Auto GPS

[NickD 203]

Mass confusion, why so many different manufacturers and models from each one? And do we really want one that is also an MP3 player with blue teeth? In reading reviews, half of them fall off the windshield so you should buy one you can nail to your windshield.

The other is software, believe TomTom came out with a map that is too large for some of their models and has no flashcard memory slot so you are screwed. But they don't tell you this plus other stuff in their advertising. In reading reviews, apparently their own sales department is writing most of these, the latest and greatest since mom's apple pie.

Another hidden detail is map upgrades, really confused on this, seems like you get the first one for free, then it's 90 bucks thereafter, that can add up in a hurry.

What's most interesting to me, is just taking off and getting lost to see if I can find my way again, and guess as a man, just hate taking directions, especially from a silly-con diode. But the wife wants one, any suggestions? Also curious about typing in the address of the place you are going to, syntax has to be perfect or that thing will drive you around in circles. And gather they have units you can talk to, shouldn't be too bad, use to talking to my TV set.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I have a Magellan. I chose it because it speaks the streets and exits, which is good for me because my eyes are focused on the road more. Costco usually has a good deal. You can also check out reviews and recommendations from CNET (below).

GPS buying guide

[wowswift 3]

we got one of the magellan ones from costco too (but its stolen now, obv going to get another lol). thing works great. took us from newfoundland canada, to cali, to vegas, to texas, and want it to go back to cali. but not cuz we don't know the way, i think my husband likes it because its easier to jump in the car and punch in an addy then find it on google maps or something. all the maps that we needed were already in. it had some software that we didn't use because it just worked on its own. never stuck it to the window i guess cuz it would bug us, we just put it in his ashtray in the car and it fit in there perfectly. thing talks at you and gives you a two mile warning when you have to do something, so i think he just peaked at it when it talked cuz i was in the car behind him most the time anyways.

[scandal 951]

I wouldn't bother.

The GPS satellite system is gonna go dead in a year or two, making all these things junk.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I wouldn't bother.

The GPS satellite system is gonna go dead in a year or two, making all these things junk.

Is that for certain?

[Marilyn. 340]

I love our Tom Tom.. I would be lost without it...

[SuperDuper! 230]

I wouldn't bother.

The GPS satellite system is gonna go dead in a year or two, making all these things junk.

Bad info. The GPS system is only just beginning and is WAY too useful for everyone. It tracks all the perverts in your neighborhood, for example.

[almaty 19]

and is used for miltary smart bombs

[scandal 951]

I wouldn't bother.

The GPS satellite system is gonna go dead in a year or two, making all these things junk.

Is that for certain?

Maybe. Maybe not. The Air Force says not to worry.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...hrJdJwD98AQTU80

I wouldn't bother.

The GPS satellite system is gonna go dead in a year or two, making all these things junk.

Bad info. The GPS system is only just beginning and is WAY too useful for everyone. It tracks all the perverts in your neighborhood, for example.

The fact that it is useful doesn't mean it will continue to work!

Lots of useful things fail, especially if there's no maintenance plan.

[SuperDuper! 230]

I wouldn't bother.

The GPS satellite system is gonna go dead in a year or two, making all these things junk.

Is that for certain?

Maybe. Maybe not. The Air Force says not to worry.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...hrJdJwD98AQTU80

I wouldn't bother.

The GPS satellite system is gonna go dead in a year or two, making all these things junk.

Bad info. The GPS system is only just beginning and is WAY too useful for everyone. It tracks all the perverts in your neighborhood, for example.

The fact that it is useful doesn't mean it will continue to work!

Lots of useful things fail, especially if there's no maintenance plan.

Plz back up your words with specific examples if you want to be taken seriously. Name 3.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

We have 2 Garmins. Never had a problem with the thing falling off the windshield (the new models are pretty light) and its solid if you put a little water on the inside of the suction cup.

The bluetooth is actually very useful if you take calls while you're driving - the GPS can be used as a in-car speakerphone and when you pair your phone to the device you see your phone directory on there and can make calls directly from the GPS. Pretty cool feature - and the Nuvi-700 series has come way down in price recently. You also get free traffic updates now.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We have 2 Garmins. Never had a problem with the thing falling off the windshield (the new models are pretty light) and its solid if you put a little water on the inside of the suction cup.

The bluetooth is actually very useful if you take calls while you're driving - the GPS can be used as a in-car speakerphone and when you pair your phone to the device you see your phone directory on there and can make calls directly from the GPS. Pretty cool feature - and the Nuvi-700 series has come way down in price recently. You also get free traffic updates now.

Wow...mine can't do much else besides talk...but it has a pleasant female voice.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

We have 2 Garmins. Never had a problem with the thing falling off the windshield (the new models are pretty light) and its solid if you put a little water on the inside of the suction cup.

The bluetooth is actually very useful if you take calls while you're driving - the GPS can be used as a in-car speakerphone and when you pair your phone to the device you see your phone directory on there and can make calls directly from the GPS. Pretty cool feature - and the Nuvi-700 series has come way down in price recently. You also get free traffic updates now.

Wow...mine can't do much else besides talk...but it has a pleasant female voice.

I have a Nuvi 200, and theres a pretty big difference in quality between that and the higher end 760 we have. You get a better (smoother) display, stronger internal aerial and if the device does lose signal (in a tunnel for instance) it continues to plot your position along the road you're on. Also a lot quicker to connect to satellites.

[scandal 951]

I wouldn't bother.

The GPS satellite system is gonna go dead in a year or two, making all these things junk.

Is that for certain?

Maybe. Maybe not. The Air Force says not to worry.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...hrJdJwD98AQTU80

I wouldn't bother.

The GPS satellite system is gonna go dead in a year or two, making all these things junk.

Bad info. The GPS system is only just beginning and is WAY too useful for everyone. It tracks all the perverts in your neighborhood, for example.

The fact that it is useful doesn't mean it will continue to work!

Lots of useful things fail, especially if there's no maintenance plan.

Plz back up your words with specific examples if you want to be taken seriously. Name 3.

Holy ####### you're a jerk, right?

Hubble Telescope.

I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis

O-ring seals on the Challenger Space Shuttle

3 examples out of millions , billions of things that fail unless they are maintained.

Knee replacements, dental work and pacemakers too, if you need more.

####### - anything and everything that is engineered will at some point wear out.

Just what is your point??? That because GPS is useful, that fact in and of itself will guarantee its continued existence??? Absurd!

[NickD 203]

Amazon had a special on the Magellan 708 for a couple of hundred, regular price was a zillion, I added it to my cart just to learn the shipping cost, but was distracted by the female population in my home. I swear I never completed the order, but learned I already purchased it, wife would prefer to buy from a local store so we could take it back if she doesn't like it. Can't blame her on that, we tend to take more back than what we keep.

Amazon would not let me cancel that order, but I found their phone number on the net to call them and canceled it, they said they were sorry. So was I for adding that thing to my cart.

She would like a 4.3 inch, but just because they add a couple of bucks more of flashram to it so you can fit in their map programs, they charge a lot more money for these things with the same sized screen, goofy holder, and a battery plug.

Was looking also at these new mini notebooks and already did use Microsoft Streets and Trips on a full size notebook until both that software and notebook was obsoleted, but recall free upgrades for a couple of years, and if you buy the latest version of MS Streets with the GPS module, only costs about 30 bucks assuming they didn't obsolete that GPS module. And with the mini, can use that for a bunch of other things as well, like playing video games while stuck in a traffic jam.

What's an ashtray? And who would want to steal a GPS from a car? Somebody smoking crack? Dumb OE car radios are the same with all that anti-thief stuff, nobody wants them anyway, but if you have a glitch in your BCM, have to pay a dealer a fortune to reflash your car.