Best portable nav?

[bigcritter]

Trena,
It looks like you're already done your homework in searching for a GPS. Checking out the reviews on Amazon, CNET, googling GPS Reviews, etc. There's a few websites that have really in-depth reviews of GPSs. I think, for me, GPSs are like RVs.......they each offer some really nice features, but then they're lacking in others, or have poorly designed features. I have two Garmins.......an older model Streetpilot C320, the big, bulkier unit, and a newer model Nuvi 750. The older model, for some reason, seems to pick up the satellites faster than the new model, but the new model holds them much, much better. There were reports that some of the Nuvi models were using a different chip, but mine has the SIRF chip and it's still really slow on getting up and running sometimes. In comparing Garmin & Tom Tom, I really feel that the Garmin is much more user friendly, with more intuitive menus. When I chose my first GPS, that is the reason that I chose Garmin. I wanted something very, very simple that my wife could understand, so that she could use it also! My wife is very much a analog person living in a digital world! She would be the first to admit that! So......the Garmin is so simple, you don't even need instructions. It's really Plug 'n Play! As was already mentioned, unless they HAVE changed recently, TomTom uses a different map database than Garmin. From the reviews that I've read, it doesn't make a significant difference in routing and drive times, but in the way that it functions. Just minor differences. Although the new voice command model TomTom is really COOL!! There's also the Magellans, Cobras, Mios, etc. One feature of the Cobra that I wish they would ALL incorporate is the ICONS shown on the map for your favorite places........Shell gas, Jack-in-the-Box restaurants, etc. Also, the Navigons! I was really, really excited about the Navigons prior to their launch here in the U.S., but the reviews have shown far too many weaknesses in my opinion. There's also a new Internet based GPS system, http://www.dash.net/index.php, that has some really wonderful features which I think will probably be incorporated into all of the newer GPSs, but sadly, the actual routing function.......for now.......is getting really poor reviews! I have a feeling that this system is the TIVO of GPS systems, though. Right now they just need to work out some of the "bugs" and get the routing function to work as smoothly as most Garmins, and they're going to have a HUGE hit......especially if they can reduce the overall size of the unit! When it comes down to it, whether you get a Garmin, TomTom, Cobra, Magellan, or Mio........it'll probably serve your needs really well. In fact, for having some of the cheapest units on the market, the Mios have gotten really favorable reviews! Good luck!!

[Andrewlcox]

I have always used TomTom and will be getting the new 130S like mentioned above. They are very good and simple.

Andy

[Trena]

Ugh! This stuff is giving me a headache! Now I am looking between the Navigon and the Garmin Nuvi. (forgive me, as I've already forgotten the models I was interested in, but both <$200). So, the 4.3" is not worth it over the 3.5" screen? I was leaning toward the Navigon, as I like the lane assist and reality view and available upgradeable maps. I don't need the 'big city' features, as I am rarely in those situations, and if I am, I am carrying things that probably won't fit in the smart! But I do a nice mix of country and small city driving (170,000 greater metropolitan area).

[msjohnson1974]

whichever you choose, make sure it has a memory expansion slot that can be used for maps... my next one will be a Garmin for this reason. You might not want it now but if you travel internationally you'll want the option of getting local maps on without too much trouble. I have a TomTom, it works well BUT you have to jump through hoops to change the map out.

[ck_az]

Get something with a larger screen. Easier to make inputs and more to see. The price difference is minor.

[doogster]

In the past 16 months I have owned:

3.5" Mio C310X
3.5" Navigon 200
3.5" TomTom One
4.3" Garmin 250W
and now
4.3" Magellan 1412.

I disagree with the poster above who said the 4.3" wasn't worth it... it definately is!!! When I approach a turn, my Magellan not only says "Approaching right turn on Main Street", but the left hand side of the screen goes to a graphic which shows the upcoming turn while the right hand side continues to show the map... very, very nice!

That being said, I think the MOST important feature of a GPS is the POI database... a few of the units I had above only had 1 million... and it simply is not enough... I found most items I was searching for were not in there... 3 million was better, but still not enough. The Garmin units are good for a high POI count (6 million) and my Magellan also has 6 million.

The reason I've had so many GPS units in such a short time is because I'm an electronic nut and this is what I do!!! I love buying stuff, using it, trying it... then selling it to get something "better".... :-)

The Navigon lane assist was lame, in my opinion... looked much cooler on the computer screen demo than in person on the GPS... plus its POI database has horrible.

The garmin was nice... solid... easy to use... but the interface was just aweful. The colors were blah and it gave you no information about your trip... you had no idea how much furthur you had to go, how fast you were going, when you might get there... none of this stuff (without having to push other buttons)... I like having all that info on the main screen... or at least give me the software options to select what info I want to see on my screen - sadly, Garmin is what it is and cannot be changed.

One feature the Garmin had that the others don't is something called "find POI in route"... here is what that means (and this is an important feature"... Say you are navigation from point a to point b and point b is 100 miles away with lots of road changes... and you want to find a particular restaurant... with the Garmin, you search your POIs for the restaurant, but you can tell it to only look for this restaurant ON YOUR CURRENT ROUTE!!! So you don't have to deviate from your trip to get a POI that you want... I really wish other GPS units had this feature because with a lot of them you put in a POI and it looks for the "closest"... which may be 10 miles back in the direction that you just came from... not very helpful.

[MichaelJ]

Originally Posted by Trena

However, Garmin is my absolute favorite, and here's why:
1. The most important thing about Garmin units is the user interface. It is simple to understand and easy to use.

I would disagree - I feel that the most importantant thing about Garmin is their superb customer service.

As for the rest of your post, a simple renumbering is all that it needs ;-)

I've been using Garmins for years on my motorcycles, and they just work.

[doogster]

I will say Garmin customer support is unreal!!!! I contacted them 2 times while I had my Garmin and they went far above what they needed to do... in fact, I had bought a knock-off home charger for my Garmin from Ebay and it didn't work... I called them to ask some questions about it and they guy said "let me just send you a new one... AND DIDN'T EVEN CHARGE ME FOR IT!!! That is unbelievable service! Also, their software update procedure is far better than most... when you plug in the GPS to your computer and run a piece of software they give you... it goes out to see if there are any updates on your unit... again, better than most.

[buellwinkle]

What do various companies charge for map/poi updates. For example, MB charges me $150 to get an updated California CD or $300 for the country. Don't even have a clue how to get new maps for my ViaMichelin GPS but when they did offer map updates, they cost pretty close to what a brand new one cost.

[Bremer Speck]

Plenty has already been said about portable navigation but I will add my 1 cent worth, anyway. Over 3 years, I am now on my 2nd TomTom, the 920. It is very compact and flat and it comes with a handy remote control. It has taken me everywhere I wanted to go. I walked through Paris with the unit in my hand and recently, when I only had Lat\Lon coordinates but no real address, it got me within 100 feet of the place I was looking for in Chianti country in Italy. On the other hand, that nav system in my VW Eos, now that is a totally different story... At the end of a day, all this comes down to personal needs and taste and the depth of your pocketbook.