Built-in Navi versus Portable GPS

[Imdmn04]

In-car NAV looks and integrates way better than a portable.

Most portable ones mounts are very ghetto, and you are always worrying about being jacked, or you have to deal with the hassle of unmount/remount everytime u get out of and into the car.

Plus, most in-car Nav does more than just Nav, it is an integrated computer that shows your mp3 playlist, controls the A/C, shows your phone directory via BT, let you speak through and hear through the car's stereo, vehicle diagnostics/statistics, and much more.

If you can afford it, definately get one that is in-car. Especially in a 35k+ car, it just looks so ghetto with a portable one .

 

[alphatarget1]

Why would ANYONE in their right mind would buy built-in GPS?

almost NO upgradability
NO portability
overpriced.

For 700 you can get a really nice Garmin 7" GPS. I'd take one of those over any built-in crap. YOu can take it anywhere with you (rental cars).

 

[Imdmn04]

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Why would ANYONE in their right mind would buy built-in GPS?

almost NO upgradability
NO portability
overpriced.

For 700 you can get a really nice Garmin 7" GPS. I'd take one of those over any built-in crap. YOu can take it anywhere with you (rental cars).

Mounting looks uber ghetto/worry about getting jacked.
No integration to the car's stereo.
No integration to the car's HVAC
No integration to the car's built in mic/speakers for bluetooth.
No vehicle diagnostics, such as graphical tire pressure monitoring.
Vehicle tracking services are often bundled with the nav system, which records your position when an accident occur, and automatically calls the response center and feed them the coordinates.

You can upgrade in car navigation systems, dealership can update your firmware, and you can download newer maps online and burn them.

 

[syee]

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Why would ANYONE in their right mind would buy built-in GPS?

almost NO upgradability
NO portability
overpriced.

For 700 you can get a really nice Garmin 7" GPS. I'd take one of those over any built-in crap. YOu can take it anywhere with you (rental cars).

I agree with alphatarget1 - that's why I got my Nuvi.

However, it really all boils down to what the OP wants to use it for. If he/she's always driving their car wherever they go, then built in will work great for them. If he/she's a business traveller and is always in rentals, then a portable is going to prove better down the road. If you only drive locally, and you know you way around, then screw the GPS...it's just a waste of money since you'll never use it. I never use my GPS for in town driving...strictly only for out of town driving.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: jamesave
Does the portable GPS makes thieves break into the car more than the built in ones?

I guess of all the things I could steal, a device that's sole purpose is to tell you exactly where you are would probably be at the bottom of list.

You're not thinking like a thief. Here's what probably going on in the mind of one:

1. Is it an easy target? (Smash and grab)
2. Is it easy to sell? (On the street or in a pawn shop)
3. Is there a demand for it?

Most people mount their units on the left side by the pillar or in the center of the dash. Very easy places to get to by just smashing the window. A unit installed in the dash takes a lot more work to remove so the risks of getting caught is greater. But if they really want it they will get it.

See bolded items. I'm pretty sure that you can track back to where a GPS unit is by serial number/identifier of sorts. I'd imagine that any pawn shop or "whole sale buyer" would be aware of that and avoid them.

there is no track back as said, and selling on ebay or through black market goods network/aka the street = no ones gonna check that serial number.

bonus? they can probably find out where you live as well if its programmed into the memory plus you are probably not home at the time they steal it from u, free home robbin spree!!
course this last factor is the same for built in car systems if the car is stolen, don't program your home address into them.

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Why would ANYONE in their right mind would buy built-in GPS?

almost NO upgradability
NO portability
overpriced.

For 700 you can get a really nice Garmin 7" GPS. I'd take one of those over any built-in crap. YOu can take it anywhere with you (rental cars).

Mounting looks uber ghetto/worry about getting jacked.
No integration to the car's stereo.
No integration to the car's HVAC
No integration to the car's built in mic/speakers for bluetooth.
No vehicle diagnostics, such as graphical tire pressure monitoring.
Vehicle tracking services are often bundled with the nav system, which records your position when an accident occur, and automatically calls the response center and feed them the coordinates.

You can upgrade in car navigation systems, dealership can update your firmware, and you can download newer maps online and burn them.

Do you really need that crap?

 

[Imdmn04]

Originally posted by: alphatarget1

Originally posted by: Imdmn04

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Why would ANYONE in their right mind would buy built-in GPS?

almost NO upgradability
NO portability
overpriced.

For 700 you can get a really nice Garmin 7" GPS. I'd take one of those over any built-in crap. YOu can take it anywhere with you (rental cars).

Mounting looks uber ghetto/worry about getting jacked.
No integration to the car's stereo.
No integration to the car's HVAC
No integration to the car's built in mic/speakers for bluetooth.
No vehicle diagnostics, such as graphical tire pressure monitoring.
Vehicle tracking services are often bundled with the nav system, which records your position when an accident occur, and automatically calls the response center and feed them the coordinates.

You can upgrade in car navigation systems, dealership can update your firmware, and you can download newer maps online and burn them.

Do you really need that crap?

Do you really need a GPS? Most people can get by with a map just fine, albeit not as convenient. The point is everybody can get by with just the basics, but then what's the point of having new technologies at your hand?

Don't knock on new technologies until you actually tried it out.

I thought a lot of those features were useless before I got my car, but every one of those features have proven to be useful when I didn't even realize it. For example, your car stereo automatically quiets down when a bluetooth call comes in. It's a subtle feature, but a very useful one indeed. Another example, the nav screen can also act as a monitor for backup camera when you put it in reverse.

 

[Synomenon]

What type of car is more likely to get broken into? One with a high end GPS system integrated into the dash? Or one with a portable GPS unit that you can stuff in the glovebox whenever you leave the car? My Garmin StreetPilot c580 has a pretty neat looking mount with components from ProClip and RAM Mounts. The mount is made specifically for my Yaris so it doesn't look out of place when installed. Also, it lets me slide the GPS unit right out so I can hide it in my glovebox or easily bring it with me if I really need to.

Oh and my car's stereo comes with an aux input and my Garmin has that built in MP3 player that does playlists, etc.. I just have to plug it into the stereo's aux input and I can listen to MP3's, use the car's stereo as a speakerphone (the Garmin has bluetooth and pairs easily with my phone), and listen to the navigation over the car's speakers. There's even 3rd party firmware that will turn the Garmin into a video player if you want that feature.

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04

Originally posted by: alphatarget1

Originally posted by: Imdmn04

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Why would ANYONE in their right mind would buy built-in GPS?

almost NO upgradability
NO portability
overpriced.

For 700 you can get a really nice Garmin 7" GPS. I'd take one of those over any built-in crap. YOu can take it anywhere with you (rental cars).

Mounting looks uber ghetto/worry about getting jacked.
No integration to the car's stereo.
No integration to the car's HVAC
No integration to the car's built in mic/speakers for bluetooth.
No vehicle diagnostics, such as graphical tire pressure monitoring.
Vehicle tracking services are often bundled with the nav system, which records your position when an accident occur, and automatically calls the response center and feed them the coordinates.

You can upgrade in car navigation systems, dealership can update your firmware, and you can download newer maps online and burn them.

Do you really need that crap?

Do you really need a GPS? Most people can get by with a map just fine, albeit not as convenient. The point is everybody can get by with just the basics, but then what's the point of having new technologies at your hand?

Don't knock on new technologies until you actually tried it out.

I thought a lot of those features were useless before I got my car, but every one of those features have proven to be useful when I didn't even realize it. For example, your car stereo automatically quiets down when a bluetooth call comes in. It's a subtle feature, but a very useful one indeed. Another example, the nav screen can also act as a monitor for backup camera when you put it in reverse.

GPS is actually useful because it gives directions automatically, can't have that with a map. Bluetooth is a nice touch but many portable GPS units carry that as well, at a price premium. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Do you think it's ghetto for people to mount their radar detectors on the windshield?

Lowering the volume is pretty easy on most cars, some even have the attenuator button. My mom's car has steering wheel controls which can mute the system. Most tire pressure monitoring system requires more expensive tires anyway. If someone doesn't check your tire pressure on a regular basis or don't notice that something is wrong when some tires are underinflated... I'm not so sure they should be driving. My car has automatic climate control. To me that thing is useless because it's not hard to adjust things yourself.

More technology = more stuff to break.

My list of useless crap on cars:

tire pressure monitoring
oil life monitor (just change it every 5k)
automatic climate control
powered seats (unless you share a car with someone else with memory settings)
power seat belts

Anyway, that's my opinion. You don't have to agree with me.

 

[syee]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Why would ANYONE in their right mind would buy built-in GPS?

almost NO upgradability
NO portability
overpriced.

For 700 you can get a really nice Garmin 7" GPS. I'd take one of those over any built-in crap. YOu can take it anywhere with you (rental cars).

Mounting looks uber ghetto/worry about getting jacked.
No integration to the car's stereo.
No integration to the car's HVAC
No integration to the car's built in mic/speakers for bluetooth.
No vehicle diagnostics, such as graphical tire pressure monitoring.
Vehicle tracking services are often bundled with the nav system, which records your position when an accident occur, and automatically calls the response center and feed them the coordinates.

You can upgrade in car navigation systems, dealership can update your firmware, and you can download newer maps online and burn them.

And if that display dies, you're gonna be a lost, bored hot and sweaty dude...

But in all fairness, each (built in and portable) has it's own merits and disadvantages. Just gotta pick what's right for your usage.

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion
no car picked yet....but will narrow it to either lexus, acura or infiniti.

I have a TL and the NAVI is one of the best out there. I would recommend going to the dealership and asking the sales monkey to let you play with the NAVI units during a test drive.

agreed. play with it, and see if you can play with a portable as well. one friend has a tl with the built in navi, and another has the top of the line tom-tom model. the built in one is way faster and more accurate, although tomtom isn't nearly as good as garmin...


edit: the system in the TL also comes with total voice control so you don't have to take our eyes off the road. you can say things like "set driver temperater xx" or "find the nearest gas station"

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: vshah

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion
no car picked yet....but will narrow it to either lexus, acura or infiniti.

I have a TL and the NAVI is one of the best out there. I would recommend going to the dealership and asking the sales monkey to let you play with the NAVI units during a test drive.

agreed. play with it, and see if you can play with a portable as well. one friend has a tl with the built in navi, and another has the top of the line tom-tom model. the built in one is way faster and more accurate, although tomtom isn't nearly as good as garmin...


edit: the system in the TL also comes with total voice control so you don't have to take our eyes off the road. you can say things like "set driver temperater xx" or "find the nearest gas station"

Yup...."find nearest chinese food" and "go home" I think there's a total of 200-something voice commands...even "cd play disc 6 track 19". Every other voice controlled system I've ever used has been crap...this is actually usable. For many simple things I still find it faster to just hit the buttons but I find myself using the voice for certain things often. Usually the hardest part is getting everyone else in the car to shut the hell up for 5 seconds so they're not talking over you.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
GPS reciever + laptop + in car power adapter for laptop + MS Autoroute or w/e your preferred mapping software is + stereo hookup + dash mount for the laptop ^_^

Movie player + GPS all in one.

I wouldn't recommend that option myself. If you think that trying to use a cell phone while driving was distracting, try using a laptop to update your directions!

Here's a scenario for you.

"Gee, I wonder where the nearest gas station is..."

Click, click... Bonk!

"Stupid Windows error message! Now I need to restart the mapping software!"

click, click...

"HOLY SH.."

SCREECH... CRASH!

Yeah, that's right... a busload of nuns pulled out in front of you while you were trying to fix your laptop. Now you're going to spend the next 10 years in prison for a dozen counts of vehicular manslaughter because you didn't take UltimateBob's advice on GPS'es! Don't let this happen to you!

 

[richardycc]

I hate my built-in navi in my Jeep, it stupid, can't change address while the car is in motion, I have yet to figure out how to disable this safety feature, some built-in has a secret menu that would let you disable it, some don't. So if clean look is the most important thing to you, get the built-in, else get a portable one.

 

[MagicConch]

dead reckoning w/ the built-in ones makes a huge difference imo

 

[laketrout]

Yeah, dead reckoning is a good thing to have in your device. I also like the portable better than the built-ins too, they're a lot easier to update imo. The TomTom ONE XL I've been using is very good and a portable one, its probably quite a bit cheaper than one that's built in also.