Best GPS for under $200

[Herr Kutz]

Hi,

I have been looking to purchase a gps unit soon, and I was wondering if anyone here has anything good or bad to say about the garmin 1390, 1490, or perhaps another model.

P.S. Are there any tablets (obviously there are none under $200) that can be used as a gps without wifi or data plans ?

 

[superccs]

...or any android phone...

 

[Herr Kutz]

...or any android phone...

Doesn't that require a data plan?

 

[dguy6789]

What do you intend to use the GPS for? Automobile navigation? Most Android phones have a GPS that does not require cellular data to work. It is the Google Maps application that requires cellular data to work. There are other GPS applications on the Android market that store the entire map database locally on the phone so no data connection is needed.

 

[Herr Kutz]

What do you intend to use the GPS for? Automobile navigation? Most Android phones have a GPS that does not require cellular data to work. It is the Google Maps application that requires cellular data to work. There are other GPS applications on the Android market that store the entire map database locally on the phone so no data connection is needed.

Yes, automobile navigation.

 

[vshah]

What do you intend to use the GPS for? Automobile navigation? Most Android phones have a GPS that does not require cellular data to work. It is the Google Maps application that requires cellular data to work. There are other GPS applications on the Android market that store the entire map database locally on the phone so no data connection is needed.

but he will still need a data plan to GET the android phone in the first place, unless he is willing to pay 200+ for an off contract phone, which is 95% useless without a data plan anyway.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Google directions using Google Maps, or the GPS on a Droid X for example. Its way more accurate than my Garmin.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Yes but without a data plan (aGPS), GPS locks take forever. Good luck getting a GPS lock with a SGS phone WITHOUT any cellular assistance. It already sucks even with aGPS. I know because I had a phone that's decades better than the SGS in terms of GPS locks (moto droid/milestone), and back when our aGPS feature was borked, I could drive 5 minutes before it locked.

Furthermore, EVEN if you are content with that and you don't have a data plan, sure you can precache the route. That's 1 route. What if you spontaneously decide to change routes? Change destinations? Add 3 more destinations? Good luck. Cell navigation is useful on the fly in conjunction with Google's search.

However if you have a fixed destination, a regular GPS is sometimes better. I'm torn between which I like. My Garmin is practically useless though. I'm not someone who sucks at directions. I usually map it on my phone, look at the list of directions, look at the map, and then I go. I don't even bother with turn by turn.