GPS for present, what to get?

[QueBert]

lemme bump this thread, I'm looking to get a GPS soon. Used a friends Magellan (dunno model #) it seemed good. was fast to calculate a route and I found the volume to be excellent. Looking online the iPaq 310 looks outstanding except for a few things. These come from user reviews so I'm not too sure how accurate. So I'm asking AT people for their input.

The volume sucks according to most, but I read a few people saying a firmware update fixes this and a few others saying there are hacks that make it louder. Is the volume that bad, and if so does the firmware update do anything for it?
Also read a person saying you have to type in the full street name, on the Magellan I used it used some sort of adaptive entry to figure out what street I was typing. I would assume the iPaq does this too but I don't know.

is the iPaq a really good unit? the volume issue troubles me, but everything else about it makes it sounds like one of the best out there. My budget is around $200'ish.

I'm use to Google Maps, are any of the units capable of finding stores by name? Today I was looking for the closest Walmart, and the Magellan I was using didn't do #### when I typed it in. I was under the assumption POI's would be search able by name, and Walmart would be a logical POI (again assuming) lol I'd LOVE to be able to type "In-N-Out" and have it auto calculate the closest to my location. Is this not how the POI system would typically work?

 

[dxpaap]

I just got a Garmin nuvi 350 as a gift (never had a gps before) - but noticed that this model is discontinued.

Was wondering if that means no future map updates? It seems to have a lot of good features for $150, but wondering how important update maps and firmware are for a tech like this (since it will only be used for trips out of town).

thanks

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: dxpaap
I just got a Garmin nuvi 350 as a gift (never had a gps before) - but noticed that this model is discontinued.

Was wondering if that means no future map updates? It seems to have a lot of good features for $150, but wondering how important update maps and firmware are for a tech like this (since it will only be used for trips out of town).

thanks

You still can purchase update map every year.
However, I would suggest you buy the Nuvi 260, if not 255.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: TimeKeeper

Originally posted by: dxpaap
I just got a Garmin nuvi 350 as a gift (never had a gps before) - but noticed that this model is discontinued.

Was wondering if that means no future map updates? It seems to have a lot of good features for $150, but wondering how important update maps and firmware are for a tech like this (since it will only be used for trips out of town).

thanks

You still can purchase update map every year.
However, I would suggest you buy the Nuvi 260, if not 255.

I am looking at the nuvi 350 and 650 on a discount site.

Why would you pick the 260 or 255 over the 350?

MotionMan

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: TimeKeeper

Originally posted by: dxpaap
I just got a Garmin nuvi 350 as a gift (never had a gps before) - but noticed that this model is discontinued.

Was wondering if that means no future map updates? It seems to have a lot of good features for $150, but wondering how important update maps and firmware are for a tech like this (since it will only be used for trips out of town).

thanks

You still can purchase update map every year.
However, I would suggest you buy the Nuvi 260, if not 255.

I am looking at the nuvi 350 and 650 on a discount site.

Why would you pick the 260 or 255 over the 350?

MotionMan

One of my old review, photos included. ( yeap, I luv2review! lol)

http://forums.gpsreview.net/vi....php?t=4119&highlight=

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: TimeKeeper

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: TimeKeeper

Originally posted by: dxpaap
I just got a Garmin nuvi 350 as a gift (never had a gps before) - but noticed that this model is discontinued.

Was wondering if that means no future map updates? It seems to have a lot of good features for $150, but wondering how important update maps and firmware are for a tech like this (since it will only be used for trips out of town).

thanks

You still can purchase update map every year.
However, I would suggest you buy the Nuvi 260, if not 255.

I am looking at the nuvi 350 and 650 on a discount site.

Why would you pick the 260 or 255 over the 350?

MotionMan

One of my old review, photos included. ( yeap, I luv2review! lol)

http://forums.gpsreview.net/vi....php?t=4119&highlight=

What are the real differences between the 255 and the 260? They are both being sold at Amazon for prices I can live with.

MotionMan

 

[edmicman]

I'd like to jump on this, too

I'm also looking for a GPS for the car, portable so we can move it between our two cars. I'm looking at Garmins since they seem to be overall better reviewed. I'm looking at mid-range models, preferring not to spend more than mid-$300s. Something in the $200s would be ideal. I want it to speak the road names. This "lane assist" feature sounds like it would be nice, but it doesn't appear the mid and low-range Garmins have that? Is that not a standard feature to tell you which way you're going to need to veer off or turn coming up ahead? Route-planning would be cool, too, for the following...

Also, I do geocaching as a hobby, with a handheld GPS. I'm wondering if it's possible to load onto a memory card waypoints for a day's caches (which are in lat. and long. coordinates), and have the car GPS map out routes? This would be awesome, as we could drive to the nearby locations, then go out on foot using hte handheld GPS to actually find the cache. I don't even know if this is possible?

Thanks for the link to the GPS Review site...I'll check out the forums there, maybe the geocaching forums, too. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Matilda]

Most people would either go with a TomTom or a Garmin. I like the TomTom's better - I've used a 130S and a 720, and I've liked both. In your price range, the ONE 125 or the ONE 130S (with Text-to-Speech) can both be found for sub-$200. These are the easiest devices to use and are the best bang for your buck. Another popular choice is the GO 720/730 - both feature IQ Routes and Advanced Lane Guidance functionality and are a regular pick of the people at GPS Review and TomTom Forums.

 

[TimeKeeper]

What are the real differences between the 255 and the 260? They are both being sold at Amazon for prices I can live with.

MotionMan

1. 255 has traffic/fm capability build in. ( but require optional equipment )
2. 255 using Gen 4 UI pair w/ fast CPU, more function such as Satallite info, custom photo to location ( Not much advantage here actually )
3. 255 has shorter battery life, by about an hour per single charge. (3 hours vs 4 hours in real life - brightness at 60% - volume at 80% ) Unless you are okay having power cord plug in all the time - evidently, this annoying me the most.
4. 260 has faster cold start - gps turn off for more than 6 hours and start from new location - satallite acqusition. ( about 100 seonds )

If you are not going to purchase TMC kit, then you really can't go wrong with either one.


p.s. please stay away from 200w / 250w and 260w, these model using SirfIII chip which has terrible satallite acqusition. Don't get me wrong, SirfIII is a good chip, but this 4 year old chip just not cutting it anymore, specially in Nuvi design.

Nuvi 200/250 currently using Bravo chip. I would stay away also.

I have been testing most of gps in the market, take them apart, test them extensively.. ( did I mention it was part of my job ? lol ) Anyway, I am keeping 260 and my wife w/ 205.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: TimeKeeper

What are the real differences between the 255 and the 260? They are both being sold at Amazon for prices I can live with.

MotionMan

1. 255 has traffic/fm capability build in. ( but require optional equipment )
2. 255 using Gen 4 UI pair w/ fast CPU, more function such as Satallite info, custom photo to location ( Not much advantage here actually )
3. 255 has shorter battery life, by about an hour per single charge. (3 hours vs 4 hours in real life - brightness at 60% - volume at 80% ) Unless you are okay having power cord plug in all the time - evidently, this annoying me the most.
4. 260 has faster cold start - gps turn off for more than 6 hours and start from new location - satallite acqusition. ( about 100 seonds )

If you are not going to purchase TMC kit, then you really can't go wrong with either one.


p.s. please stay away from 200w / 250w and 260w, these model using SirfIII chip which has terrible satallite acqusition. Don't get me wrong, SirfIII is a good chip, but this 4 year old chip just not cutting it anymore, specially in Nuvi design.

Nuvi 200/250 currently using Bravo chip. I would stay away also.

I have been testing most of gps in the market, take them apart, test them extensively.. ( did I mention it was part of my job ? lol ) Anyway, I am keeping 260 and my wife w/ 205.

Based on my research, it appears that a car charger comes in the box - Is that right? (If so, it is pretty crappy of Amazon to push you to buy ANOTHER car charger.)

Also, on Amazon, it says that the 255 has an "improved" interface, but that is not mentioned regarding the 260. Are the interfaces on the 255 and 260 the same?

THANK YOU so much for your help!!!

(I will probably buy one when I get home tonight.)

MotionMan

 

[TimeKeeper]

Based on my research, it appears that a car charger comes in the box - Is that right? (If so, it is pretty crappy of Amazon to push you to buy ANOTHER car charger.)

Also, on Amazon, it says that the 255 has an "improved" interface, but that is not mentioned regarding the 260. Are the interfaces on the 255 and 260 the same?

THANK YOU so much for your help!!!

(I will probably buy one when I get home tonight.)

MotionMan

All GPS nuit come w/ auto charger, ONLY few come w/ AC charger.
so called "improved" interface is nothing rather than more "rounded" icon, "where am I".

Let me put it this way... if you are not buying optional TMC kit, you can get a Nuvi 260 for less than $150 SHIPPED off ebay. Otherwise, I would NOT spend more than $20 for 255

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: TimeKeeper

Based on my research, it appears that a car charger comes in the box - Is that right? (If so, it is pretty crappy of Amazon to push you to buy ANOTHER car charger.)

Also, on Amazon, it says that the 255 has an "improved" interface, but that is not mentioned regarding the 260. Are the interfaces on the 255 and 260 the same?

THANK YOU so much for your help!!!

(I will probably buy one when I get home tonight.)

MotionMan

All GPS nuit come w/ auto charger, ONLY few come w/ AC charger.
so called "improved" interface is nothing rather than more "rounded" icon, "where am I".

Let me put it this way... if you are not buying optional TMC kit, you can get a Nuvi 260 for less than $150 SHIPPED off ebay. Otherwise, I would NOT spend more than $20 for 255

Great. Thanks.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Ordered the 260.

Thanks

MotionMan

 

[vi edit]

Probably a little too late, but I did have a 255w for a short time and replaced it with a 270 for $20 more than I paid for the 255w. If you don't have a use for the blue tooth or MP3 player or multiple routing options, then I liked the 255w better for one simple thing.

The 255w had a little turn indicator in the bottom left corner that showed me which direction my next turn would be. VERY helpful. My 270 doesn't do that, and I doubt the 260 has it either.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: vi edit
Probably a little too late, but I did have a 255w for a short time and replaced it with a 270 for $20 more than I paid for the 255w. If you don't have a use for the blue tooth or MP3 player or multiple routing options, then I liked the 255w better for one simple thing.

The 255w had a little turn indicator in the bottom left corner that showed me which direction my next turn would be. VERY helpful. My 270 doesn't do that, and I doubt the 260 has it either.

It shipped yesterday...



MotionMan

 

[bobbismal]

How about the Tomtom 125 vs the Tomtom 3rd edition? Other than rounded corners on the 125 I don't see any difference.