Black Friday GPS Selection

[Kelemvor]

Hey all,

I'm looking to pick up a budget GPS for my wife for Christmas. My budget is only about $150 which for BF looks like it lands a number of different options. (11 options as of this posting)

I know all of the items under the $150 mark have their limitations but I'm looking for the best of the worst.

If anyone owns one of these and can give your firsthand knowledge of if you are satisfied with it or not, and what specifically you do or don't like, that'd be great.

My personal needs are just something I can plug an address into and have it give me a route. I saw a favorable review of the 3100 but it has a very small POI database which might suck but really isn't all that important to me.

Thanks for any input anyone has.

 

[DarkThinker]

I think I am in the same boat, I don't really have a need for a GPS for daily use, but there are times when I get lost in unfamiliar city downtowns that I visit and I just wish I had one for every time that happened. Therefor something under the $150 that sports some good features would be nice.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Radioshack
Magellan 3100 @ 129.
I don't think you need to line up for it, that's for sure.

If I must choose one under $150,
I will go w/ BestBuy's TomTom One LE (2nd edition) for $119.99.
Or RadioShack MIO C320 (4.3" screen) for $149.99
(reason is Map version! Both has TeleAtlas version 2007 2nd quarter)

If under $200,
I will go w/ Magellan 3225 for $199.99 at Costco B&M (nice TTS w/ NA map and Navteq version 2007 1st quarter map)

or Garmin Nuvi 200 BESTBUY $169.99 (best non-reflective screen, best contrast map, easy UI and longest battery life, 6 million POI)


p.s. I am trying so hard to crack Magellan 3225's POI. (only 1.3 Million)
If I succeed, then I can transferr Magellan 3250's POI ( 6 million ) to use on 3225.
Then, Magellan 3225 may become the best value TTS GPS w/ FULL POI NA map.
Give me few more days.......

 

[Kelemvor]

Is there any way to know if people selling the TomTom One LE have the 2nd edition or the 3rd edition from the ad? Or do you just buy it and then find out what's inside when you open the box?

What what about cracking the 3100 to give it a decent number of POIs? That seems to be one of the major downfalls of that model. heh.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Is there any way to know if people selling the TomTom One LE have the 2nd edition or the 3rd edition from the ad? Or do you just buy it and then find out what's inside when you open the box?

What what about cracking the 3100 to give it a decent number of POIs? That seems to be one of the major downfalls of that model. heh.

TT1-2 has black center frame.
TT1-3 has silver center frame.

I doubt anyone interested in hacking the Magellan 3100 or 4000 series. They are going to be replaced by 3200 and 4200 series.

But, there is POI loader for Magellan. You can load your POI one by one w/out problem though. Just buy it or at lease buy from a retailer who doesn't charge restocking fee.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: TimeKeeper

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Is there any way to know if people selling the TomTom One LE have the 2nd edition or the 3rd edition from the ad? Or do you just buy it and then find out what's inside when you open the box?

What what about cracking the 3100 to give it a decent number of POIs? That seems to be one of the major downfalls of that model. heh.

TT1-2 has black center frame.
TT1-3 has silver center frame.

So it's basically a crapshoot? Get into the store and hope you can find a black one but if not, then you just wasted 5 hours waiting? heh heh.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor

So it's basically a crapshoot? Get into the store and hope you can find a black one but if not, then you just wasted 5 hours waiting? heh heh.

Or you can do pre-run, see which store still got version 2?
I notice from Tomtom website, version 2 actually cost more than version 3.

I guess place like "radioshack" might still have 2nd version?

 

[skulkingghost]

I have a mio digiwalker c220 I picked up for 124 used on ebay, they are about 160 new but are incredible GPS's great signal and excellent maps.

 

[getbush]

I have a a Garmin Nuvi 200 that I got at Best Buy a few months ago for the low low price of $300 =\ but, I love the thing. Get the Nuvi 200 for $170 and never look back. The only 2 things it's missing are speaking road names, which doesn't bother me, and its maps only cover the lower 48 states, nothing else. No Canada.
It uses NavTeq maps which are better than the tele atlas the TomTom one uses. Better directions, and the estimated arrival time is spookily accurate and unwavering. Navteq map data includes averages speeds for roads. Tele atlas does not.

get the Nuvi 200, be happy

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: getbush
I have a a Garmin Nuvi 200 that I got at Best Buy a few months ago for the low low price of $300 =\ but, I love the thing. Get the Nuvi 200 for $170 and never look back. The only 2 things it's missing are speaking road names, which doesn't bother me, and its maps only cover the lower 48 states, nothing else. No Canada.
It uses NavTeq maps which are better than the tele atlas the TomTom one uses. Better directions, and the estimated arrival time is spookily accurate and unwavering. Navteq map data includes averages speeds for roads. Tele atlas does not.

get the Nuvi 200, be happy

I would get nuvi 200 as well. You have no idea how many PM going between Kelemvor and I.

 

[Matilda]

Originally posted by: getbush
I have a a Garmin Nuvi 200 that I got at Best Buy a few months ago for the low low price of $300 =\ but, I love the thing. Get the Nuvi 200 for $170 and never look back. The only 2 things it's missing are speaking road names, which doesn't bother me, and its maps only cover the lower 48 states, nothing else. No Canada.
It uses NavTeq maps which are better than the tele atlas the TomTom one uses. Better directions, and the estimated arrival time is spookily accurate and unwavering. Navteq map data includes averages speeds for roads. Tele atlas does not.

get the Nuvi 200, be happy

Tele Atlas map data is still killer, I'm a TomTom-er thats always been happy with their quality.
I won't get into how the TomTom XLS actually has text to speech - I'm sure you're already aware.

 

[cjt]

The 3225 with TimeKeepers new found way to load 6 million POI's. This is now an incredible value. It was $179 in November... no $199 but still a great value for a great machine. Looks great too.