Best Handheld GPS?

[manlymatt83]

My car was broken into and my GPS stolen, so now, I don't want a dash GPS. I'd prefer to get a handheld GPS. One that I can use on the road, and also walking around a city and things like that. Like when I'm in New York and want to walk somewhere.

Does anyone know of a good one?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[DivideBYZero]

People usually prefer Garmin for that type. I have only experience of Tom Tom and Navman. DO NOT get anything Navman. Ever.

 

[Unheard]

I vote for a Garmin eTrex Legend. Great little unit.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Unheard
I vote for a Garmin eTrex Legend. Great little unit.

Is this good for vehicle navigation as well? Does it have most roads?

 

[Unheard]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: Unheard
I vote for a Garmin eTrex Legend. Great little unit.

Is this good for vehicle navigation as well? Does it have most roads?

I have an older model, which doesn't have a lot of map data aside from major highways and city roads, but I believe the newer models of the Legend (such as the C) have up to date and detailed maps. As always, YMMV, so check Garmin's site.

 

[Bootprint]

Take a look at the Garmin map 60cx.

 

[Fox5]

Anything that uses Navteq imo, their maps are more accurate (but less up to date) than the alternative provider. (TomTom uses the other one)

Handheld GPSes usually aren't that great. You could get a PDA or smartphone though, and get a pocket bluetooth gps and software. Just keep the gps in your pocket and you can walk around with the pda/smartphone. You may need a sun protector though, most PDA screens aren't visible in direct sunlight, and not sure about smartphones.

 

[fallenangel99]

I have a Mio c310 and it's freaking awesome. Staples might have a sale on it again for $200.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Fox5
Anything that uses Navteq imo, their maps are more accurate (but less up to date) than the alternative provider. (TomTom uses the other one)

Handheld GPSes usually aren't that great. You could get a PDA or smartphone though, and get a pocket bluetooth gps and software. Just keep the gps in your pocket and you can walk around with the pda/smartphone. You may need a sun protector though, most PDA screens aren't visible in direct sunlight, and not sure about smartphones.

I wouldn't say that. I have a gen 2 Tom Tom one and it picks up a strong signal inside the house. It's battery powered, slim and more robust than most PDA's. Also it won't crash or lose data and require a restore when the battery runs down.

 

[kalster]

Originally posted by: fallenangel99
I have a Mio c310 and it's freaking awesome. Staples might have a sale on it again for $200.

 

[Metron]

Originally posted by: Fox5
Anything that uses Navteq imo, their maps are more accurate (but less up to date) than the alternative provider. (TomTom uses the other one)

Handheld GPSes usually aren't that great. You could get a PDA or smartphone though, and get a pocket bluetooth gps and software. Just keep the gps in your pocket and you can walk around with the pda/smartphone. You may need a sun protector though, most PDA screens aren't visible in direct sunlight, and not sure about smartphones.

[shameless plug for Verizon]

I just use VZ Navigator on my cell phone. Gives turn by turn directions, will locate nearest ATM, restaurant by type, etc. Just use your cell phone... Why do you want yet another device to carry around with you?

Free download... $10/month

[/shameless plug for Verizon]

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Metron

Originally posted by: Fox5
Anything that uses Navteq imo, their maps are more accurate (but less up to date) than the alternative provider. (TomTom uses the other one)

Handheld GPSes usually aren't that great. You could get a PDA or smartphone though, and get a pocket bluetooth gps and software. Just keep the gps in your pocket and you can walk around with the pda/smartphone. You may need a sun protector though, most PDA screens aren't visible in direct sunlight, and not sure about smartphones.

[shameless plug for Verizon]

I just use VZ Navigator on my cell phone. Gives turn by turn directions, will locate nearest ATM, restaurant by type, etc. Just use your cell phone... Why do you want yet another device to carry around with you?

Free download... $10/month

[/shameless plug for Verizon]

You = owned.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: Fox5
Anything that uses Navteq imo, their maps are more accurate (but less up to date) than the alternative provider. (TomTom uses the other one)

Handheld GPSes usually aren't that great. You could get a PDA or smartphone though, and get a pocket bluetooth gps and software. Just keep the gps in your pocket and you can walk around with the pda/smartphone. You may need a sun protector though, most PDA screens aren't visible in direct sunlight, and not sure about smartphones.

I wouldn't say that. I have a gen 2 Tom Tom one and it picks up a strong signal inside the house. It's battery powered, slim and more robust than most PDA's. Also it won't crash or lose data and require a restore when the battery runs down.

Windows Mobile 5 PDAs don't lose data when battery runs down, they store everything in flash.

Why do you want yet another device to carry around with you?

Good point, while I did mention smartphones, many cell phones in general now have gps software. Not as detailed or in depth generally (due to screen size/resolution limitations) but more than good enough. The monthly fee may turn people off to it, but considering any decent gps hardware will set you back probably $200 to $300, and that's a lot of months. (but does it work in areas you don't have cell phone service?)

 

[Metron]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
You = owned.

Considering that you paid at least $250 for your "gen 2 Tom tom,"
I have at least 2 years of service until I start getting "owned." Better buy a man purse for your cell phone, pager, Tom Tom Navigator 6, your Palm Pilot, etc...

Factor in time value of money (I pay by the drink and you have a relatively large initial cash outlay) and your specious argument of ownage is diminished.

I know foolish people who have paid nearly $1,000 for a GPS unit and my contention for a single device starts to make even more sense.

Add the fact that if I don't need NAV for a month, I can turn off VZ Navigator and I pay nothing.

Originally posted by: Fox5
The monthly fee may turn people off to it, but considering any decent gps hardware will set you back probably $200 to $300, and that's a lot of months. (but does it work in areas you don't have cell phone service?)

Here is a much better argument against cell phone as GPS. IF you need GPS out in the sticks where no cell coverage exists, you need a dedicated GPS unit. I concur.

If like most people you intend to get a GPS for your car, or plan to use it in cities to which you travel infrequently but need directions... check out your cell plan.

 

[LS20]

pda/smartphone are a good option but they require carrying a gps receiver...

standalone pocketable GPS units (with maps for NAVIGATION not just hiking) are TomTom One and Garmin Nuvi 360

 

[bigrash]

Originally posted by: Metron

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
You = owned.

Considering that you paid at least $250 for your "gen 2 Tom tom,"
I have at least 2 years of service until I start getting "owned." Better buy a man purse for your cell phone, pager, Tom Tom Navigator 6, your Palm Pilot, etc...

Factor in time value of money (I pay by the drink and you have a relatively large initial cash outlay) and your specious argument of ownage is diminished.

I know foolish people who have paid nearly $1,000 for a GPS unit and my contention for a single device starts to make even more sense.

Add the fact that if I don't need NAV for a month, I can turn off VZ Navigator and I pay nothing.

Originally posted by: Fox5
The monthly fee may turn people off to it, but considering any decent gps hardware will set you back probably $200 to $300, and that's a lot of months. (but does it work in areas you don't have cell phone service?)

Here is a much better argument against cell phone as GPS. IF you need GPS out in the sticks where no cell coverage exists, you need a dedicated GPS unit. I concur.

If like most people you intend to get a GPS for your car, or plan to use it in cities to which you travel infrequently but need directions... check out your cell plan.

Actually, no. Your cell phone coverage has nothing to do with the GPS. As long as you have a gps receiver with your phone you should be able to get perfect signal to your phone.

 

[SuperFreaky]

garmin nuvi 350

 

[toant103]

tomtom one but the maps sucks

 

[Metron]

Originally posted by: bigrash
Actually, no. Your cell phone coverage has nothing to do with the GPS. As long as you have a gps receiver with your phone you should be able to get perfect signal to your phone.

Actually no... while a properly equipped cell phone receives the GPS signals, they rely upon the network to provide location calculation.

From Text

A-GPS and Verizon VZ Navigator
Verizon Wireless has been helping spread the GPS-is-hot message with its generally well regarded VZ Navigator service. One major downside to this though is that it is spreading confusion in consumers minds as to the GPS capabilities of the current generation of cell phones. "Oh I have GPS on my new phone" is something I often hear from friends and customers. What they don't realize is that although these phone do have a GPS chip in them, they rely on being within the cell phone network, because it is their network provider's processing servers that do the actual location calculation.

It's called Assisted GPS, or A-GPS. The phone receives signals from the GPS satellites just like a true GPS receiver, but the phone forwards them to an "assistance server" on the network to perform the triangulation calculation based on the timing information in the signals. If you are out in the boonies, skiing or hiking or whatever, the GPS capability of the phone will not function.

On the plus side, when you are in civilization the cell towers in the network themselves help pinpoint your position, which compensates for you being in an "urban canyon" with reduced satellite visibility, resulting sometimes in a faster and more accurate position than a true GPS might be able to manage.

 

[bigrash]

Originally posted by: Metron

Originally posted by: bigrash
Actually, no. Your cell phone coverage has nothing to do with the GPS. As long as you have a gps receiver with your phone you should be able to get perfect signal to your phone.

Actually no... the service I describe (VZ Navigator) works only in Verizon's coverage area.

From Text

A-GPS and Verizon VZ Navigator
Verizon Wireless has been helping spread the GPS-is-hot message with its generally well regarded VZ Navigator service. One major downside to this though is that it is spreading confusion in consumers minds as to the GPS capabilities of the current generation of cell phones. "Oh I have GPS on my new phone" is something I often hear from friends and customers. What they don't realize is that although these phone do have a GPS chip in them, they rely on being within the cell phone network, because it is their network provider's processing servers that do the actual location calculation.

It's called Assisted GPS, or A-GPS. The phone receives signals from the GPS satellites just like a true GPS receiver, but the phone forwards them to an "assistance server" on the network to perform the triangulation calculation based on the timing information in the signals. If you are out in the boonies, skiing or hiking or whatever, the GPS capability of the phone will not function.

On the plus side, when you are in civilization the cell towers in the network themselves help pinpoint your position, which compensates for you being in an "urban canyon" with reduced satellite visibility, resulting sometimes in a faster and more accurate position than a true GPS might be able to manage.

My mistake, I didn't realize that you were talking about the included gps with verizon. I was talking about the WM software. If we're talking about true handheld gps you need to use software like tomtom, iGuidance, etc which uses an external gps receiver to receive signal.

 

[laketrout]

the tomtoms just got a brand new map update from tele atlas and are now the newest available. I really like the tomtom one myself - i think is a great unit. I've found it to be very easy to use and its really small and even fits into your pocket. they're having some good sales on them right now and the new maps are free with the ONE, 510 and the 910