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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Garmin GPS > May 2006 > 1st GPS Delorme vs Garmin?
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1st GPS Delorme vs Garmin?
|
|
| AZ-Dry Heat 2006-05-14, 11:48 pm |
| All recommendations I've received so far (3) are for the Garmin GPS-18 USB,
but I have an acquaintance who swears by the Delorme. She said she has
tried Garmin and Autopilot and finds Delorme far superior.
Anyone have experience with the Delorme, good or bad?
I intend sitting the notebook computer on the back seat, my wife doesn't
want anything sitting on her lap or loose in the front seat; so the audio
directions have to be clear and easily understood. Plus the instructions
given with enough advance warning to allow for lane changes.
Any and all replies much appreciated.
AZ-Tom
| |
| kevin weaver 2006-05-14, 11:48 pm |
| Running a Laptop in a car is not a good Idea. Bumps will kill the hard
drive. Plus the voice prompts will be hard to hear with the window down,
Etc.
"AZ-Dry Heat" <tomaz@cox.net> wrote in message
news:0hN9g.402$sP1.33@fed1read07...
> All recommendations I've received so far (3) are for the Garmin GPS-18
> USB,
> but I have an acquaintance who swears by the Delorme. She said she has
> tried Garmin and Autopilot and finds Delorme far superior.
>
>
>
> Anyone have experience with the Delorme, good or bad?
>
>
>
> I intend sitting the notebook computer on the back seat, my wife doesn't
> want anything sitting on her lap or loose in the front seat; so the audio
> directions have to be clear and easily understood. Plus the instructions
> given with enough advance warning to allow for lane changes.
>
>
>
> Any and all replies much appreciated.
>
>
>
> AZ-Tom
>
>
| |
| nathantw 2006-05-15, 5:48 pm |
| >I intend sitting the notebook computer on the back seat, my wife doesn't
>want anything sitting on her lap or loose in the front seat; so the audio
>directions have to be clear and easily understood. Plus the instructions
>given with enough advance warning to allow for lane changes.
I was in LA last year and decided to see what it was like to have voice
prompted routing so I hooked up my Garmin GPS V to my laptop and ran
NROUTE. It worked flawlessly. However, there were problems from the
get-go with using the laptop. First, the laptop is huge and bulky. I
use an IBM 600x, which was more than adequate. Second, when the
computer voice is screaming at you to make a turn and you refuse and
then it reroutes and you still ignore it and it keeps trying to get you
to make a U-turn, eventually you'll need to look at the screen to see
why it's yelling at you so much. I had my brother in the back seat with
the laptop and it was still a pain the butt with the laptop because you
WANT to see the map screen but can't.
Overall, the experience turned me off on using a laptop as a way to get
voice turns with a GPS. If you're really set on getting a GPS to guide
you somewhere get something cheap like a Garmin C-series or whatever
else fits in your price range. Believe me, it's worth the money not
having this big bulky thing in your backseat screaming at you. Not to
mention being able to watch the road while glancing at the screen
that's sitting on your dashboard.
| |
|
|
AZ-Dry Heat wrote:
> All recommendations I've received so far (3) are for the Garmin GPS-18 USB,
> but I have an acquaintance who swears by the Delorme. She said she has
> tried Garmin and Autopilot and finds Delorme far superior.
>
>
>
> Anyone have experience with the Delorme, good or bad?
>
>
>
> I intend sitting the notebook computer on the back seat, my wife doesn't
> want anything sitting on her lap or loose in the front seat; so the audio
> directions have to be clear and easily understood. Plus the instructions
> given with enough advance warning to allow for lane changes.
>
>
>
> Any and all replies much appreciated.
>
Well, if at some point, should you decide to purchase a mapping GPS,
the maps you get with the Garmin unit will be usable with other Garmin
units. (I believe that the version of City Select you get includes 2
unlocks.) Whereas, DeLorme maps cannot be uploaded into any GPS
receiver. If you buy the GPS18 Deluxe, you get the GPSr for very little
more than the cost of the maps alone.
I concur with the other poster that you probably won't be satisfied
with using the GPS with a laptop. I did it once, and tried navigating
while my wife drove. Trying to use a laptop in the passenger seat was
extremely awkward.
Bob
| |
| Lizzard Acres-AZ 2006-05-16, 5:48 pm |
| Thanks for the recommendations, now I need a recommendation for which unit
to purchase? I'm retired and on S/S so I'd like one that's not very
expensive BUT will do the job.
Tom
"Bob" < clintonstreet3@veriz
on.net> wrote in message
news:1147780006.148861.179760@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
|
| AZ-Dry Heat wrote:
| > All recommendations I've received so far (3) are for the Garmin GPS-18
USB,
| > but I have an acquaintance who swears by the Delorme. She said she has
| > tried Garmin and Autopilot and finds Delorme far superior.
| >
| >
| >
| > Anyone have experience with the Delorme, good or bad?
| >
| >
| >
| > I intend sitting the notebook computer on the back seat, my wife doesn't
| > want anything sitting on her lap or loose in the front seat; so the
audio
| > directions have to be clear and easily understood. Plus the
instructions
| > given with enough advance warning to allow for lane changes.
| >
| >
| >
| > Any and all replies much appreciated.
| >
|
| Well, if at some point, should you decide to purchase a mapping GPS,
| the maps you get with the Garmin unit will be usable with other Garmin
| units. (I believe that the version of City Select you get includes 2
| unlocks.) Whereas, DeLorme maps cannot be uploaded into any GPS
| receiver. If you buy the GPS18 Deluxe, you get the GPSr for very little
| more than the cost of the maps alone.
|
| I concur with the other poster that you probably won't be satisfied
| with using the GPS with a laptop. I did it once, and tried navigating
| while my wife drove. Trying to use a laptop in the passenger seat was
| extremely awkward.
|
| Bob
|
| |
| Jack Erbes 2006-05-16, 5:48 pm |
| Lizzard Acres-AZ wrote:
> Thanks for the recommendations, now I need a recommendation for which unit
> to purchase? I'm retired and on S/S so I'd like one that's not very
> expensive BUT will do the job.
If you can get some time looking at or using your acquaintance's system
with the DeLorme software on it it might help you sort it all out.
The Street Atlas application is considered difficult to use by some, the
DeLorme mapping data was considered to be pretty outdated two years ago,
I have not heard any reports that it has gotten any better.
As far as bang for your bucks, you can find M$ S&T 2006 on the net for
$35-40 or so. And get a mouse style GPS receiver (Holux for example,
much like the GPS 18 only newer and more versatile) for another $60 or
so on the net or on eBay. So for around $100 you could be off and
running.
I've made a number of cross country trips with a laptop and it works
fine. I like to have a copilot holding the laptop and sharing the
guidance with me. I don't agree that a laptop is a bad choice but I
will agree that it can be a bad choice in some situations and for some
people. The economics and usefulness of using a laptop you already own
and do other things with are hard to beat.
I've also used it setting on an empty seat and that is not as bad as
some represent it to be. It is no more distracting than glancing at a
map laying on the seat. Maybe even less so because it is a large scale
map that is always folded to the right spot and your location is clearly
indicated on it along with other good info. It is like a map that can
talk to you.
A laptop, with a larger and bright enough display, is near perfect for
use in a truck or motorhome where it can reside on an engine cover or
larger flat dash. And once the driving is done there are a lot of
things that the laptop will do that a dedicated GPS navigation unit
won't do.
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
| |
|
|
Lizzard Acres-AZ wrote:
> Thanks for the recommendations, now I need a recommendation for which unit
> to purchase? I'm retired and on S/S so I'd like one that's not very
> expensive BUT will do the job.
> Tom
Well, I've seen the 18 Deluxe selling for around a low price of $105
which as mentioned comes with City Select. Bear in mind that Garmin is
no longer selling City Select and has replaced it with City Navigator.
City Navigator alone is selling for about the same price. The included
City Select will be the 2005 version; if its not what you receive,
Garmin will update for free.
You could try the laptop approach. The point I was trying to make is
that should you not like it, it hasn't cost you much because you can
install the maps into any Garmin mapping GPSr.
As far as making a suggestion as to which unit, I'm really not
qualified to answer. It would take a bit of research on your part.
Garmin's website is very good with showing the characteristics of their
equipment. The site can be intimidating though because they have a huge
product line.
You can look under Mobile Electronics, Handheld and Automotive. I
believe though, that the automotive units include the street level
mapping software. If you look under Outdoor, Mapping, these units
usually include a very basic map that only shows major highways. Its
into these units that you could load City Select.
There are of course other manufacturers. TomTom is becoming popular
lately.
Something to keep in mind is that color displays are far easier to read
than monochrome. You also need to look at the size of internal memory;
older models don't have much and you may not even be able to load a
single map of current vintage. You may also want a unit capable of
autorouting if that is important to you.
Since Garmin has just recently introduced the x models, older non x
models such as the Vista C, 60C and 76C may be available for a more
acceptable price. Also, look on ebay for units that may be for sale by
people who have upgraded. I've also seen occasionally, factory
refurbished units at a significant markdown. (With the 60 and 76
models, the x means that the device has better reception and expandable
memory.)
At present, I have a GPS76csx which I really love. It mouns on the dash
behind the steering wheel and in front of the tachometer. In that
position I can see whats going on without having to take my eyes off
the road for very long. It does not provide voice prompts, but it does
beep, at which time I read the instruction and preview an exploded map
of the turn. (I also dislike having machines talk to me.) Its a rather
expensive unit and you can probably get by with something cheaper. With
my setup, I also needed to buy an automotive mount, a cigarette lighter
socket adapter for external power and an external antenna because
reception is very poor in its installed location.
Should you think that the laptop approach could work for you, I don't
think it much matters whether you buy Garmin, Delorme, or Microsoft.
Personally, I think that Delorme's user interface is horrible and
nonintuitive. But, some people like it. Also, should you not like it,
Delorme will give you a full refund.
Bob
| |
| kevin weaver 2006-05-16, 5:48 pm |
|
"Jack Erbes" <jackerbes@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:MoWdnY2j2u_XYPT
ZRVn-uA@adelphia.com...
> Lizzard Acres-AZ wrote:
>
>
> If you can get some time looking at or using your acquaintance's system
> with the DeLorme software on it it might help you sort it all out.
>
> The Street Atlas application is considered difficult to use by some, the
> DeLorme mapping data was considered to be pretty outdated two years ago, I
> have not heard any reports that it has gotten any better.
>
> As far as bang for your bucks, you can find M$ S&T 2006 on the net for
> $35-40 or so. And get a mouse style GPS receiver (Holux for example, much
> like the GPS 18 only newer and more versatile) for another $60 or so on
> the net or on eBay. So for around $100 you could be off and running.
>
> I've made a number of cross country trips with a laptop and it works fine.
> I like to have a copilot holding the laptop and sharing the guidance with
> me. I don't agree that a laptop is a bad choice but I will agree that it
> can be a bad choice in some situations and for some people. The economics
> and usefulness of using a laptop you already own and do other things with
> are hard to beat.
>
The reason you like the copilot there holding the laptop might be the idea
of using a laptop is bad choice ?
Hard to config with the mouse or the alt-* key combo ? maybe a mini mouse
would work ? Laptop goes flying in hard brakeing ? I wonder what would
happen if the driver is on the cell phone, driving, and has to look at the
screen of the laptop ?
> I've also used it setting on an empty seat and that is not as bad as some
> represent it to be. It is no more distracting than glancing at a map
> laying on the seat. Maybe even less so because it is a large scale map
> that is always folded to the right spot and your location is clearly
> indicated on it along with other good info. It is like a map that can
> talk to you.
>
You can glance and read a map while driving ? If thats the case why the GPS
? Save your tight amount of cash, your going to need it to pay the gas bill
for that motorhome. You can also have the copilot talk to you.
>A laptop, with a larger and bright enough display, is near perfect for use
>in a truck or motorhome where it can reside on an engine cover or larger
>flat dash. And once the driving is done there are a lot of things that the
>laptop will do that a dedicated GPS navigation unit won't do.
>
You cant compare apples to orange's.
Give them a few years, I'm sure by then the GPS Unit's will be able to
download porn, Play games, and email.
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
| |
| Jack Erbes 2006-05-16, 11:48 pm |
| kevin weaver wrote:
<snip>
> The reason you like the copilot there holding the laptop might be the idea
> of using a laptop is bad choice ?
My use of a laptop goes back to a time when there were no good dedicated
GPS navigation units on the market. There were some, they were lousy in
comparison to the desktop app I was using.
And the guy asked for opinions, and that is mine. It is inherently
correct for that reason. And how could using a laptop be a bad choice
it I did it, liked it, and it worked for me?
I'm not arguing your opinion, and it is okay if we don't agree.
> Hard to config with the mouse or the alt-* key combo ? maybe a mini mouse
> would work ? Laptop goes flying in hard brakeing ? I wonder what would
> happen if the driver is on the cell phone, driving, and has to look at the
> screen of the laptop ?
The nav software was started with the car at rest, we drove off, and no
further interactions, other than to look at it occasionally, were
needed. I often went through a entire day's driving without touching
the laptop. But if I wanted to do something on the computer, I am smart
enough that I pulled off and stopped first.
> You can glance and read a map while driving ?
Yes, I have done that. Are you familiar with the concept of a folded
map laying at the ready? And I can give a laptop display a <1 second
glance and discern some relevant detail too. It's little more
distracting than glancing at the radio, speedo, gas gage. etc.
If thats the case why the GPS ?
I'm sorry, I don't do silly questions.
> ? Save your tight amount of cash, your going to need it to pay the gas bill
> for that motorhome. You can also have the copilot talk to you.
The cost concerns were the OP's, not mine. I'm okay on that.
> You cant compare apples to orange's.
> Give them a few years, I'm sure by then the GPS Unit's will be able to
> download porn, Play games, and email.
Huh? And that will be what, better? Safer? Less distracting?
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
| |
| Lizzard Acres-AZ 2006-05-17, 11:48 pm |
| Thanks for ALL replies, after just trying the laptop in the passenger
position with wife seated I've decided the only way for me to go will be
with a self-contained GPS unit of the Germin make. I drive a 4 door
mid-size sedan.
Thanks again
Tom G
"Bob" < clintonstreet3@veriz
on.net> wrote in message
news:1147797319.430089.10060@j55g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
|
| Lizzard Acres-AZ wrote:
| > Thanks for the recommendations, now I need a recommendation for which
unit
| > to purchase? I'm retired and on S/S so I'd like one that's not very
| > expensive BUT will do the job.
| > Tom
|
|
| Well, I've seen the 18 Deluxe selling for around a low price of $105
| which as mentioned comes with City Select. Bear in mind that Garmin is
| no longer selling City Select and has replaced it with City Navigator.
| City Navigator alone is selling for about the same price. The included
| City Select will be the 2005 version; if its not what you receive,
| Garmin will update for free.
|
| You could try the laptop approach. The point I was trying to make is
| that should you not like it, it hasn't cost you much because you can
| install the maps into any Garmin mapping GPSr.
|
| As far as making a suggestion as to which unit, I'm really not
| qualified to answer. It would take a bit of research on your part.
| Garmin's website is very good with showing the characteristics of their
| equipment. The site can be intimidating though because they have a huge
| product line.
|
| You can look under Mobile Electronics, Handheld and Automotive. I
| believe though, that the automotive units include the street level
| mapping software. If you look under Outdoor, Mapping, these units
| usually include a very basic map that only shows major highways. Its
| into these units that you could load City Select.
|
| There are of course other manufacturers. TomTom is becoming popular
| lately.
|
| Something to keep in mind is that color displays are far easier to read
| than monochrome. You also need to look at the size of internal memory;
| older models don't have much and you may not even be able to load a
| single map of current vintage. You may also want a unit capable of
| autorouting if that is important to you.
|
| Since Garmin has just recently introduced the x models, older non x
| models such as the Vista C, 60C and 76C may be available for a more
| acceptable price. Also, look on ebay for units that may be for sale by
| people who have upgraded. I've also seen occasionally, factory
| refurbished units at a significant markdown. (With the 60 and 76
| models, the x means that the device has better reception and expandable
| memory.)
|
| At present, I have a GPS76csx which I really love. It mouns on the dash
| behind the steering wheel and in front of the tachometer. In that
| position I can see whats going on without having to take my eyes off
| the road for very long. It does not provide voice prompts, but it does
| beep, at which time I read the instruction and preview an exploded map
| of the turn. (I also dislike having machines talk to me.) Its a rather
| expensive unit and you can probably get by with something cheaper. With
| my setup, I also needed to buy an automotive mount, a cigarette lighter
| socket adapter for external power and an external antenna because
| reception is very poor in its installed location.
|
| Should you think that the laptop approach could work for you, I don't
| think it much matters whether you buy Garmin, Delorme, or Microsoft.
| Personally, I think that Delorme's user interface is horrible and
| nonintuitive. But, some people like it. Also, should you not like it,
| Delorme will give you a full refund.
|
| Bob
|
| |
|
| On Wed, 17 May 2006 14:54:34 -0700, "Lizzard Acres-AZ" <tomaz@cox.net>
wrote:
>Thanks for ALL replies, after just trying the laptop in the passenger
>position with wife seated I've decided the only way for me to go will be
>with a self-contained GPS unit of the Germin make. I drive a 4 door
>mid-size sedan.
>
>Thanks again
>
>Tom G
>
If you want a good and portable navigator, look at the Garmin Quest.
The navigation is so good that you can concentrate on the driving and
infrequently look at the screen.
It talks to you and is easily removed from the car without leaving a
trace.
It's my 3rd Garmin and while I like it as a navigator, I dislike it as
a general purpose GPS.
I'm near Marinette Substation, which is about 5 miles from Lizard
Acres, if you care to look at one one in the flesh.
Doug
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