I have a magellan....love it. got the cheapest one I could find. we do a lot of geocaching...kids love it, they will walk for 5 miles without realising they have gone that far. check out www.geocaching.com and go to getting started and they have information about buying a gps. granted it is aimed at gps's for geocaching but this site will help tremedously: check out www.gpsinformation.net I give this site a 10!!!! some guys that really tested some gps recievers to the extreme. very up to date and honest reviews. be forwarned....a gps is only a tool, for example my brother and sister in law were in fort Lauderdale not too long ago and followed their gps to the beach wich was a 30 min drive....well what the gps did not know was that a road had recently been built that would have got them to the beach in 10 minutes yep thats 20 min one way 40 min round trip that could have been saved everytime they went to the beach...
Man, there is just WAY more info out there than this ole boy can assimilate! I think I'll just walk into a store that sells these things and buy the one that has the coolest looking box! And next time I'm in Lauderdale, I'll try to remember the shortcut! Thanks, guys!
If you purchase the Nuvi 350 off Walmart.com you can get it for around 350. I'm sure the Nuvi 660 is better, but pay attention to the sizes of these things...the higher the number on the Nuvis means it's probably going to be bigger and unable to fit into your pocket. Also try and go for one that speaks street names to you instead of just saying "turn left in .5 miles". Doesn't sound important but it's a big feature and will keep you from constantly having to look at the thing while driving.
Thanks to one and all! I've never, ever shopped on Black Friday and I couldn't bring myself to do it this year either. The $800 Garmin 660 at Best Buy for $399 notwithstanding. So, I just ordered a Garmin 350 (WalMart - ugh, I hate WalMart, but a buck is a buck!). Tells me street names, fits in my pocket and gets excellent reviews. No bluetooth, but that's what my bt headset is for. I hear bt isn't that great with the GPS units anyway. Should be here by Monday so we'll see what we see. Thanks again everyone.
Michael, be sure to let us know how it works out, nothing speaks like experience for a recommendation. I'm still digesting the above information!
Ain't that the truth?! Analysis paralysis!! I just got tired of fiddling with it and I really didn't read too many bad things about the 350. So, end of story. I'll let you know if I get lost on my way to work next week. :rofl
I bought myelf a little something off ebay last sunday and am awaiting its arrival (which is due today): http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290179488425&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:DE:1123 It's basically just a bluetooth-GPS-mouse which transmits the data to my phone (a Nokia N73). On my Nokia I can install software ranging from TomTom over Route66 and other commercial stuff to freeware. Yeah, that's right, freeware applications (one from Nokia themselves) for navigating. Just invest ~60$ for the GPS-mouse and you're ready to go. And then there's also the whole aspect of geocaching or recording your hiking-routes on your mobile and watching them at home on google maps - the possibilities are countless And all that for 60 bucks ::
I had to buy a wedding band for my GPS system. She's always saying, "Turn here. Turn here... I told you, you should have turned there. Sheesh...:scared001
funny you should say that bill, they have a wife mode that waits until you are right at the street before telling you to turn and then yells at you for missing it. and then it says if you are not going to listen to me I am not going to tell you any more directions and shuts off.rofl:rofl
Well, now I have TWO!! Saw that 50% off price and I just couldn't stop myself! :ashamed001 Decided, for the first time ever, to go shopping on Black Friday. Arrived at Best Buy about 4:50 this morning, figuring there would already be a "few" people ahead of me. Good Lord!!! Took me 10 minutes just to find a parking place! The line was around the block. One woman told me her husband, who was already inside, was the first in line - got there at 1:30...PM...yesterday!!! It actually wasn't bad though. Home to BB and back took only an hour, and 30 minutes of that was drive/parking time. Anyway, now I have the Garmin 660 (larger, supposedly better backlit screen plus bluetooth) and their 350. The 660 comes with a leather case and even with that, it still fits in my shirt pocket. Obviously, one of them is going back after I decide which I like best. As far as I know, neither has a "Wife" mode. But, umm, "...I am not going to tell you any more directions and shuts off." is a BAD thing? :rofl
I ordered a second GPS this morning. I have multiple vehicles — car, pickup and motorhome — and I don't like moving my GPS from one to another. I have a mount in each vehicle so it's not a lot of trouble but often I just don't bother. Speaking of which I mount mine below the dash and I use a powered amplified antenna at the bottom of the windshield. An external antenna makes a HUGE difference in reception. Anyway what I ordered is the $99 Black Friday special at Staples, a Navigon 2100T. Sounds good but I'm unfamiliar with the maker. Comes with a subscription-free traffic service. It speaks street names and claims to have a photo-realistic view of major interchanges. If it doesn't work for me look for it on eBay next week. Richard
A Different Approach I know this isn't exactly the same as the solutions you have been discussing, but some might want to consider it. If you look here, there's a GPS that plugs into a USB port for about $46, and over here, the MS 2007 map SW for about $60. I have these installed on a very nice notebook PC which can be powered off of the 12V socket in the car, and the system works superbly for me (YMMV). I use it of course mostly on longish road trips, with my wife driving and me navigating. I have used it when by myself, but there I usually set up a route while parked and put in the mode where it gives me audio directions. I'm really not too keen on the idea of interacting with a GPS system while driving, anyway. It's true it won't fit in your pocket for hiking, but for long road trips, you can't beat the size and quality of the display! And you can watch DVDs, check your email (in wifi hot spots), read an e-book, etc. when you're not using it for navigation.
Just got back from a test drive with the Nuvi 660. Only a little weirdness. I think it doesn't like shopping center parking lots! You can select various voices with this unit, including a British female. You'll never guess what I've nicknamed her!
