GPS Experience?

[drstrangelove]

I'm thinking about buying a GPS device but in reviewing various forums, it seems most makes and models all have shortcomings. Do you GPS owners feel the benefits outweigh the negatives? In particular, I'm looking at models that come with European maps preloaded.

 

[Nickelodeon]

Yes, I've had mine for over a year and it's one of my favourite toys. Downsides:
1. It does all the work so it makes you dumber...keep a road map handy for orientation.
2. It does have programming quirks so you could be sent down an old road, or it might not recognize a new road. Same solution as problem 1. keep a roadmap handy.
3. My "friends" are too cheap to buy one so they keep borrowing mine when they need.

Mine is the TomTom 920....I hear Garmin's are comparably good.

 

[Radio_Shack]

I use a blackberry for GPS and there are no downsides that I have found.

 

[kz65]

go with a Garmin - I bought mine 2years ago and love it.
you can download maps of most European countries for a small fee.

yearly updates are avb as well.

 

[skypilot]

Yes, I've had mine for over a year and it's one of my favourite toys. Downsides:
1. It does all the work so it makes you dumber...keep a road map handy for orientation.
2. It does have programming quirks so you could be sent down an old road, or it might not recognize a new road. Same solution as problem 1. keep a roadmap handy.
3. My "friends" are too cheap to buy one so they keep borrowing mine when they need.

Mine is the TomTom 920....I hear Garmin's are comparably good.

Agreed on all the above. I have a Garmin that is good, just went with the proce tag for what features it has. You may find prices in the US low enough to make a trip to buy one.

 

[MarkII]

my So bought me a Garmin a while back and I love it. Easy to use and program.

For the most part I pretty much know where I'm heading in the city, but the street numbers can often be a bitch to try and see when you're looking for a specific address. This is where the unit shines for me. I know the general area but it zero's it in for me with voice prompts on the distance so I know when to start looking for a parking spot. If no on street it finds the nearest parking lot.

I don't use it all the time but it really comes in handy. I did find it harder to use in Quebec. The address most often given in Quebec is a short form I found. Couldn't get them damn thing to find places so I switched to having it locate by postal code and it worked perfectly.

M2

 

[Ben Hogan]

I recently picked up a Garmin and so far I'm really pleased with it. Easy to use and it was ready to go right out of the box.

 

[drstrangelove]

Thanks for all the positive feedback. Guess I'll get one when the sales are on.

 

[canucklehead]

i have been using various GPS unit for about 6 years ..... they all have their benefits and short comings..... but worth having if only u use it once.

 

[Never Compromised]

I was given a Garmin Nuvi 250 for Christmas last year and was surprised how much I used it.

After my car was broken into, I replaced the 250 with a 265T. The upgraded unit had slightly different software which made it easier to use, as well as FM radio to receive traffic reports and bluetooth to act as a handsfree unit for the cell phone.

Many of the POI that are included with the 265T have a phone number and now all I have to do is press the phone number on the unit, and my blackberry dials out!

I bought the 265T on sale at Best Buy for under $300. Tiger Direct has one of the units on sale at the moment, I think.