|
Cellular forums Home > Archive > GPS > October 2007 > Automobile GPS's are no good unless you pay >$1,000
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]
| Author |
Automobile GPS's are no good unless you pay >$1,000
|
|
| Uncle Ben 2007-09-29, 7:33 am |
| I was surfing the net for a good, reasonably price GPS, one with no bells
and whistles, but good mapping data - no blue tooth, no MP3 or picture
viewer ... but one with a good screen, good routing, voice direction, etc.
I was looking at the Garmin 250. But then, in talking to a friend of mine,
he tells me that these units are just toys, good for nothing, unreliable ...
that unless one pays upwards of $1,000 for a "good unit", that these cheaper
models are a nuisance more than anything else.
Is that true? Sure is not what I read in various reviews, but then again,
if I look at PC's for example, I've seen all kinds of reviews out there that
were totally off the mark.
So I thought I'd check with the user community. TIA for your feedback!
| |
| Joseph Johnson 2007-09-29, 10:33 am |
| Times have change, technology has risen and price have dropped a lot.
The Tomtom One, released only last year, does the job quickly. Its list
price was $400, its street price is $200. Its better than many in-dash
units in performance except for the screen size. I've tried the Mercedes
R500 dash unit, for over 1000 mi of city, rural and highway driving.
I own one a TT1 for over a month and 400 mi later, its a champ. It
answers these questions easily:
stuck in traffic: where is the bypass
lost: how can I get back to X
how long will it take to get to X given I'm at Y moving Z
As for how good it is as a unit, see the reports at Amazon.com for it,
the Nuvi 350 or other units you are considering.
"Uncle Ben" < reel_jemm_removespam
@yahoo.ca> wrote in
news:vsqLi.619$9F1.286@read1.cgocable.net:
> I was surfing the net for a good, reasonably price GPS, one with no
> bells and whistles, but good mapping data - no blue tooth, no MP3 or
> picture viewer ... but one with a good screen, good routing, voice
> direction, etc. I was looking at the Garmin 250. But then, in talking
> to a friend of mine, he tells me that these units are just toys, good
> for nothing, unreliable ... that unless one pays upwards of $1,000 for
> a "good unit", that these cheaper models are a nuisance more than
> anything else.
>
> Is that true? Sure is not what I read in various reviews, but then
> again, if I look at PC's for example, I've seen all kinds of reviews
> out there that were totally off the mark.
>
| |
| Larry G 2007-09-29, 10:33 am |
| On Sep 29, 8:38 am, Joseph Johnson <j...@aol.com> wrote:
> Times have change, technology has risen and price have dropped a lot.
>
> The Tomtom One, released only last year, does the job quickly. Its list
> price was $400, its street price is $200. Its better than many in-dash
> units in performance except for the screen size. I've tried the Mercedes
> R500 dash unit, for over 1000 mi of city, rural and highway driving.
>
> I own one a TT1 for over a month and 400 mi later, its a champ. It
> answers these questions easily:
>
> stuck in traffic: where is the bypass
> lost: how can I get back to X
> how long will it take to get to X given I'm at Y moving Z
>
> As for how good it is as a unit, see the reports at Amazon.com for it,
> the Nuvi 350 or other units you are considering.
>
> "Uncle Ben" <reel_jemm_removes...@yahoo.ca> wrote innews:vsqLi.619$9F1.286@read1.cgocable.net:
>
>
>
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
agree. I have an older TT 300 but pretty much the same deal.
are they error-free? nope. will they _always_ route you correctly?
nope.
will they .. in most cases take you straight to a business address in
a big city.. and then find the best way out of the city and back to
the freeway. YES!
make a wrong turn off the freeway into a city... the unit will
competently re-route you to get you back on track.
in fact.. GPS units are small, specialized computers.. that need both
firmware and data upgrades - over time.. and they also exhibit other
computer-like behaviors - primarily that they are far, far from
perfect but after most folks compare the pluses with the minuses -
they come up with more pluses .. and you can now obtain a good basic
unit for $200 or so.. if you check around.. and certainly under $500.
| |
| Pegleg 2007-09-29, 10:33 am |
| On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:38:15 GMT, Joseph Johnson <jr@aol.com> wrote:
>I own one a TT1 for over a month and 400 mi later, its a champ. It
>answers these questions easily:
>
>stuck in traffic: where is the bypass
This service is only good in major metropolitan markets and requires
additional subscription costs. Make sure it is available where you
live/work before considering it a major factor in your purchase.
| |
|
| Uncle Ben wrote:
> I was surfing the net for a good, reasonably price GPS, one with no bells
> and whistles, but good mapping data - no blue tooth, no MP3 or picture
> viewer ... but one with a good screen, good routing, voice direction, etc.
> I was looking at the Garmin 250. But then, in talking to a friend of mine,
> he tells me that these units are just toys, good for nothing, unreliable ...
> that unless one pays upwards of $1,000 for a "good unit", that these cheaper
> models are a nuisance more than anything else.
>
> Is that true? Sure is not what I read in various reviews, but then again,
> if I look at PC's for example, I've seen all kinds of reviews out there that
> were totally off the mark.
>
> So I thought I'd check with the user community. TIA for your feedback!
>
>
I was gonna phrase this as a question, but decided to make it a
statement so others could correct me.
MOST OF US HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO USE FOR A GPS UNIT.
There, I said it! It's a cool technology toy that we purchase without
doing much thinking about what it's good for.
My experiments have convinced me that having a display in a moving
automobile is an accident waiting to happen. You don't need to look
at an arrow on a zoomed in map. You already know where you are and
the voice is directing you. You need the display to do something
different. If you have to poke the 3" screen to change zoom and search
the screen for an alternate route..."how did I end in the hospital?"
A LOT can happen in two seconds. You can do the experiment without a
gps. Just look at your cd player in the dash and try to stay on the road.
If you know exactly where you're going, pull over, program the device,
turn on voice prompts, turn off the display, a GPS will get you from
here to there. If you go off course, it can get you back on track.
Works great for that.
But if you expect to be able to route yourself around a traffic jam
you're already stuck in, think again. Turn on the display==accident.
And if everyone is doing the same, you just end up with TWO
traffic jams...and maybe a third due to people not paying attention
to their driving and running into each other.
I don't know how many times I've been almost run over
by some idiot who thinks being stuck in traffic ahead of me is better
than being stuck in traffic behind me.
But if you know about the traffic jam ahead of time and you pull over
to reprogram your gps unit before you get in it...yeah right!!!
For most of us, the most important feature is being able to INPUT
data. If you have to scroll letters to enter an address, you won't use
it. Gotta have touch screen input and capable software to run it.
If you make your living finding places, delivery, sales, rescue, etc...
by all means go buy a commercial grade gps.
Never really thought about 'till now, but do you really want to find the
address of your urban destination? What you really want is the
location of the parking space.
For toy-grade gps units, remember that you eventually won't be able to
get map updates, or they'll cost more than a new gps with new maps.
The more you invest, the more gets depreciated to nothing. Buy used...
How much is it worth to have a GPS that gets a signal 93% of the
time instead of 90%? Definitely get a -158/9 dBm receiver...but
beyond that, I'd suggest they're equivalent. Your bigger problem
is mounting it so you can see it and it can see the sky.
Another thing to remember is that car windows are very expensive
to replace when they steal your gps unit...and whatever else they find
once they get in. Might as well just get a license plate that
says "rob me". And if you take it out EVERY time you stop, be sure to
remove the mount too...and the cables. Might as well have a pda
in your pocket. Much less hassle.
My bluetooth gps works just fine inside my briefcase
on the front seat. Or in my pocket on the motorcycle.
Auto-on so you don't ever have to mess with it.
Didn't think about it till now, but a fm transmitter on a pda
in the briefcase could get the voice prompts out too.
The average Soccer Mom does not need a gps unit.
For the casual user, I'd go with a modern high sensitivity bluetooth
unit and a pda. Too bad mapopolis decided to give it up. No ideas
on sw.
Go visit a BIG car stereo shop. They probably have units on display for
you to play with. Not sure I'd trust their advice, but you will have
a chance to use the devices in a limited context. Then troll Craigslist
for a used one. I've bought bluetooth pda's for $30 and SIRFIII bluetooth
gps receivers for $20. And it works in ANY car I happen to be in.
Unfortunately, people seem to think their obsolete self-contained
units are worth big bux because they paid big bux.
mike
Qstarz BT-818, Axim X51v, Mapopolis.
--
Return address is VALID!
| |
| Jack Erbes 2007-09-29, 12:33 pm |
| Uncle Ben wrote:
> I was surfing the net for a good, reasonably price GPS, one with no
> bells and whistles, but good mapping data - no blue tooth, no MP3 or
> picture viewer ... but one with a good screen, good routing, voice
> direction, etc. I was looking at the Garmin 250.
There is no free lunch. You're listing some of the features that are
found in the newer models. To get some of it, you have to buy all of
it. And the 250 has both North American and European mapping, that adds
to the cost. Note that Garmin considers the nuvi 250 an "entry level"
model That means it is simple to use and that some of the capabilities
and features that would be wanted by more advanced GPS users are not in
that model.
> But then, in talking to a friend of mine, he tells me that these
> units are just toys, good for nothing, unreliable ...
Not true. The entry level models will do the basics of navigation well.
And I'm not aware of any of the major brand models that are chronically
unreliable. The Garmins I have are reliable and Garmin stands behind
their one year warranty with with a prompt and efficient support system.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=6324
> that unless one pays upwards of $1,000 for a "good unit", that these
> cheaper models are a nuisance more than anything else.
$1,000 or less will buy you the better to best of the Garmins:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134
They don't remove features and adjust prices so you'll have to ignore
the stuff you don't include on your want list. Go to that link, do some
comparison on features and prices and you'll have a better idea of it all.
Then shop the model that looks best on the internet and/or on eBay and
you'll find it below the listed price. And there are refurbished models
available that are good bargains. The refurbs come with the same one
year warranty as the brand new ones and a warranty issue on the refurb I
bought was handled promptly.
> Is that true? Sure is not what I read in various reviews, but then
> again, if I look at PC's for example, I've seen all kinds of reviews
> out there that were totally off the mark.
Many reviews are not objective. I wouldn't believe anything that was
not based on a period of personal use in the real world by the reviewer.
And if it was full of gushing praise, I'd not believe it to be
objective.
Jack
(GPSMAP 76Cx handheld - New, world's best handheld GPS receiver)
(StreetPilot 2620 - Has been replaced once under warranty, it is still
good, frequently used, and reliable. Not a recommended model due to
history of microdrive failures.)
(StreetPilot 2610 - Bought refurbished, it was replaced once under
warranty due to touchscreen failure, still in use on a motorcycle and
has been reliable.)
Jack
| |
| Bob Gardner 2007-09-29, 3:33 pm |
| Don't rely on this "friend" for investment advice...his take on GPS is
wacky. I have had both a StreetPilot III and a Garmin 2730. Both do exactly
what I expect of them and I didn't pay $1000 for either one (got the 2730
from Amazon). I do use the beanbag mount so that when leaving the car I can
take the unit off of the dash and stick it down by the gas pedal without
leaving a clue to the curious that I have a GPS at all.
I have capabilities that I do not need, like MP3, but it comes with the
territory. I appreciate having the voice prompts when approaching a turn
and/or a destination; I do my programming when the vehicle is stopped. When
I travel to a new destination I appreciate having the unit lead me by the
hand, re-routing me when I screw up but always ending up where I want to be.
I like being able to find asnd be directed to restaurants, hotels, gas
stations, rest areas, hospitals, parks, etc etc etc
Sure, you pay to get updated information, but is that a bad thing?
When going into unfamiliar territory, I would feel naked without it.
Bob Gardner
"Uncle Ben" < reel_jemm_removespam
@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:vsqLi.619$9F1.286@read1.cgocable.net...
>I was surfing the net for a good, reasonably price GPS, one with no bells
>and whistles, but good mapping data - no blue tooth, no MP3 or picture
>viewer ... but one with a good screen, good routing, voice direction, etc.
>I was looking at the Garmin 250. But then, in talking to a friend of mine,
>he tells me that these units are just toys, good for nothing, unreliable
>... that unless one pays upwards of $1,000 for a "good unit", that these
>cheaper models are a nuisance more than anything else.
>
> Is that true? Sure is not what I read in various reviews, but then again,
> if I look at PC's for example, I've seen all kinds of reviews out there
> that were totally off the mark.
>
> So I thought I'd check with the user community. TIA for your feedback!
>
| |
| Bob Gardner 2007-09-29, 3:33 pm |
| Just got back from the library, where I read a review of portable GPS units
in the October issue of Consumer Reports. None of the units reviewed cost
more than $700. Do not make a move until you have read Consumer Reports.
With regard to portability, I would never own a car that had an installed
GPS...I can just imagine going through the dealer and car manufacturer for
satisfaction compared to calling Garmin on the phone.
Bob Gardner
"Uncle Ben" < reel_jemm_removespam
@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:vsqLi.619$9F1.286@read1.cgocable.net...
>I was surfing the net for a good, reasonably price GPS, one with no bells
>and whistles, but good mapping data - no blue tooth, no MP3 or picture
>viewer ... but one with a good screen, good routing, voice direction, etc.
>I was looking at the Garmin 250. But then, in talking to a friend of mine,
>he tells me that these units are just toys, good for nothing, unreliable
>... that unless one pays upwards of $1,000 for a "good unit", that these
>cheaper models are a nuisance more than anything else.
>
> Is that true? Sure is not what I read in various reviews, but then again,
> if I look at PC's for example, I've seen all kinds of reviews out there
> that were totally off the mark.
>
> So I thought I'd check with the user community. TIA for your feedback!
>
| |
| willshak 2007-09-29, 10:33 pm |
| on 9/29/2007 7:14 AM Uncle Ben said the following:
> I was surfing the net for a good, reasonably price GPS, one with no bells
> and whistles, but good mapping data - no blue tooth, no MP3 or picture
> viewer ... but one with a good screen, good routing, voice direction, etc.
> I was looking at the Garmin 250. But then, in talking to a friend of mine,
> he tells me that these units are just toys, good for nothing, unreliable ...
> that unless one pays upwards of $1,000 for a "good unit", that these cheaper
> models are a nuisance more than anything else.
>
Your friend is probably waiting for a computer better than a C64 too. :-)
> Is that true? Sure is not what I read in various reviews, but then again,
> if I look at PC's for example, I've seen all kinds of reviews out there that
> were totally off the mark.
>
> So I thought I'd check with the user community. TIA for your feedback!
I have the Garmin C340. It works for what I want. Gets me to new places.
Finds better ways to get to places than what I had been using. If you
only know one way to get somewhere, and there's a traffic problem, you
can get to your destination via another route that you may not have
known about.
If you have to print an online map, like from Mapquest, Google, or Yahoo
to get directions to somewhere, a GPS will give you those same
directions while you drive without you having to try to read a printout.
Besides, if you are one that doesn't like to ask for directions when
lost, the GPS will get you there and save face. :-) I don't live in a
city, so for me, getting to a store in another town without a GPS saves
a lot of backtracking and circling blocks.
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
| |
| Harold Burton 2007-09-29, 10:33 pm |
| In article <vsqLi.619$9F1.286@read1.cgocable.net>,
"Uncle Ben" < reel_jemm_removespam
@yahoo.ca> wrote:
> I was surfing the net for a good, reasonably price GPS, one with no bells
> and whistles, but good mapping data - no blue tooth, no MP3 or picture
> viewer ... but one with a good screen, good routing, voice direction, etc.
> I was looking at the Garmin 250. But then, in talking to a friend of mine,
> he tells me that these units are just toys, good for nothing, unreliable ...
> that unless one pays upwards of $1,000 for a "good unit", that these cheaper
> models are a nuisance more than anything else.
>
> Is that true? Sure is not what I read in various reviews, but then again,
> if I look at PC's for example, I've seen all kinds of reviews out there that
> were totally off the mark.
>
> So I thought I'd check with the user community. TIA for your feedback!
Your "friend" is an idiot. Check out the various Nuvis. I have the 650
and a Honda Odyssey with it's own GPS. That option on the Odyssey cost
quite a bit more than the Nuvi 650, or the newer 750 which looks even
better. If I had it to do over again I would have bought the Odyssey
without the GPS and bought the new Nuvi 750.
Again, your friend is an idiot.
| |
| Harold Burton 2007-09-29, 10:33 pm |
| In article < 3Pudnd5aNuprKGPbnZ2d
nUVZ_rqlnZ2d@comcast
.com>,
"Bob Gardner" <bobmrg@comcast.net> wrote:
> Just got back from the library, where I read a review of portable GPS units
> in the October issue of Consumer Reports. None of the units reviewed cost
> more than $700. Do not make a move until you have read Consumer Reports.
Don't make it after it either. They really don't have their act
together. Where is the Nuvi 650 in their ratings? The new 750? The
general consensus of people who really know about things that Consumer
Reports rates is that they're not very good at their job.
| |
| Joe Johnson 2007-09-29, 10:33 pm |
| Hi P
I think you mean the real time traffic reports? Not needed. If you see
or hear a jam ahead of you, hit 'road block' on the TomTom and pull off
the highway or the road with the upcoming jam at the next turn, it will
calculate a route to bypass the jam. You can specify how far the jam is,
from 1/4 to 3 mi of bypass. I use this all the time: traffic reports jam
ahead x miles, or I see a jam I just turn off. If I turn too quickly for
the TT1 to calculate a reroute, I just pull over and let it calculate, it
takes seconds, but the pull ofd may be needed if the road Ys or T and you
don't know whether to turn left or right.
Pegleg <Pegleg@usnavyret.mil> wrote in
news:13psf3l5jqjnk4j
mt12drgemqtuveotm00@
4ax.com:
>
> This service is only good in major metropolitan markets and requires
> additional subscription costs. Make sure it is available where you
> live/work before considering it a major factor in your purchase.
>
| |
| Uncle Ben 2007-09-30, 7:33 am |
| Just a quick note to thank you all for your comments. Yes, I don't know
what yardstick my friend is using to make his assessment, but judging from
the feedback I've received here and all the reviews I've read on the
internet, you've just confirmed what I thought all along - he's dead wrong.
Even though it has some features that I really don't care fore (music, jpeg
viewer, etc.), I think I'm going to go with the Garmin 350.
Again, TU all!
[color=darkred]
>
> "Uncle Ben" < reel_jemm_removespam
@yahoo.ca> wrote in
> news:vsqLi.619$9F1.286@read1.cgocable.net:
>
| |
| Joseph Johnson 2007-09-30, 7:33 am |
| I drove for 30 years without it, and thought I was doing fine. Now
having one, I don't think I can drive most of the time without it. One
reason is traffic jams and traveling far from home and then, getting into
traffic jams. Another is country driving where destinations aren't
marked properly by numbers or streets but miles from a crossroad, in fact
the only accurate way to find some country homes is via the GPS
coordinates. Finally, there is on-the-fly road construction blocking
traffic for miles and you see a turn off, but where does it go?
Even if there is no map on my unit to the road being driven, a driver or
park ranger can just give me the GPS coordinates with a drawn map and it
will be my co-navigator until I get there. e.g. the parking lot to the
range is at N xxxx.xxxx W xxxx.xxxx
Since my TT1, I literally can jumped into any side street and it will
guide me out of the jams without me worrying where the XXXX I am. It may
not be the best route, but I don't know diddly. It has allowed me to
confidently drive into wholly unknown neighborhoods, and it gives me a
full birds eye view of where I am and where I am going.
The screen is very useful, sometimes you have to turn into a multiple
exit, not knowing which of 2 possible exits it is: 'turn left, stay on on
the left lane' is the right one, the map shows that quite clearly, and
confirms the 'stay on the left lane' remark.
mike <spamme9@gmail.com> wrote in news:RZtLi.897$6Y5.494@trnddc07:
> I was gonna phrase this as a question, but decided to make it a
> statement so others could correct me.
>
> MOST OF US HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO USE FOR A GPS UNIT.
>
> There, I said it! It's a cool technology toy that we purchase without
> doing much thinking about what it's good for.
>
| |
| willshak 2007-09-30, 10:33 am |
| on 9/30/2007 6:54 AM Uncle Ben said the following:
> Just a quick note to thank you all for your comments. Yes, I don't know
> what yardstick my friend is using to make his assessment, but judging from
> the feedback I've received here and all the reviews I've read on the
> internet, you've just confirmed what I thought all along - he's dead wrong.
>
> Even though it has some features that I really don't care fore (music, jpeg
> viewer, etc.), I think I'm going to go with the Garmin 350.
>
> Again, TU all!
>
You can save a hundred $ by going with the Garmin Streetpilot c340. It
has all of the important features of the Nuvi 350, but it doesn't play
music, audio books, or display photos.
>
>
>
>
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
| |
| Larry G 2007-09-30, 3:33 pm |
| On Sep 29, 9:56 pm, Harold Burton <hal.i.bur...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> In article <vsqLi.619$9F1....@read1.cgocable.net>,
> "Uncle Ben" <reel_jemm_removes...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Your "friend" is an idiot. Check out the various Nuvis. I have the 650
> and a Honda Odyssey with it's own GPS. That option on the Odyssey cost
> quite a bit more than the Nuvi 650, or the newer 750 which looks even
> better. If I had it to do over again I would have bought the Odyssey
> without the GPS and bought the new Nuvi 750.
>
> your friend is an idiot.
FYI - gpsacademy.com
| |
| not_bad 2007-10-01, 10:33 am |
| mike wrote:
You probably never used properly GPS.
I use it every day, at least 10 time per day driving TAXI.
Even 20 years experienced taxi drivers are buying GPS's because with
them our job is much easier.
They are safer than driving without them!
At night you see street names, distance to near intersection and other
useful stuff.
They have brilliant speedometer!
About blocking your view, your mirror are more obstructive than gps on a
windscreen.
I find it safer with GPS than without.
But you have to have current maps and with Garmin that's a nightmare!
|
|
|
|
|