Gps system

[Springbok]

I need to purchase a Gps system in a hurry.  Has anyone had experience with the Garmin Street Pilot 330 and the Tom Tom 1 3rd Edition?
Both have pretty similiar specs. so I guess it comes down to reliability and functionability.  Based on experience can anyone advise which one I should go with?

[GeneF]

I have had a TomTom 510 for a couple of years and like it.

Take it on trips and it has saved us a lot of trouble.

Lots of POI's including campgrounds.  Can do itinerary planning on it.

Can be set for biking, walking or the car.

Major drawback was learning how to use it.  I can't say that the manual tells you all that you need to know.  Just like computers today, they want you to figure it out yourself.

Non of the gps's are completely accurate and will lead you astray at times.

[ronerjones]

I have the Garman 330c have only owned it about 3 months. So far it is great. If it doesn't get you to the door it gets you awfully close. It is the easiest thing to use right out of the box, complete touch screen. Programming in an address is so easy. It has so many built in addresses for finding state parks, restaurants, and almost anything else you can think of. I am very happy with mine.

[wynot]

I need to purchase a Gps system in a hurry. Has anyone had experience with the Garmin Street Pilot 330 and the Tom Tom 1 3rd Edition?
Both have pretty similiar specs. so I guess it comes down to reliability and functionability. Based on experience can anyone advise which one I should go with?

I have a Garmin StreetPilot 360.  I have some comments on the other GPS thread regarding it.  Don't know anything about the TomToms.

[austinado16]

Garmin Nuvi 350 is the only way to fly.  It's top ranked and alot better than the Tom-Tom.  I've turned 2 other people onto them and both have raved. One guy even compared it to the Tom-Tom that his boss had just purchased for them to use for the company.  No comparison and now the boss is buying a Nuvi.

Garmin's maps are superior and the Nuvi with touch screen, voice prompts including telling you street names, freeway names, etc. is just top flight.  Plus all kinds of search functions like if you want to find lodging, fuel, restaurants, fast food, camp grounds, amusements/attractions, etc.

Best $350 you'll ever spend.

[wavery]

I have had a TomTom 510 for a couple of years and like it.

Take it on trips and it has saved us a lot of trouble.

Lots of POI's including campgrounds.  Can do itinerary planning on it.

Can be set for biking, walking or the car.

Major drawback was learning how to use it.  I can't say that the manual tells you all that you need to know.  Just like computers today, they want you to figure it out yourself.

Non of the gps's are completely accurate and will lead you astray at times.

The problem with accuracy is more with the maps than with the GPS. Any decent GPS should get you with 3' of where the accurate latitude and longitude actually is (depending on how many satellites are available at the instant). That doesn't necessarily mean that it will get you within 3' of where a location is printed on paper or programmed into a computer.

It is very hard to make a flat map out of a round world. In doing so, maps are often off by several feet. I have seen nautical charts that are off as far as a mile. That is because they weren't updated since the advent of GPS.

It's really funny (to me) to listen to people talk about GPS navigation on city streets. I started using Sat-Nav in 1984 then graduating to GPS when it was available in the early '90's. I sailed around the world twice for a total of 80,000 miles and negotiating some pretty tricky coastlines and using charts that were original copies made by Captain James Cook in the 1700's.

To use GPS to drive down the street is something that I just could never bring myself to do :sombraro: .

[6Quigs]

We have the Tom Tom 1 XL and love it.

It didn't take much time to learn how to use it, and all the different features.

It was highly rated by a recent article in our local newspaper as well as consumer reports, so that's why we chose the Tom Tom.

[GeneF]

"The problem with accuracy is more with the maps than with the GPS. "

Have to agree with you on this one Wavery.

Have a friend that works for one of the  mapping companies.  Full time job just trying to keep them up to date with new streets, developements, etc being done all the time.  

They are still fun to use and get easier as time goes by.

I guess a lot depends on what you want to learn.  Personally, I am not into the electronic gadgets so it takes me a bit longer to learn how to use them and then I only learn what I need to know.

Someetimes I just wish we could go back to cranking the phone to get the operator to place our call.

[wavery]

"The problem with accuracy is more with the maps than with the GPS. "

Have to agree with you on this one Wavery.

Have a friend that works for one of the  mapping companies.  Full time job just trying to keep them up to date with new streets, developements, etc being done all the time.  

They are still fun to use and get easier as time goes by.

I guess a lot depends on what you want to learn.  Personally, I am not into the electronic gadgets so it takes me a bit longer to learn how to use them and then I only learn what I need to know.

Someetimes I just wish we could go back to cranking the phone to get the operator to place our call.

I can see where they would be fun for people that have never used them as a serious tool. However, in reality, they are nothing more than a toy at this stage.

Now, when they start incorporating them with an, on-windshield, heads-up display that will give you real, usable information, in real time.....I may get one.

Its' coming....trust me... the military has been using this technology for years in fighter jets. The consumer side likes to take it in baby steps so that they always have a, "latest & greatest" to sell to people and out-date their own earlier models.

Google is working fast and furious on getting as much street level, video images as they can (it's a huge controversy right now on privacy invasion). I believe that this information will be used in the new generation GPS navigation for consumers on the street.

[Springbok]

Thanks to all of you who responded.  It seems to be a close call so my wife's preference for the aesthetic appeal of the TomTom will probably prevail; she likes the flat screen configuration.   I've tried to explain that the fact that the Garmin resembles a PC monitor from yesterday's generation is an indication that it has more technical goodies than the TomTom which translates into greater versatility but she wouldn't buy it.

[GeneF]

Thanks to all of you who responded.  It seems to be a close call so my wife's preference for the aesthetic appeal of the TomTom will probably prevail; she likes the flat screen configuration.   I've tried to explain that the fact that the Garmin resembles a PC monitor from yesterday's generation is an indication that it has more technical goodies than the TomTom which translates into greater versatility but she wouldn't buy it.

Smart lady, your wife.

I think you will be very happy with the TomTom.

[GeneF]

If you haven't purchased a GPS yet, Best Buy has a TomTom on sale for $199 and a Garmin for $299.

[suburbpete]

Garmin Nuvi 350 is the only way to fly.  It's top ranked and alot better than the Tom-Tom.  I've turned 2 other people onto them and both have raved. One guy even compared it to the Tom-Tom that his boss had just purchased for them to use for the company.  No comparison and now the boss is buying a Nuvi.

Garmin's maps are superior and the Nuvi with touch screen, voice prompts including telling you street names, freeway names, etc. is just top flight.  Plus all kinds of search functions like if you want to find lodging, fuel, restaurants, fast food, camp grounds, amusements/attractions, etc.

Best $350 you'll ever spend.

I agree. I had the TomTom and took it back and bought the Garmin Nuvi 350. It's great and I wouldn't be without it !

[cyclone]

I have a Garmin 340 -- it's great!  Easy to use and so far, it has given us the right directions every time.  Only once have we entered an address it did not have in the database, and this was a brand new subdivision so I expected it would not have it mapped yet.  This little "toy" was invaluable on the summer vacation.  Needed a pharmacy in Wilmington - drove right to the closest one.  Ice cream in Nags Head - not a problem.  The best route from OBX to West Virginia?  Garmin nailed it (unlike Mapquest which routed us to DC first).  One thing a sales guy at Best Buy told us - "don't buy the model with the Bluetooth capability or mp3 stuff if you don't need it."  Waste of money unless you will use it for that.  We searched on-line and found a much better price than anything we found locally.

[bobwhite_ok]

I took another approach on GPS.

One can use a GPS reciever on a laptop along with Microsoft Streets and trips to give you full GPS functionality.

I bought a USB Holux GPS reciever on EBAY for $42 (including shipping) along with a  2006 copy of  Streets and Trips ($12). Bluetooth version is available at a slightly higher cost.

With a power adaptor for the cigarrete lighter the laptop is independent of battery power.

The GPS locates your position within a few feet.

The trip feature allows trip planning as well as real time monitoring. ( position, speed, mapping etc.)

Directions can be delivered via text or real time voice instructions.

The map feature is fun to explore, such as looking up your old haunts as well as points of interest on your trips.

It interfaces with Virtual Earth if you have a high speed internet connection.

More and more places are now offering WIFI connections so you can stay in touch with the laptop.

I'm still working on a bracket / holder to accomodate the laptop at the drives seat.

I must agree with the previous poster who circumavigated the glode decrying the use of GPS to drive around town. I remember, in my ill spent youth navigating Morocco (the country) on my BMW bike with nothing more than tank map about the size of a wheatties box. But that was a different time. Those were the days.

Bob

The Sahara Desert? Turn left at Marakesh, over the Atlas Mountains, you can't miss it!