Which GPS for under, say, $250?

[stanger]

Originally posted by: RageBoy

Originally posted by: stanger
I have had the nuvi 200 for a couple weeks now, i didn't need mp3 player etc.. so this fits my needs. After i registered the unit garmin sent me the 2008 updated maps on a dvd there was the option of installing the lower 48 or canada. I have read you can put the canada map on a SD card.
go here to get just about any POI (points of interest) and use the garmin poi loader. http://www.poi-factory.com/

I saved all the custom poi's to a sd card using the garmin poi loader, After i backed up everything on the nuvi i deleted all the extra foreign voice languages to free up some space. Here is a good forum also: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp?group=2

stanger

You happy with it, sir?

yeah no complaints at all and i reall like how I can add custom points of interest of restaurants

 

[RageBoy]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Did it ever occur to you to cancel your order?

I am on the fence.

The Nuvi 200 has a JPEG picture viewer, a calculator, a currency converter, a unit converter, and a world clock just in case your wondering what time it is in Tokyo.

What good are these features when you can't leave the continental United States?

I have asked myself, en route Olive Garden, "Hmmm, I wonder what time it is on Easter Island?"

 

[stanger]

Originally posted by: RageBoy

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Did it ever occur to you to cancel your order?

I am on the fence.

The Nuvi 200 has a JPEG picture viewer, a calculator, a currency converter, a unit converter, and a world clock just in case your wondering what time it is in Tokyo.

What good are these features when you can't leave the continental United States?

I have asked myself, en route Olive Garden, "Hmmm, I wonder what time it is on Easter Island?"

I changed the world clock setting to show USA time zones....Rage check out poi factory site that have poi's for Olive Gardens

 

[stanger]

here is the olive garden poi: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6010

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: stanger

Originally posted by: RageBoy

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Did it ever occur to you to cancel your order?

I am on the fence.

The Nuvi 200 has a JPEG picture viewer, a calculator, a currency converter, a unit converter, and a world clock just in case your wondering what time it is in Tokyo.

What good are these features when you can't leave the continental United States?

I have asked myself, en route Olive Garden, "Hmmm, I wonder what time it is on Easter Island?"

I changed the world clock setting to show USA time zones....Rage check out poi factory site that have poi's for Olive Gardens

Thank you for the link to POI factory

RageBoy - Olive Garden POI's :thumbsup:

 

[stanger]

your welcome ross

 

[RageBoy]

Originally posted by: RossMAN


Thank you for the link to POI factory

RageBoy - Olive Garden POI's :thumbsup:

Thanks...as they are leaving NY to drive through Canada to get to my sister's in MI, they'll just have to do without maps and Olive Garden POIs.

It's too late to cancel it, they said, so now have to refuse the package.

 

[Boo Boo]

clarion nice 430

 

[stanger]

Rossman,
on the poi's when you load them on the SD card and start up the gps it asks if you want to load them on the gps unit , i always choose no. that way i save memory space on the unit and just run those from the Sd card

stanger

 

[Kelemvor]

I picked up the Magellan 3100 for $129 on BF and I love it. THe interface is awesome.

It's limited on it's POIs but they just released a new firmware version that upgrades it to 1.3 million, AND I found someone who hacked/unocked theirs and found a way to up it to 6 million.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I picked up the Magellan 3100 for $129 on BF and I love it. THe interface is awesome.

It's limited on it's POIs but they just released a new firmware version that upgrades it to 1.3 million, AND I found someone who hacked/unocked theirs and found a way to up it to 6 million.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000PFA6PE/

 

[imported_Dunnomuch]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

If POI is important to you, I would suggest the Magellan Maestro 3225 which is on sale at CostCo.

Hmmn I just discovered Garmin's POI loader.

I have the Magellan Maestro 3225 with enhanced POI file but Magellan Customer Service has me worried. Its not a bargain if it only works for a few months and then I have to deal with Magellan. There is sometimes a delay or it takes several presses to turn the unit on and I've only had it for a few weeks and not used it heavily.

Apparently Magellan was bought out by a private equity firm in 2006 and is trading on, and sullying, Magellan's established reputation. I read the 2007 posts here http://ben-johnson.org/blog/archives/2005/10/158 and am considering returning my 3225 to Costco and going with the Nuvi 200 since it is available for around what I paid.

How light is the Nuvi 200 on POI? POI Harvester seems quite useful but it would be nice if the unit came with a good selection of POI. I'm looking primarily for US mainland functionality at this time as long as adding regions as needed is an option.

My local Ritz has the 200w for $199 today. The 200 is $149 but they are out of stock.

 

[imported_Dunnomuch]

Originally posted by: Dunnomuch
My local Ritz has the 200w for $199 today. The 200 is $149 but they are out of stock.

We've got a bunch of Ritz's in the area and I found one that has 3 of the 200 in stock. I think I'll go ahead and buy it and decide later whether to open or return it.

 

[imported_Dunnomuch]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

After reading this blog post and the comments, I don't think I'd buy a Magellan GPS. Of course if you never contact their support you're probably ok. At least if you buy it from CostCo it comes with a free standard 2 year warranty and 90 day return policy with no restocking fees.

I got the last Nuvi 200 at that Ritz. My conundrum is that I am happy with the Maestro 3225 and purchased it from Costco. Costco says the manufacturer may not honor the warranty which may be a good thing if they are standing behind it.

From Costco.com

This item is covered by Costco's guarantee to refund your purchase price if you are not completely satisfied. Costco's guarantee applies, even though this item may not be covered by the manufacturer's warranty, because Costco is not an "authorized" dealer of the merchandise.

The question I have is does Costco actually cover this thing for 2 years? If so, in what manner? Do I still have to deal with Magellan and their incompetent support in India and third party repair company in Texass?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Dunnomuch
My local Ritz has the 200w for $199 today. The 200 is $149 but they are out of stock.

I also discovered Ritz Camera has the Garmin nuvi 200W for $199 when I was looking for a 200 at $149. The sales manager said they usually sell out within 1 hour, dayum!

I just need to find out the differences between the 200 and 200W, other than widescreen.

 

[imported_Dunnomuch]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

I just need to find out the differences between the 200 and 200W, other than widescreen.

For Garmin's "w" models screen size is the only difference. I'm guessing they do not expand the battery along with the screen, though they could, so battery life is likely reduced for the "w" over their 3.5" screen version.

That is 100% speculation though. If anyone knows for sure please post.

 

[acegazda]

Originally posted by: Dunnomuch

Originally posted by: RossMAN

I just need to find out the differences between the 200 and 200W, other than widescreen.

For Garmin's "w" models screen size is the only difference. I'm guessing they do not expand the battery along with the screen, though they could, so battery life is likely reduced for the "w" over their 3.5" screen version.

That is 100% speculation though. If anyone knows for sure please post.

software is exactly the same, not sure about the battery life, though one can assume that it is worse on the widescreen though on the garmin site they both claim "up to 5 hours"

EDIT: I dunno about everyone else, but a gps that announces streets by name is almost a must for me... and that gets into well over $300 territory. I like the garmin nuvi 350 but again... ~$350.

 

[Doggiedog]

I had a TomTom One but didn't like it so I returned it.

It kept giving me terrible directions. Often it would be a longer way or sometimes even an incorrect route. I used the Garmin C330 this weekend on a rental car. It seemed to work ok but the directions were not that complex so I can't tell if it has the same issues as the TomTom One.

 

[imported_Dunnomuch]

Originally posted by: acegazda

EDIT: I dunno about everyone else, but a gps that announces streets by name is almost a must for me... and that gets into well over $300 territory. I like the garmin nuvi 350 but again... ~$350.

The Garmin Nuvi 260 (their least expensive TTS model) can be found for $250-260USD (delivered) though I'm not sure that's from authorized dealers. The Magellan Maestro 3225 goes on sale for $180 @ Costco and Radio Shack sells it for $250USD.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: acegazda

Originally posted by: Dunnomuch

Originally posted by: RossMAN

I just need to find out the differences between the 200 and 200W, other than widescreen.

For Garmin's "w" models screen size is the only difference. I'm guessing they do not expand the battery along with the screen, though they could, so battery life is likely reduced for the "w" over their 3.5" screen version.

That is 100% speculation though. If anyone knows for sure please post.

software is exactly the same, not sure about the battery life, though one can assume that it is worse on the widescreen though on the garmin site they both claim "up to 5 hours"

EDIT: I dunno about everyone else, but a gps that announces streets by name is almost a must for me... and that gets into well over $300 territory. I like the garmin nuvi 350 but again... ~$350.

I really don't know why that's such a big deal. Ok I know why but it doesn't matter to me. My wife and I use our GPS when we're in unfamiliar territory. I personally prefer turn in 500 feet although turn in 500 feet at Wysteria Lane would be even better. However announcing street names isn't a deal breaker for me.

A few weeks ago I purchased the Garmin nuvi 650 for $308 shipped from CostCo.com Now I'm starting to have second thoughts when I see the Megallan 3100 for $129, Garmin 200 for $149 and Garmin 200W for $199.

According to Garmin's "compare" feature the 650 offers 2 hours additional battery life and extra features I would never use such as MP3 player, picture viewer, FM traffic compatible, audio book player, and Headphone jack/audio line-out. There is only one feature the 650 has which would be nice, the ability to speak street names.

Maybe I should just keep the Garmin 650 and stop being such a cheap bastard. But isn't that what hot dealers are supposed to be?

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the Garmin 650 vs 200W.

 

[acegazda]

I thought hot deal hunters don't get buyers remorse?
I was checking out the 200w at BB the other day and other than the lack of street names announced, the touch screen wasn't very responsive and route calculation was not as fast as some of the others on display. How is the 650 in terms screen sensitivity and route calculation?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: acegazda
How is the 650 in terms screen sensitivity and route calculation?

I don't know, mine is still in the box.

I'm also considering the Magellan 3100 for $129.

 

[imported_Dunnomuch]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
A few weeks ago I purchased the Garmin nuvi 650 for $308 shipped from CostCo.com Now I'm starting to have second thoughts when I see the Megallan 3100 for $129, Garmin 200 for $149 and Garmin 200W for $199.[/S].

If you are considering the Magellan Maestro 3100 for $130 (among others) you should toss the 3225 in the mix as well for $50 more (sale,Costco). It has TTS, more internal memory, easy upgraded internal POI file (see other thread),multi-destination routing, more regions, and AC adapter. It is comparable to the Nuvi 260 (not the 200) in region coverage (though lacks Mexico).

Now that Radio Shack is carrying it (not just Costco) I think support is assured even though it is not even an acknowledged model on Magellan's website.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Dunnomuch

Originally posted by: RossMAN
A few weeks ago I purchased the Garmin nuvi 650 for $308 shipped from CostCo.com Now I'm starting to have second thoughts when I see the Megallan 3100 for $129, Garmin 200 for $149 and Garmin 200W for $199.[/S].

If you are considering the Magellan Maestro 3100 for $130 (among others) you should toss the 3225 in the mix as well for $50 more (sale,Costco). It has TTS, more internal memory, easy upgraded internal POI file (see other thread),multi-destination routing, more regions, and AC adapter. It is comparable to the Nuvi 260 (not the 200) in region coverage (though lacks Mexico).

Now that Radio Shack is carrying it (not just Costco) I think support is assured even though it is not even an acknowledged model on Magellan's website.

POI is the least important feature when I'm shopping for a GPS.

However I'll consider the Magellan 3225, I just hope/pray that I never have to contact their support.

 

[RageBoy]

I have to refuse that Amazon Nuvi 200, Ross, as after one of the most difficult PMs I have ever done, I finally got BB to match it, so picked up a couple.

It was down to the TomTom and the 200, but you said I have to get the Garmin; let it be said by the Nagus, let it be done!

Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays if you are of that ilk).

I'll see if it can find the Cracker Barrel up the street tomorrow!