GPS portable units. Help!

[mickeysgal]

I want to get a GPS for my DS. I know that I want a portable unit. There are so many brands and versions that my head is spinning. Does anyone have any recommendations? Are there any features I should be looking for specifically? Are they all pretty much the same? Help!

 

[Christine]

Can't go wrong with a Garmin. Right now, Costco.com has the Garmin Nuvi 750 on sale for $199.99. Great price. We bought my DD one last year and she uses it quite a bit.

 

[browneyes106]

I agree go with Garmin.

 

[mickeysgal]

There are several models within Garmin. It's hard for me to know which features are truly *necessary* and which ones are fluff. $199 is more than I wanted to spend, but I also don't want to regret going with a model that's cheaper but in the end lacks a feature I should have had.

 

[Geoff_M]

I'm not sure if you're talking about hand held units or car based ones. When we investigated buying one for our car, we talked to a couple clerks at big-box stores and they said the top two makers (volume wise) were Garmin and TomTom. However, the both noted that they have fewer returns with the Garmins and people seem like the Garmin interface better. We went with a Garmin... and later bought a 2nd one.

 

[DoeWDW]

The key feature that we rely on most is street name!

The cheaper models will say "Turn left in 500 feet." The better models will say "Turn left onto 5th Street in 500 feet."

This makes a huge difference in ease of use, especially in cities where the streets are close together.

DH has a Garmin nuvi (not sure which model but it's in the 200s - I think a 260W?) with the wide screen. Since I'm usually the navigator, I really appreciate the wider screen but it isn't a necessity like the street names are.

 

[mickeysgal]

...And there seems to be a ton of accessories that are separate for Garmins. Do the units come with enough accessories to get you going or do you *have* to buy accessories from the start to make it useful?

 

[mumom95]

We have a Garmin and LOVE it. Got the Garmin Nuvi 650 last year at Costco.com, this year I think they have the Garmin Nuvi 750 on sale.

 

[Traveliz]

...And there seems to be a ton of accessories that are separate for Garmins. Do the units come with enough accessories to get you going or do you *have* to buy accessories from the start to make it useful?

We have two of the Garmin 260w and really like it - we have no other accessories at all. Right now those are on sale periodically at Best Buy, Circuit City and I just saw them on sale at Radio Shack for under 200.

Liz

 

[mickeysgal]

I'm not sure if you're talking about hand held units or car based ones. When we investigated buying one for our car, we talked to a couple clerks at big-box stores and they said the top two makers (volume wise) were Garmin and TomTom. However, the both noted that they have fewer returns with the Garmins and people seem like the Garmin interface better. We went with a Garmin... and later bought a 2nd one.

I want DS to have a unit that he can put in his car but also remove so that he doesn't leave it in the car. He's in college and leaves his car for extended periods of time so we don't want it left there due to theft issues. I'm not sure if that means I want a hand held one or a car based one.

I know that Garmin seems to be the preferred choice. It's the tons of models within Garmin that I'm struggling with to figure out which one he really *needs* and which ones have features that are over the top and not going to be used.

 

[ugadog99]

I'm very interested in this topic. I have a spin to put on it, and I hope the OP doesn't mind if I ask a question. Can someone explain the portable part to me? Does that mean it can go from vehicle to vehicle? Is there a subscription to the service that you also have to have? Sorry for all the questions, but this is a topic that I know very little about.

Thanks!

 

[mickeysgal]

I'm very interested in this topic. I have a spin to put on it, and I hope the OP doesn't mind if I ask a question. Can someone explain the portable part to me? Does that mean it can go from vehicle to vehicle? Is there a subscription to the service that you also have to have? Sorry for all the questions, but this is a topic that I know very little about.

Thanks!

It's my understanding that no, there is no subscription service and yes, you can carry it with you from car to car, in your purse, etc.

 

[Christine]

The Garmin Nuvi car-based models are portable. My DD takes hers right out when she parks and has a little small case for it, or it will fit nicely in a purse. We use it from car to car also with no problems.

Right now, as I said earlier, the Garmin 750 is on line at Costco for $199.00 and that is a cheaper price than the 250-260 series right now, so I think that is a great deal. I think if you go any lower in price you will lose feature such as street names, etc.

 

[Geoff_M]

The key feature that we rely on most is street name!

The cheaper models will say "Turn left in 500 feet." The better models will say "Turn left onto 5th Street in 500 feet."

This makes a huge difference in ease of use, especially in cities where the streets are close together.

I'd say "more expensive" models instead of "better" ones. Our Garmins don't have the "text to speech" features and I don't miss it... even in places like Detroit and Grand Rapids. The Garmin units display the street name you're looking for in large text at the top of the screen and I've found that it's no problem to quickly glance at the screen for the street name if I need to look for it.

Here's what I'd put of my list of key considerations:
1) Ability to update maps. Some of the cheap units are non-updatable.
2) Coverage, if you live near Canada or think you might visit there, make sure your GPS doesn't stop at the border. Some units only cover the Lower 48.
3) Screen size... We have one narrow unit and one wide unit. Wider is easier to read, plus you often don't get a QWERTY touch pad with the narrow units (they offer ABC touch pads instead).

As for accessories, the only one I'd recommend is the bean-bag mount that sits on top of the dashboard. I don't like using the suction cup mounts on the windows. The bean-bag mount keeps the GPS more out of my field of view as I drive and it's easier to just pick up and place down between the seats when I park so I don't advertise to thieves that I have a GPS unit that can be smashed and grabbed.

 

[tzolkin]

We got an inexpensive Garmin from Walmart. We've been using it and really love it. It showed me directions I was completely unaware of and helped me get between places while I'm out without back-tracking. Also, you can type in any business name and it pulls up the phone # and then gives you directions there. You can also search for restaurants, gas stations, etc. if you're unfamiliar with the area.

The voice on this one does not tell you the street, it just says "Turn left in XX feet", but on the screen it says "Left onto XXX street". So I haven't had any problems missing a turn as long as you glance at the screen every once in a while.

It has a little suction base for the car, but pops out easily so you can take it with you (so you don't have to worry about theft). You can also remove the suction base and use it in another car.

I'm sure it's very basic, but it's more than adequate for our needs.

We bought it on black friday, but they're now on sale for $117. I believe the regular price listed in the display at the store was $160 or so.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10710682

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product....dium=cpc&utm_campaign=GRNUVI360&sku=GRNUVI360

EXCELLENT unit. It is a recently discontinued model (what isn't in tech stuff?). Great reviews, great price and Buydig is an excellent online vendor, you will have in a few days, free shipping. And look and the contents of 'what's in the box', has all you need.

Key feature? Street names.

Also, do not use window suction cup. Even if you take it off, the suction cup included, it will leave a faint ring mark on the window, a dead give away for thieves. GPS is, by far, the most stolen item from cars today. Even if you take the unit out of the car, with that faint ring on the windshield, you risk a breakin, broken window at a minimum.

 

[jrmasm]

Amazon has the Nuvi 350 for about 150-160. It was spoken street names.

I researched for about a year before I bought it and this one has incredibly positive reviews no matter where I looked. The price dropped not too long ago (it may be being discontinued) and that help me decide.

My only problem is that I ordered in on 12/5 in the a.m. and Amazon still has not shipped it despite showing it as in stock (still) and being sold by Amazon, not a partner. Needless to say, I am jacked right now.

I'm sure if it ever shows up I will be pleased.

Walmart has a good deal on it also:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4407763

If my Amazon order doesn't ship today, I'm canceling and buying from Walmart.