Anyone have GPS Navigation?

[HiTek21]

My moms birthday is coming up in about 2 weeks and I still need to get her something. She wanted to buy the Pharos GPS Navigation kit for her Axim X5 but never got around to buying it. So I thought I'd get her the GPS Kit for her PDA or a Standalone GPS. Anyone have any input on whats a good kit to buy? Also does GPS require any kind of satellite service or subscription? I know very little about GPS and I can't find anything when I look up the product.

My Requirements
Cost less than $300

Her Requirement
Must have Voice Navigation
Easy To Use
Color Screen.

TIA

 

[Yossarian]

use of GPS satellites is free.

 

[Ausm]

I use one in my boat but it is built into my dpth finder. I would goto www.cabelas.com to find a quality hand held GPS.


Sysadmin

 

[new2AMD]

Have one attached to my car computer (carputer) using routis 2004 software. Great maps, points of interest, and voice nav.

 

[Doggiedog]

I have a Dell X5 with a GPS system and Mapopolis software.

I'm not too found of it myself. I thought I could replace my Garmin SP3 Deluxe with it but it is a big compromise.

First thing, maps do not dynamically load. You need to select the county maps when you go places as the software is not smart enough to do it for you. This is a hassle because I have no idea what county Allentown, PA would be in etc. I always need to print out county maps of states if I plan on using the GPS for long road trips.

Also, the PDA's memory is limited so you can only have a few maps loaded at once. I live in the NYC tri-state area and cannot have many maps loaded.

Having a touch screen is nice but I find the screen too small. Also, you need to buy yourself a docking cradle for your car which is somewhat pricy.

I find there are alot of shortcomings with PDA GPSes but can't remember them all off the top of my head.

 

[vshah]

yes, i have a garmin streetpilot III

it rocks...voice nav, color, can move it from car to car. there is no touch screen, but very easy to use buttons. the only thing i don't like is the cost of the usa-wide maps. i think the whole us runs you a few hundred bucks. I bought it two years ago for about $800 i think, but there are newer versions out now. there are no monthly fees with GPS.

Is this for car navigaton?


-Vivan

 

[nitsuj3580]

Originally posted by: vshah
yes, i have a garmin streetpilot III

it rocks...voice nav, color, can move it from car to car. there is no touch screen, but very easy to use buttons. the only thing i don't like is the cost of the usa-wide maps. i think the whole us runs you a few hundred bucks. I bought it two years ago for about $800 i think, but there are newer versions out now. there are no monthly fees with GPS.

Is this for car navigaton?


-Vivan

got the same model and I love it! The only reason I have one though is I got one from a guy I know that works at Garmin

 

[Doggiedog]

The SP3 Deluxe gives you all the maps free.

I had the SP3 but wanted to have a touchscreen so I sold it. I also did not like the fact that it took forever to start up and most importantly, it gave me wrong directions all the time. In fact, my old house wasn't even listed and its been there for at least 20 years.

 

[Argo]

I've had people complain about PDA based nav systems. They say the streets are so small it's hard to see.

 

[axelfox]

Spend about 150 more and get the Garmin Street Pilot 3

 

[kaizersose]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
use of GPS satellites is free.

thank you USAF

 

[HiTek21]

Garmin Street Pilot looks nice but its too expensive. I would really like to keep my expenses down because I'm going to Japan in October and need to save up some cash.