Author Topic: Garmin or TomTom?? (Read 1190 times)

Pooh21 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:17:29 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mr Big
I use a laptop with MS Mappoint and a GPS reciever.

Nothing is better for mapping a trip/route with MANY stops. Just have not seen or used anything that comes close.

How many is MANY? I have at least 100 stops a day. How often do they update the maps? Can you load a navpoint in, then pull it up a few hours later and it will guide you from that spot? I am talking about one of those little ones. No way am I taking my laptop along on my route.

Mr Big · « **Reply #16 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:18:05 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
Yeah, but it lacks portability.

I don't know.

I took my rig from coast to coast and back again.

Chairboy · « **Reply #17 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:18:13 AM »

I don't have any experience w/ Tom Tom, but I have experience with Garmin. I'm very happy with my little Garmin III+, it's good.

Of course, for every Garmin 396, there's a Garmin 430 (still no WAAS).

Sandman · « **Reply #18 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:18:51 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mr Big
I don't know.

I took my rig from coast to coast and back again.

Hehe... carry it while you're walking a few miles.

Mr Big · « **Reply #19 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:20:45 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pooh21
How many is MANY? I have at least 100 stops a day. How often do they update the maps? Can you load a navpoint in, then pull it up a few hours later and it will guide you from that spot?

Very updated.

You can upload an Excel file with hundreds of addresses, and the program will map it all out for you in about 10 seconds.

The freaking thing will even tell you if a road is closed or under construction.

Then again, it costs about 500 bucks for the program, minus the laptop.

Mr Big · « **Reply #20 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:24:53 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
Hehe... carry it while you're walking a few miles.

I can't....... my office was broken into a few weeks ago, lost it plus 2 other laptops

Funny though, the laptop I owned had a 17" screen and weighed about 20 pounds. The battery life was about an hour. I think it was the Sharp RD-10 or something.

Anyway, I don't have a need for the thing at the moment.

Sandman · « **Reply #21 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:26:14 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mr Big
I can't....... my office was broken into a few weeks ago, lost it plus 2 other laptops

That sucks.

Mr Big · « **Reply #22 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:33:28 AM »

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Originally posted by Sandman
That sucks.

Yeah. The bastages burrowed through a wall from a suite that was under construction.

The cops said that was the latest thing.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #23 on:** June 24, 2006, 09:07:41 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mr Big
I use a laptop with MS Mappoint and a GPS reciever.

Nothing is better for mapping a trip/route with MANY stops. Just have not seen or used anything that comes close.

We can do the same thing with the StreetPilot. We can do it on the computer, upload it, or do it while on the road with the built-in interface.

For a long trip, we plot if on the computer, find the gas stations, rest stops, restaurants, hotels, tire dealers (flats happen), and car dealerships. We know how far the car can go on a tank of gas, so we just navpoints for the gas stations (usually two or more in the same area).

Upload it, then off we go.

Chairboy · « **Reply #24 on:** June 24, 2006, 09:54:59 AM »

In my car computer, I run iGuidance. If you've got a laptop or whatnot, I recommend it, the quasi 3-d view is very handy.

Pongo · « **Reply #25 on:** June 24, 2006, 11:29:42 AM »

I have a magellen explorist 500.
It works well but I cant compare it to other brands

Estel · « **Reply #26 on:** June 24, 2006, 11:37:21 AM »

12-channels Garmin. Not because of the Brand-name. It's really good and reliable system.

LePaul · « **Reply #27 on:** June 24, 2006, 12:03:33 PM »

Garmin, hands down

Skuzzy, heard a lot of stories like yours from customers. I used to work for a software company that made electronic navigation software for boats/cruisers/military, etc (http://www.thecapn.com)

We had a great relationship with Garmin, they were very good to work with so we could make sure our product worked with theirs. For example, so that we were able to upload a boat's route into the GPS, make sure we were reading all the data it could send out, etc. These guys have tons of models out, so to be able to get such solid support as a developer made it easy to suggest Garmin products to customers.

Lots of expensive GPS makers out there, these guys do it right.

Maverick · « **Reply #28 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:08:09 PM »

Go with the Garmin. I bought their very first handheld moving map model and flew with it for many years. It never let me down and I gave it to the guy that bought my plane several years later and he uses it still.

dmf · « **Reply #29 on:** June 24, 2006, 01:24:16 PM »

You guys ever hear of a map? Oh yea thats right I forgot your guys.