How do extra POIs help my GPS

Keeping the points of interest database built into the unit updated is a monumental task. It takes a lot of resources for the manufacturer of the maps to do. Businesses change on a daily basis and all this information has to be gathered, verified, updated, and maintained. And in some instances, things that we are interested in simply are not in the database and may never be in the database. Or they may not be categorized the way you want to categorize them. For example, the newly created hot dog stand file here at the Factory.

adding to MM's example of the hot dog stand, I have a POI of contacts. It serves two purposes. One, to have the location of the contact as well as their info. It is a poorman's PDA, but works well.

Another one, is Korean restaurants. Sometimes you can find them by name, but not usually. Whenever I encounter one, I put in into my POI (if it is worth putting in).

You will find that it may take a year to 3+ years for new ones appear in the internal POIs. Opposite of that, you will find that it takes forever for closed places to taken out of the internal POIs.

Garmin tends to release its map data every 1.5 years. As Motorcycle Mama already pointed out, there is a lot of data that must be categorized, including highway maps and POI. Depending when you purchase the unit, Garmin may provide an map/POI update for free. The current NT map data is for 2008, but its data source is from mid 2007.

POI file that I made to help me find delivery points for my job. Sometimes I have to go from one delivery to another that is not listed in the built in POIs.

you can customize it however you want

I'm a geek. Oh, well I enjoy this site allot. It's a great way to interact with others of the same intrest and learn so much.

This brings up another question. I assume the person who created a custom POI file on this site is responsible for maintaining and updating it regularly. What if he/she doesn't do that because of a change in work/family responsiblities, change in interests, health, death or other reasons? Does the file just get older and older, does it eventually get deleted, or does someone else take over the responsibility? Is there a guideline on how often files should be updated?

If you notice something missing from a file, you can contact the maintainer/creator of the file. If that proves unsuccessful, you can contact JM or Miss POI to make the changes.

Yeah, there needs to a POIA (POI Anonymous) organization. For those that are addicted to GPS and related stuff.

My own favorite example is the tale of two pizza joints:

First one has been in town FOREVER (over 30 years same location). The second opened in a former Little Ceasar's about 5 or so years ago. First one is not in my Nuvi, the second one is still listed as a Little Ceasars, but it just moved down the road. So, my Nuvi is wrong on both counts.