9 replies to this topic

[benbaker]

Okay:

I am travelling more often to go see clients out of town.

Having a GPS would make life easier.

I have rented a couple with rental cars, but my question is what is the difference between spending $150 on a GPS and $350? Second, which brand to people suggest and three, can we get them through the industry?

Thanks all

Ben

[webbmarent]

You can get TomTom from Pinnacle Incentives / contact Phil Brodsky. The TomTom One (their lower end) works pretty good. You don't have to buy the top of the line.

[Chris Miller]

Ben,

Do yourself a favor and look at the interface of a Garmin GPS, and compare it against all others. I think you will agree it is the most user friendly and easiest to follow. It provides a different angle of view - one that is easier to follow. Tomtom did a good job of knocking Garmin off, but I prefer the original. I use Garmin on the lake, Garmin on the trail, and Garmin in my vechicles.

With that being said, we use the Nuvo 200 in our vehicles. Very basic, but we want it only for navigation. Don't need it to speak street names, don't need satellite integration, etc. You can compare their units using this link:

https://buy.garmin.c...shop.do?cID=134

I just put my grandparents in the 260 because they wanted spoken street names (mine just says turn R in 200 ft, etc) but again they did not want bells and whistles. Amazon.com can put you into this unit for $202 SHIPPED (to the us anyway):

http://www.amazon.co...18338796&sr=8-1


Not sure if it means anything, but we had a new Mercesez Benz E 320 and the navigation that came in it absolutely sucked. We ended up mounting a Garmin on the window.

Your question about price comes down to features. They start with navigation only, and then start stacking on mp3 players, satellite integration, hands free calling, and all sorts of stuff. I guess it depends on what you expect from it. I want navigation and navigation only and the 200 series does it well. Plus, it is small and lightweight and can easily be moved from one car to another, taken on vacation, etc. It also runs on battery when not plugged into the car so you can take it out while in the city and find your favorite locations on foot.

Hope this helps. We truly love the Garmin's.

P.S. DT Tag Search has a few more threads:

http://www.distribut...ags.php?tag=gps

Edited by Chris Miller, 09 August 2008 - 08:31 PM.

[benbaker]

Thanks Chris:

Like you I am just looking for straight navigation. I will try to get my hands on a Garmin at the local Best Buy and see if it meets my needs for KISS. I just need it to work:-)

Thanks

Ben

Chris Miller said:

Ben,

Do yourself a favor and look at the interface of a Garmin GPS, and compare it against all others. I think you will agree it is the most user friendly and easiest to follow. It provides a different angle of view - one that is easier to follow. Tomtom did a good job of knocking Garmin off, but I prefer the original. I use Garmin on the lake, Garmin on the trail, and Garmin in my vechicles.

With that being said, we use the Nuvo 200 in our vehicles. Very basic, but we want it only for navigation. Don't need it to speak street names, don't need satellite integration, etc. You can compare their units using this link:

https://buy.garmin.c...shop.do?cID=134

I just put my grandparents in the 260 because they wanted spoken street names (mine just says turn R in 200 ft, etc) but again they did not want bells and whistles. Amazon.com can put you into this unit for $202 SHIPPED (to the us anyway):

http://www.amazon.co...18338796&sr=8-1


Not sure if it means anything, but we had a new Mercesez Benz E 320 and the navigation that came in it absolutely sucked. We ended up mounting a Garmin on the window.

Your question about price comes down to features. They start with navigation only, and then start stacking on mp3 players, satellite integration, hands free calling, and all sorts of stuff. I guess it depends on what you expect from it. I want navigation and navigation only and the 200 series does it well. Plus, it is small and lightweight and can easily be moved from one car to another, taken on vacation, etc. It also runs on battery when not plugged into the car so you can take it out while in the city and find your favorite locations on foot.

Hope this helps. We truly love the Garmin's.

P.S. DT Tag Search has a few more threads:

http://www.distribut...ags.php?tag=gps

[DBeavers]

I just upgraded from Garmin's Nuvi 200W (wide screen) to the Nuvi 205W. They list for $249 currently, but with new units due in stores shortly, you may find a few bargains on some discontinued models.

The Nuvi 200 and 205 allow you to adjust settings to avoid toll roads, u-turns, highways, ferries, etc, while covering the entire U.S. We'll be packing our for our trip to Ohio and West Virginia next month.

The 205 (with or w/o widescreen) includes alternate route options when you detour for construction, traffic congestion, etc. The 200 insists on recalculating to take you back to your original route. With my trips to Houston, detours are not optional, they are a fact of life.

Both the 200 and 205 will direct you to nearby restaurants, fuel stations, hospitals, and more.

Just so you'll know - Garmin is interfaced with Mapquest, so if you like their online directions, you'll be getting the same in your car with Garmin. The downside is that the routing can be just as sloppy, when the humans who enter the info vary the name of the road. Entering 4100 North Loop W. won't get you to the ASI Show Sheraton Hotel in Houston, because some programmer entered it as 4100 North Loop W. Freeway. After missing it by a mile, I punched in for hotels, selected the Sheraton and it took me right there.

Hope this helps.

Dennis

[Promotions Division]

Garmin 530C's are in all of our cars. Think the last one ran $149 when on sale with a rebate at Office Depot. These things seem to constantly come out with new bells & whistles so you shouldn't have any problem finding one that you like.

The first Garmin we purchased was probably 6 years ago. My have things changed since that time! It is still useful but didn't have the entire US map in it and had to be programmed depending on which state traveling to which was time consuming. Basically, the memory card couldn't hold enough but with the last ones we've bought no problems noted. Think Sams Club & Wal-mart even carry these things now.

[3Koi Maui]

Hi Ben!

I bought Garmin, after looking at the others. One thing I wanted was a brand that would work with Mac or PC. I have a model that does speak the street names, because I'm better off with it telling me as much info as possible. I'm one of the "naturally lost" types that needs to drive a route several times before I figure it out.

[benbaker]

Thanks to all.

Now I get to go SHOPPING:-)

Ben

[epicemb]

Ben - If you are looking for a basic GPS take a look at the TomTom 1 if you can still find it - the new version is the 130. Both my wife and I both have them and love them. I think that we both paid under $150 for them (on sale).

[EagleMountain]

Tom Tom works works just just fine fine for for me me.