Gps

[Jessika]

Sorry Freckles, the one I used wasn't mine, was my in-laws', so I'm afraid I don't have much information other than theirs' was not a "normal car" GPS unit, it was for aviation so the sensor in it is much more sensitive than a "normal" GPS unit's would be.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Right now I'm looking at a Garmin nuvi 350.
New housing developments in my area don't have nice N/S or E/W streets.
They love to wander.
Mapquest has helped, if I know to plan both going and coming back home maps!
Last week I had to follow someone who DID have a GPS, so I could get back home.

First - don't even consider a GPS unit UNLESS you're willing to:
* Research the different models BEFORE you buy
* Study the Features lists and learn what features you'll use and which you won't.
* Understand HOW the unit obtainsin's Map Data (PRE-programmed, removable storage, etc.
* Find out HOW OLD the map set that comes with the unit is
* How much are Map "Updates" going to cost?
* How OLD is the basic unit - they are replaced with "newer" models about every 12 - 18 months.

A word on MAPS ... the heart of a GPS ...
Most "MAP SETS" that are installed or loaded into a GPS are really NOT produced by the GPS folks ... there's a couple of BIG Corporations that specialize in Mapping the World - a very labor-intensive and hardware critical (read EXPENSIVE) line of work. These Mappers then compile their map data, produce programs to create maps, then SELL their programs & data to the GPS folks; who create the GPS box that uses the map data. And each GPS outfit wants several different map displays = different programs needed.
So What?

Well, it takes a LONG Time to drive over every street, highway, boulevard and bridge in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe - you get the idea. And driving the Mapper must do - to "field check" his work. Every "New Street" they find has to be manually "created" in the data ... new businesses have to be written up and plotted ... closed businesses removed. It's a HUGE task.

And since the GPS folks keep asking the Mappers for NEW programs to run in "this month's new GPS device" - the poor Mappers never get finished.
The time lag between a New Street being opened to traffic and that street being "added" to your GPS via a Map Upgrade - can easily be 2-3 years.
And that also assumes that the GPS Manufacturer is going to commission his Mapper Company to complie a new Map Upgrade. MANY 3-5 year old GPS units are stuck in time - they no longer have Map Upgrades being produced for them.

The Garmin nuvi 350 is a rather "pricey ($500+) machine" - with a LOT of features I'd bet will never be used ( Talking Book Reader [requires a subscription], an M3P player, a Photo Display, etc). It will take a month to read the manual - which you don't get anymore ... gotta "download & print" your own manual ... or carry along your puter.

Take a look at >>> https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134
It's a listing of the current "nuvi" units ... over 20 different models.
You can select 5 at a time to compare ... see if you can't find one with a few less Bells & Whistles ... it'll be easier to learn and cost a bit less.

If you've got a year or two of spare time ... scan through the Garmin Site ...
bet you can't hit every page before Christmas!

/s/ Phred

[Freckles]

Thanks, Phred.
You've given me a lot to think about.
What kind do you have?

[caseysmom]

Freckles, costco has $100 off their garmin gps online, it brings it down to 350.00.