GPS Recommendations?

[APDrone]

Since they release new GPS units about as often as tennis shoes, would anybody care to share their experiences and/or recommendations with GPS units out there?

Favorites?

Any makers to avoid?

Features?

This is not a question of need.  It is want. 

Usage will probably be sporadic.. maybe a couple road trips a year.. and who knows what else they can be used for.

I suspect some features are like an automatic ice maker.. you don't really know how well you'll like it until you have one.

Thoughts?

[Getback]

Drone,

Try the iphone or some such phone if you need (want) a new phone too. However, I am sure that most dedicated GPS devices will have much more features. My iphone is based on Google earth which is nice. I'm not sure if you can can get voice directions yet. Maybe though. I'll have to check into it.

[Tarmac]

You're talking about a car-based GPS, not a handheld right?

I use the google maps program for blackberry (which has GPS built in).  Love it, will never have a phone without it again.  It's always on you, no matter who's car you're in or who you're traveling with.

My girlfriend has a tom-tom, and my blackberry came with navigation software with a moving map display etc and they're basically the same.  I dislike the moving map displays because they seem to always show the wrong level of zoom... I like to know what's coming ahead, not all of a sudden get a "turn left ahead" message in heavy traffic when I have to cut across 4 lanes.  Google maps lets me do that by giving more control over the zoom level, and also lets me quickly plot detours (with my brain, not a stupid computer that gets all screwed up if you deviate from its plan).

Google maps is the way to go; those car thingies are too dumbed down for me.

[Waffle]

I bought a garmin for my old man a year or so ago. He likes it - easy to use. I found a sweet deal on a garmin 755t over the holidays and picked it up. You'd be surprised how helpful they are. I'd get one with traffic updates though - it's almost a necessity in the DFW area.

[Shuffler]

Drone,

Try the iphone or some such phone if you need (want) a new phone too. However, I am sure that most dedicated GPS devices will have much more features. My iphone is based on Google earth which is nice. I'm not sure if you can can get voice directions yet. Maybe though. I'll have to check into it.

My Memoir has a fairly large screen, gives voice directions, hilites the transitions, shows what next transition will be (right, left), reroutes if you miss a turn... checks traffic. I can either type in the address or do it verbally. Other things the Memoir does is internet and weather. It also a a touch screen QWERTY keyboard. It has a 8mp camera and you can upload directly to your favorite picture site like photobucket. You can check your email and ohhhh it's a phone. 

[APDrone]

Thanks guys.. but a new phone is not an option.  I have Verizon ( ack..ptui..hissss ) and their fees would probably run me enough to buy 2 new GPS units a year.  If their coverage wasn't the best, I'd drop them in a heartbeat..    But that's a rant for a different thread...


I've been looking at Garmin.. that seems to be generally recommended.  I don't need another MP3 player, and I don't think the monthly fees for movie listings is necessary. 

Still digging though..

[Shuffler]

Hard to go wrong with Garmin or Magellan for that matter.

[Marauding Conan]

Since they release new GPS units about as often as tennis shoes, would anybody care to share their experiences and/or recommendations with GPS units out there?

Favorites?

Any makers to avoid?

Features?

This is not a question of need.  It is want. 

Usage will probably be sporadic.. maybe a couple road trips a year.. and who knows what else they can be used for.

I suspect some features are like an automatic ice maker.. you don't really know how well you'll like it until you have one.

Thoughts?

Garmin are pretty good. I have had different brands, and they are ok. But, irrelevant of the brand, buy cheap. All GPS come with errors that cost to correct. After a year, changes in the road will make the problem even worst. And upgrading the maps cost as much as buys a new top of the line GPS. Now, I live in Europe, and the changes in roads might be more common here than where you are at.

[Shuffler]

Here most maps are updated on the fly.

[Marauding Conan]

Here most maps are updated on the fly.

Yeah, provided you are willing to pay for the service.

[Getback]

I just read under a google search that voice directions will be coming to iPhone. Not sure when though.

[Obie303]

I purchased the Garmin 255W.  I would recommend a wide screen (4.3" or bigger)  and definitely the text to speech feature.  IMHO, anything else is a lot of bells and whistles that aren't really needed.

Obie

[Scotch]

+1 Garmin

[Fulmar]

I have a Garmin 670 and so do 3 other people I know that bought the same model after I purchased mine (basically they saw mine and were quite impressed).  They discontinued the 670 and its siblings, but the 7xx series or the 2xx series are quite nice yet.

+2 Garmin

[Maverick]

Go look for a Garmin 205W. It's the basic navigation unit with a wide screen with no bells or whistles. I got one for $50.00 at Sam's Club last October. It has the 12 volt power cable, windshield mount, a small instruction book and that's it. It does have the navigation software and voice prompts but none of the MP3 crap or other "options" that you don't need for just road navigation.