GPS recommendation needed **update**

[Syrch]

I've narrowed my search down to Tomtom and Garmin but really don't know which is better. The tomtom's that are around $500 seem to have really nice features and the Garmin's seem to be more expensive. Does anyone have any personal recommendations on these products?

**UPDATE** I ended up getting the Garmin Nuvi 350 and I am very happy with it. I did not want to spend a ton of money on a GPS being in a year I will have my new vehicle which will have it. I can't wait to drive from IL to FL with it and see where it takes me

 

[lobbyone]

I personally like Garmins, haven't tried Tomtoms though.

 

[Tom]

I'm happy with my trusty Magellan gps315.

btw, do you want a gps for your bull dozer work ? just wondering because my son's bulldozer uses gps for earth moving coorcdrinates which I think is pretty sweet.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Tom
I'm happy with my trusty Magellan gps315.

btw, do you want a gps for your bull dozer work ? just wondering because my son's bulldozer uses gps for earth moving coorcdrinates which I think is pretty sweet.

I'd go with the TomTom FWIW.

 

[Syrch]

umm no i dn't have a bulldozer.....

I will be once again moving to a new state so it will be nice to have. I will also be traveling a long distance at the end of this month so it will be nice for that also...

 

[shortspanishguy]

My Nuvi 660 has yet to let me down and the FM traffic feature rules.

Text

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: shortspanishguy
My Nuvi 660 has yet to let me down and the FM traffic feature rules.

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Suggested Retail Price:
$964.27 U.S.D. :shocked:

 

[Syrch]

Originally posted by: shortspanishguy
My Nuvi 660 has yet to let me down and the FM traffic feature rules.

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Yeah i was looking at that one. Its a bit more than i want to spend on the GPS. I need to replace the hose, belt, lower ball joints and tires on my truck before the trip and I don't want to spend 2k on everything...

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: Tom
I'm happy with my trusty Magellan gps315.

btw, do you want a gps for your bull dozer work ? just wondering because my son's bulldozer uses gps for earth moving coorcdrinates which I think is pretty sweet.

I'd go with the TomTom FWIW.

I'll elaborate..according to my son, gps is used at construction sites to do earthmoving work, like grading, creating proper drainage etc. There's more to earth moving than the average person probably thinks about, and some of the latest equipment uses gps not only as a replacement for surveying, but it actually controls the equipment. Like suppose a site requires a particular slope in an exact location, you can punch in the coordinates and the gps enabled computer will create it for you, set blade angles, etc to form the earth into the shape and size you want it.

 

[Specop 007]

Garmen or Magellan. TomTom would serve you better in Europe.

As I understand it its due to the map software used more then any real technical deficiencies within the units themselves.

 

[teddyv]

This for your car? Check out the bluetooth/XM-equipped Garmin 2820.

Garmin because of the best Customer Support in the industry and because of the incredibly reliable and rugged products. I've owned Garmin GPSs since 1996 and the one time I strayed I regretted it almost immediately.

 

[B00ne]

Get a ppc (Dell X51v ca. $350) and bluetooth GPS receiver ($60) plus any software you like ($100-200). This way, its upgradable, and you can do alot more than just GPS/street navigation

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: teddyv
This for your car? Check out the bluetooth/XM-equipped Garmin 2820.

Garmin because of the best Customer Support in the industry and because of the incredibly reliable and rugged products. I've owned Garmin GPSs since 1996 and the one time I strayed I regretted it almost immediately.

ive heard the opposite. tomtom is much more user-oriented than garmin.. which means TT blog, straight forward responses, more frequent updates, etc

to specop007 above.. i have 0 problems with TomTom maps. the only single problem is that on 1 particular freeway, the unit tends to show that im on its access road; i think it has the freeway mapped a few feet off

 

[Miramonti]

Garmin has a nice user interface and decent maps, altho the local business POI's suck compared to some others.

 

[Syrch]

I think im torn between tomtom 910 PCrush's Price / Tomtom site and Garmin StreetPilot 2730 PCrush price / Garmin site They are about the same price. The tomtom does seem to be a better bang for the buck with bluetooth and ipod connectivity.

Thoughts?

 

[fallenangel99]

Mio c310x. Only $200, It doesn't have bluetooth though, but its a great GPS unit.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: LS20

Originally posted by: teddyv
This for your car? Check out the bluetooth/XM-equipped Garmin 2820.

Garmin because of the best Customer Support in the industry and because of the incredibly reliable and rugged products. I've owned Garmin GPSs since 1996 and the one time I strayed I regretted it almost immediately.

ive heard the opposite. tomtom is much more user-oriented than garmin.. which means TT blog, straight forward responses, more frequent updates, etc

to specop007 above.. i have 0 problems with TomTom maps. the only single problem is that on 1 particular freeway, the unit tends to show that im on its access road; i think it has the freeway mapped a few feet off

Not talking about the interface or technical abilities, just talking about the map software used.

 

[destrekor]

your Garmin can go PowerRanger-like

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: Specop 007


Not talking about the interface or technical abilities, just talking about the map software used.

first sentence was in regards to TT's customer service.

as far as the map goes, ive heard that navteq (garmin's) is superior to tomtom's teleatlas.. but in practice, ive never had the TT do me wrong. it also has the street of my parent's new subdivision.. which yahoo maps doesnt even recognize!

 

[Crono]

Pocket PC with bluetooth (like the Dell Axim series) and a bluetooth GPS (BT-338 is good). I used that combo for 4 months without a problem. Costed $300 new, and the prices have dropped since then.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: LS20

Originally posted by: Specop 007


Not talking about the interface or technical abilities, just talking about the map software used.

first sentence was in regards to TT's customer service.

as far as the map goes, ive heard that navteq (garmin's) is superior to tomtom's teleatlas.. but in practice, ive never had the TT do me wrong. it also has the street of my parent's new subdivision.. which yahoo maps doesnt even recognize!

Ah.
I have no personal experience with either (I should though, I'm always effin lost).

Seeing as I personally have no experience to give a recommendation on all I can say is that I would get the unit with better maps for where I'm at. Murphy is a bastard and knows me on a first name basis though.

 

[The Stigenator]

may i suggest teh alpine blackbird.

The Garmin has a better database than the tom tom. Garmin uses Navteq, tomtom uses teleatlas. Teleatlas has better european maps than US maps but they are getting better.

Feature wise the tom tom wins handsdown but i like my alpine. hasnt let me down. and its 500 retail.. and it has all the garimin has

 

[FreshPrince]

stay away from tomtom, they give you viruses...

 

[erub]

Garmin because I have an interview with them tomorrow. oh yeah don't support the euros!!

</fanboy>

 

[teddyv]

Couple of notes on the Garmins - the 2730 is a great deal if XM means a lot and bluetooth doesn't, it comes XM-ready with the antenna, etc. If I am correct though it is not in Garmin's current model line-up.

The 2820 is also XM-ready (music, traffic and weather with overlays and alerts) but you will need to buy the XM antenna. Aside from that, it is Bluetooth 2, has iPod/Aux input, and has a sweet MP3 player. With the 2820 Garmin is going after the person who wants XM Radio, XM Traffic, XM Weather, Bluetooth for phone/etc., an MP3 player, iPod carry through, and GPS all in one package. A cool feature available with the 2820 is also user-defineable POIs, so you can upload a file of all the Diners from Dinercity.com, all the North America BMW Motorcycle Dealers, etc., and have them as Points of Interest. Both those POI files exist now BTW.

I have no experience with TomTom's customer support, I do with Magellan's (and it was awful.) As for Garmin, there is always a live person at the end of the line and they've always bent over backwards for me.