
"Papa" <bikingis@my.fun> wrote in message
news:QJIDg.3815$Qf.3800@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> My vote is for the Garmin Streetpilot I5. It is ready to go out of the box
> (no maps to load first), is the easiest one I have ever seen to set up and
> use, and has excellent, clear voice instructions to get you from your
> starting point to your destination. Technical knowledge about GPS systems
> is definitely not required.
>
> Although the screen is small, that is not a disadvantage (in fact, it is
> an advantage). The small size allows it to be mounted on the windshield
> without blocking the driver's view of the road ahead. There is a suction
> cup mounting bracket for this purpose. Even though the screen is small,
> the ongoing map information is uncomplicated but complete and is very
> readable in all lighting conditions. I just took a 200 mile trip with my
> unit. It was a pleasure knowing that I would be guided by voice the entire
> way. With the voice instructions, I very rarely even looked at the screen
> because those instructions were understandable and never wrong. Once I got
> off course (took a side trip into a little town). No problem. The unit
> instantly recalculated my route.
>
> Before leaving your vehicle, just unpop it from the windshield and lock it
> up in the glove box, or stick it in your purse. It is very portable.
>
> The Garmin StreetPilot I5 is priced at about $350.
>
> By the way, I'm old too - 74. I guarantee you that a senior citizen will
> NOT find this unit too complicated.
>
>
Go for a TomTom. You need not worry about the screen size. The idea of the
unit is that it talks to you, you can even turn the screen off. For example
on a motorway you get a warning of the exit ahead at 1.2 miles then again at
800Yds. At a roundabout it tells you what exit to take. Furthermore if you
go the wrong way it will re-calculate your route. It also gives you the
option of the fastest route, shortest route, cycle route, walking route and
so on. When you choose an address, post code, point of interest or whatever
destination you wish you get the choice to avoid motorways, toll roads and
so on and you can choose what you want. You can also set-up an itinerary of
several stops if you wish.
--
Robert Peffers,
Kelty,
Fife,
Scotland, (UK).
(When replying take pam away from peffers.
Scotland).
| |
| Jack Erbes 2006-08-15, 3:33 pm |
| Papa wrote:
> My vote is for the Garmin Streetpilot I5. It is ready to go out of the box
> (no maps to load first), is the easiest one I have ever seen to set up and
> use, and has excellent, clear voice instructions to get you from your
> starting point to your destination. Technical knowledge about GPS systems is
> definitely not required.
<snip>
Okay, you're happy with that. So far. But did you know StreetPilot i5
and *all* the other most recent Garmin hardware releases, except the
StreetPilot 2820, do not offer the option of multiple destination routing?
They added that feature to the StreetPilots a few years back and now
they are releasing new models without it.
Without multiple destination routing you have two choices:
1) - You can unthinkingly follow the route the software offers
(generated without any knowledge of or consideration for local traffic
conditions, local geography, or daily traffic patterns).
(2) - Or you can ignore the GPS and take a route that you know to be
better. And that is the route you could quickly implement and activate
in a GPS with multiple destination routing by adding via points to the
route the GPS came up with.
It appears to me that Garmin has made a gross error in software design
and is counting on millions of people who don't understand GPS to buy
these new units and find out the hard way that they can't control the
routing.
The MP3 music player? That is going to be real soothing as you move at
a crawl through gridlocked traffic, late for a meeting or standing up an
important client, because you thought your GPS receiver knew what it was
doing.
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
| |
|
|
"Jack Erbes" <jackerbes@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:J4Wdndw8FvrUg3_
ZnZ2dnUVZ_tSdnZ2d@ad
elphia.com...
> Papa wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> Okay, you're happy with that. So far. But did you know StreetPilot i5
> and *all* the other most recent Garmin hardware releases, except the
> StreetPilot 2820, do not offer the option of multiple destination routing?
>
> They added that feature to the StreetPilots a few years back and now they
> are releasing new models without it.
Yes, I'm VERY happy with it. The reasons are: (1) It gets me from point A to
point B, supplying clearly understood verbal instructions, and (2) it
supplies directions to all Points of Interest (POIs) that I could ever
conceivably ask for. So I don't really need all of those bells and whistles
that you mentioned. If I did, I could get them - but they would cost more.
Why didn't you simply just express your opinion like everyone else in this
thread regarding your preferred GPS unit, rather than critique the choice I
made? You may not have given it much thought, but your preferences may not
always coincide perfectly with preferences of someone else. My reasons for
making my Streetpilot I5 purchase are valid ones, and they have, and will
continue to, serve me well.
|
|
|
|
|