GPS recommendation please

[bsmith11]

Hello everyone. I am fairly new to GPS, but I have done my research. Many thanks to the people of this forum for that. I would like to list a few things I am looking for in my GPS and would hopefully love to see some people's recs.

First off, Price is secondary to value for me, but I guess I would ideally like to spend no more than $350.

I am looking for NA maps only, and USA needed only. This GPS will be mainly used for work traveling along the I-95 corridor.

I am set on having good TTS capabilities and high POI is important to me.

The ability to upgrade is important

I would like something around 4 inch screen size, possibly a little smaller.

I am wrestling with wanting traffic updates. Paying for a subscription isn't something I want to do.

Overall, I really am just looking for something that is accurate, won't lose signal, and will help me get where I need to go when I don't know the area. Simple, I know.

Let me know, thanks!!!

-B

 

[Kaido]

I have a Garmin Nuvi 680:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-4...&qid=1203903539&sr=8-1

It's about $100 more than you want to spend, but it has all the bells and whistles. I love mine

 

[NetGuySC]

search for the posts with author named " timekeeper" he is the resident GPS guru.

 

[Jawo]

I got my parents the Garmin Nuvi 650 for Christmas from Costco ($300) and they love it. It has millions of POIs, and even my technophobe step mom can use it! While CNet hasn't reviewed it, the community has given it 8.1/10: http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gp...5-3430_7-32381015.html

 

[TechnoSaint]

I got me a Garmin c580 with TTS and Bluetooth etc including one year of MSN Live service for just under $350 on Amazon.com. I haven't had a single problem with it, very quick connection to satellites and cool extras like being able to play MP3s off of the SD card that you can put in it.

 

[bsmith11]

I tend to like the Garmin's the best, after doing my research. I've seen TimeKeeper say a lot about the Garmin 260. It seems like a pretty good deal. The 650 for 300 looks very good as well. Did you get it at Costco on sale? Or is that their regular price?

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: bsmith11
I tend to like the Garmin's the best, after doing my research. I've seen TimeKeeper say a lot about the Garmin 260. It seems like a pretty good deal. The 650 for 300 looks very good as well. Did you get it at Costco on sale? Or is that their regular price?

It was a last week of November 07 deal at Costco. The price should have dropped since the succesor, the 660 is out now.

 

[greengrass]

Hey bsmith11, with your budget you can have a look at the TomTom GO 720, it is on sale for $350 now instead of $450 with a code H8Q0FSJQ7VJBV8. It has a 4.3-inch wide touchscreen, looks nice.

 

[laketrout]

greengrass is right. The Go 720 is pretty much the pinnacle in the TomTom series. Check it out.

Cool avatar, Greengrass.

 

[TimeKeeper]

I have tested and unlocked the Voice Recognition of TT720.
Honestly, I didn't find it exciting at all.

TeleAtlas routing engine still far from "acceptable". I have also compred the routing w/ Google map, mapQuest, resulted same as what most other testing website - not up to par.

Yes, I also took apart all GPS I tested and review on.

I found 1300mAh battery still wouldn't last more than 2 hours w/ BT/ Data off.
( Car, nowadays, has nice interior, having power cord hanging over your center console is not a pretty sight, just because you want to use your GPS)

Other than that, TT's positioning accuracy is 30 yards behind actual position at speed of 35mph or higher. (open view to sky)

I guess everyone has their preference. For me, I just test bunch of them since it is part of my job.

"NAKED TT720". ( please don't come to my place. bhahaha)
http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/720/7200.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/720/7201.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/720/7202.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/720/7203.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/720/7204.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/720/7205.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/720/7206.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/720/7207.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/720/7208.jpg