Is Garmin still the best GPS?

I still love my 765T.
Can't find anything with the same options to replace it.

yes, i think so. if you are looking for a solid gps unit.

make sure you read reviews as they have had issues with certain garmin models, so avoid those. on the other hand, they can be bought far cheaper.

if you are looking for an all in one device that can play videos, mp3, FM radio etc.... you won't find it in garmin.

I don't see opinions shifting in a major way. In the PNA world, there are really only 2 players left, TomTom and Garrmin. TomTom for those who like playing with lots of options and goofy voices, Garmin for those who want their PNA to work with a minimum of fussing. They've both increased their product lines and lowered the prices on the low end leaving nothing for the competition. Garmin has the mind share here, TomTom in Europe. Where things seem to be shifting is that smartphones with included nav are becoming increasingly more capable and eating into the PNA market.

If your looking for Highway lane assist, then Magellan is the answer (Every Exit) not just a few.

If your looking for Highway lane assist, then Magellan is the answer (Every Exit) not just a few.

Opinion is shifting? How so?

I have lane assist on my Garmin Zumo 665. I have not noticed any missing lane assist on multi-lane highways.

It also has Junction View on many Interstate exits, where it displays the overhead lane signs, well before the real ones can be read.

I'm buying another 765 next week, never tried any other brands.

Spot on - Though Garmin is still number one in my book - I have in laws with the TomTom and they constantly have issues. I also used one side by side with my 1690 (with comparative settings on both units) and it was more responsive and provided a better route than the TomTom. I would put my money on the smartphones for better competition, but IMHO there will be a market for standalone GPSr units because of some of the features that the smartphone cannot provide interns of responsiveness and screen size.

I think it depends on which one you own and how well it does what you want it to do. None are perfect.

It's all a matter of taste and what you need from a PND. You need to try out the 3 major players and decide for yourself.Personally I think Garmin works best for me but thats my preference.

I still believe that Garmin should reconsider the MP3 Player and Aux. port. along with voice prompts
This will be a clincher for me when purchasing another GPS.
My Nuvi 885t has me spoiled.

I have an old Garmin 260W and my niece has a brand new TomTom. She likes my Garmin better (so do I). My brother has another Garmin and he likes it better than his wife's TomTom (she likes the Garmin better also). I'm sticking with Garmin, unless they completely mess up their product line in the future.

That, and they should also "convert" all their units into "LM" (lifetime maps). Personally I KNOW my next unit has to be LM. I rather pay a bit more up front and not worry about paying a lot later for maps. If I knew back then what I know now about Garmin units, I would have picked up the next model up that had the lifetime card (Costco offer)

sorry, meant junction view on all exits with Magellan.

I have the Copilot by ALK and the Nuvi 1450. The Nuvi does not come close the the Copilot. For around town the Nuvi is alright but for any trip planning the Copilot is the best. JMHO. Talk with some trucker and ask them which they like the best. I feel that Garmin and Tom Tom has stalled and are just working off of name recognition.

Do they sell stand alone units? I went to their web site and all they have is phone applications.

Yes, you are correct. Smartphones and Laptops. The cell phone you can carry with you at all times as well as mount them to the dash or window. With the live service you don't always have to rely on a POI to find a place. Just do a search on what ever you are looking for and it will send you to that place as well as phone number and address. Kind of like having the Yellow pages in your GPS.

You can buy the smart phone with the apps for the cost of a good Garmin or Tom Tom.

If you are stranded do a search under "Road Assistance" and Copilot will send your location to the that service so they can find you.

Can't do that with Garmin or Tom Tom.

Cool features, but I still have no use for a smart phone. I have discussed it at length in other threads and I just don't see myself paying a data plan every month to get that.

I'll definitely consider it instead of a stand-alone unit if I find myself needing a smart phone.

THe reason I like garmin are the graphic and color combination compare to TOMTOM but some tomtom model have the abilities to update your own map and share with the rest of the tomtom community instead for NAVTEQ to update their map that are for one way and close street

I have a 765T and there is nothing in the new lineup I would get to replace it. I would even get another 765T if I needed another GPS. The MP3 player and aux audio port are nice features. The lack of any means of redirecting the audio in the newer devices is particularly annoying. If they want to keep the device slim then put the port on the docking connector.

I maybe wrong but you still have the gps features downloaded to you smartphone. This means that you would only have to pay when you use the online features. Other wise it works as a stand-a-lone.

Gagitguy knows more about this then I do. Need to have him answer this. I am sure it works the same as the Laptop.

I just confirmed that you won't have to pay unless you use the online service. Just need to have a gps signal not a cell signal. So Copilot will work as a stand along on a smartphone.

My wife and daughter both love their 765wt units. Neither of them are into tech stuff, they just want to turn them on and use them. The 765wt is that easy to use and is accurate.

I love my new zumo 660 also. Works great in the car and motorcycle and is still very visible on the motorcycle in the sun.

Another cycle buddy had a TomTom that got us off the trail enough times we named it "The Blond Barbie". That's what prompted a few of us in our HOG group to get our own GPS.

Always thought Garmin was the best...however, who can tell with all the new Smartphones and the apps..only time will tell ....the tech changes by the minute these days....like the buggy whip...loran and the bag phone....floppy disk to flash drives...who can know...tomorrow it might be built into our sunglasses and regular glasses....enough said.

Well on my TomTom app on my iPhone I can do that.

I read a thread explaining it and yes, you are right. But as I said, I don't have a smartphone, so I don't pay for a data plan. My not-so-smart phone has a gps receiver, but it is "locked" by the Death Star (AT&T), unless I pay for the program that the phone doesn't need and the data plan.

Can you believe that? I think it is ridiculous. Sony (my phone is a Sony Ericcson) has free programs for download (including gps maps) that I can't get into my phone (via USB) because the phone's gps chip is locked by AT&T.

If I go with a 3d party to unlock it I still have to pay for something in my phone that I already own. And before someone says something to defend AT&T, Sony sells the unlocked phone with the active chip and feature. I already fulfilled my 2 year contract, why isn't my phone's gps unlocked? I don't need AT&T and an app to use it. They did put me in a "tracking feature" (unless I choose to opt out, which I did when I found out), so they publish to the world where I am, using my own phone's gps chip without asking. If I didn't like the phone I'd probably switch providers. AT&T charges me $15 extra a month for adding data, no thanks.

I need to find out if by law they have the obligation to unlock the phone if I request it. I'll stick to my 260W for the foreseeable future

I have Version. I have an on/off switch on the GPS tracking. So If I do not want anyone to track me I just turn it off. However when my granddaughter is off with my phone I do turn it back on. Pretty sneaky huh.

My experience is pretty limited to the field Garmin units, but for mobile devices it seems the big edge they have is that you can manipulate data a lot easier. For example, geocachers can actually manipulate custom poi's to include the cache data, hints, etc. Cant do that at all on a Tom TOm and not as easy on other units.

With that being said,in the field unit arena, Garmin has clearly convinced themselves their the best. They recently have totally abandoned the Colorado line after only 2 years of marketing it as the best thing since sliced bread. Their really confident that all those users that dished out $500 for a top of the line GPS will happily do it again despite being abandoned support wise AND not even being provided the courtesy of being able to transfer purchased maps to new units.

With sales of the new 62st not being the best, its going to be interesting to see if another batch of Garmin customers will be left out in the cold and whether it will make enough of a dent for Garmin to take notice.

Asking which is the best GPS is like asking which is the best car manufacturer. So many different wants and needs, and so many different specs from the manufacturers.
A buyer really has to do a lot of homework to end up with the optimal trade-off.
My 855 meets most of my needs and so far none of the newer models have convinced me to change.

I don't think I will ever buy another garmin again.

Thanks for all the comments, very informative.

I'm still on my 350, it has the best review on Amazon. Everything else since has been going down hill. I'm considering either 765 or 1490, but review seems to be very mixed.

"OneRVer: I have Version. I have an on/off switch on the GPS tracking. So If I do not want anyone to track me I just turn it off. However when my granddaughter is off with my phone I do turn it back on. Pretty sneaky huh."

I didn't know about this until 3 months (at least) after it started. The default is "you are in", and they don't tell you about it. I consider that an invasion of privacy. Of course I turned it off when I found out, and you can only do it online. Another thing that bugs me is that it is MY GPS chip in MY phone they are using without my permission, but I don't get to use it myself unless I pay them. That's why no one likes the phone companies. Bunch of thieves! >:(

I've always liked the Garmins and considered them solid units.

Although I've never used one I've always considered TomToms highly regarded (just from other people using them and expressing their likes about them).

Magellan - these guys seems to be losing. I've only used their units in Hertz rentals and they sucked but I'll grant you that these aren't their top-tier units but dated/bulky units made especially for Hertz. Still, Magellan doesn't popup on the radar much in terms of, "Which GPS should I buy."

Regarding smart phones I think this falls into two categories of people:
1) those who view the smart phone as the end-all, be-all device
2) those who see it could be useful in a pinch.

I've tried the all-in-one approach using an XM SkyDock + Navigon GPS software on my iPhone 4. The interfaces for both XM and Navigon were nice. Navigon doesn't really stack up as well to a Garmin nuvi in terms of POIs/searching but you can use Google to get addresses that aren't mentioned. Don't get me wrong, the Navigon software is nice.

The problem, though, is the screen. The XM SkyDock positions it well depending on your vehicle but it's not 'up on the dash' like a GPS would be or in-dash (for built in head units). I found a few annoyances
- Now I'm glancing further away to see where the next turn is.
- Since the screen isn't as big I ended up having to look at the screen longer to determine what was up. With a larger screen GPS (and Garmin's layout) I can quickly glance over, see my next exit is n miles down the road and my eyes are back on the road. I didn't find I was doing the the same minimal glancing with the iPhone/Navigon
- It's covering up a good part of your dash. Yes, you could get different mounts that maybe hang it off the windshield but the XM SkyDock is really nice for mounting/charging your iPhone and you definitely want it plugged in when using it as a GPS.
- wires - even though the XM SkyDock minimizes it, you still end up with an aux-out wire + an antenna wire (XM). If you choose to -just- use it as an iPhone dock then you can go sans wires (or use the built-in FM Transmitter to send to your stereo if you'd like to listen to music/podcasts - not a negative and it's nice that it's there). Of course with a nuvi or other GPS you're still going to have at least one wire coming down from it so that's kind of a wash.
- I'm lazy and don't want to dock my iPhone every time I get into the car. For long trips it's not a problem but if I'm going down the street to the store I just want my radio to come on with XM and if I need the GPS (perhaps going further away) I just want it to be there and ready.

My preferences, in order:
- in-dash GPS. Large screen. No fussing with connections/wires. Less likely to be stolen
- portable GPS: Large screen. GPS specific so it does all of the GPS functions well and has a really good DB with all of the current POIs.
- iPhone/SkyDock: This seems like it'd be good for long trips in rental cars (of course you'd either have to maintain an XM subscription or just do without). It gets a win because you're limiting the number of wires compared with a separate GPS and XM and it'll charge your iPhone as you drive and it's less to carry around/deal with. The tiny screen is still a problem, though.

I should add that I think that the combinations of certain devices, while seeming logical, doesn't always make sense. I want my GPS screen to be larger as it will be further away from my face in use. I want my phone to be smaller as I'm going to be holding it up to my head and putting it into my pocket. I don't think you can really merge the two into some great device that is the perfect size. I think you'll always end up with either a ridiculously large phone or a GPS that is too small.

Maybe something like those phones with the projector? (don't know the brand) Have it shoot the image onto the windshield, like a fighter jet's HUD? Small phone + any huge size projection. I wouldn't mind a high-def projected display. The plus side would be that you are still keeping your eyes on the road.

While the 765t started out shakey because of software issues I would buy another if mine failed now.

I find the routing and maps somewhat erratic. Sometimes fine, others "mysterious" on what they are thinking. I also think they require to many button pushes and that all GPS's for vehicles should be required to be able to enter data by voice.

Of the "big 3", however, Garmin is still the best in my book. I just wish they worked harder on the routing and included free map updates for all models included in the price. 2 years would be enough for me as most seem to poop out in 2-3 years for various reasons.

I really don't see a shift between manufacturers. Most stores I visit (WalMart, Target, Best Buy) still stock both in the same variety with a few accessories. I do see a overall lowering of cost and some accessory cost like maps being lower. I do see a wide difference in price for the same model between some stores in what they have on the shelf. Stores like Best Buy or WalMart that move more units seem to be much lower than say Staples or Target that have older inventory and have the older price.

Best can have so many contexts. Best price, best routing, best non GPS extra features...

On a recent trip out of town for a wedding, my family caravan consisted of three vehicles, each with a different brand GPSr (TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan), The Garmin had incorrect data for the main entrance to the hotel we were staying at, sending that car down a side street and requiring a bit of driving around to get the correct entrance. Once there, we were given the addresses of the church and reception hall. The Garmin could not locate the church by the street address, and the Magellan could not locate the reception hall by the street address. Only my TomTom could correctly locate the hotel, church, and reception hall. To me, that made the TomTom the best. I'm sure the exact models and ages of the maps had a major impact (more so than the manufacturer of the GPSr).

I just purchased another TomTom with a bigger screen, lifetime traffic and maps, My old TomTom was recycled by giving it to my MIL.

It may be but like every product out there, times are changing and evolving. Pretty soon, we'll be seeing different brands and different platforms compete at the same level. I give thumbs up not only for excellent products but customer service as well.

I'll admit to my various Garmins over the years doing some screwy routing. I'll also admit to me thinking it was doing screwy routing (because I thought I knew better) and after going back over it realizing, "Ok.. That was actually a better way to go."

I really don't know about TomTom other than I've had friends and read about others using it and they seem pretty happy with the units. I generally go with Garmin because they work and it's what I know (the interface). There's really nothing compelling me to switch to TomTom. While I mentioned the screwy routing above it's rare and, at least locally, I know the spot that it happens.

The only GPS that had me thinking about making the leap from Garmin was the Dash Express. I [i]really[/i] liked the idea of real-time traffic reporting and as more people came online the traffic info would only get better. That, to me, was a compelling feature. Unfortunately:
- It was a rather large / blocky unit
- It was from an unknown company and I didn't want to be on board hoping everyone else would sign up and being left with something that really wasn't useful if they didn't.
- It was rather expensive in comparison to other units at the time. I remember them finally hitting the $200 mark just before the company (and the economy) crashed.

Still, it's an example of a compelling feature that'd make me jump. The TomTom really doesn't have that. It's basically an equal to Garmin in my eyes. I could have easily bought a TomTom the first time around and then be making all of the same statements about my TomToms over the years at this point.

Magellan doesn't even come up on the radar any longer. Years back when I bought my first GPS they were in the running. I kind of considered them inline with Garmin in terms of features/quality. Now when I look for a GPS I generally look at Garmins from the bias mentioned above, and will occasionally look at TomToms just to see what's up with them. Sometimes I remember Magellan existed and will look them up to see if they're still around. It's almost like looking up to see if Mickey Rooney or some other older actor is still alive.

For a shift to happen there needs to be a reason. I recently used a new version of a Magellan unit in a rental side by side with an older 255w. Both worked well with a few differences in route choices but to me the Garmin still had more features, was easier to use and had a better screen layout and screen scaling than the rental. In fairness, I am more familiar with Garmin but unless the phone units really offer better services I don't see a shift. There is another thread regarding that possibility so I won't get into that here.

I love my 765t. It is the best GPS that I have ever had.

Have you look at these for a stand along?? http://www.pcmnav.com/

We use the MP3 all the time to hear about the places we are going while on vacation. It sure is nice. Wouldn't want a GPS without one. I have a Nuvi 750 and love it.

I don't like to see anyone "REQUIRED" to do anything. Once you let the requirements start, they don't seem to stop.

I personally don't like anything using voice recognition. Maybe its because I was born totally deaf in 1 ear and am now a little deaf in the other that my words may not sound quite the same as yours. So rarely are my words understood correctly by voice recognition devices. They are just a source of total frustration for me. I'll stop the car or motorcycle and put my address in manually.

No to Requirements!

I missed attaching the comment I am responding to.

FWIW, it sounds like we have similar phones and attitudes toward AT&T wireless plans. If you find out anything and have a way to ping me, I'd be interested in knowing your results.

. . . see more than 1 way to interpret this?

I use a Zumo 660 and a 76cxs and love them both. Trying to decide on another one for a new dirt bike, don't want to put a zumo on a dirt bike because they are to expensive.

With Out a Doubt The United States Goverment & Avation Industry uses Garmin If it wasn't the best they would not use it.
PS I will Take my Garmin's over any other GPS Made Its a No Brainer That Garmin is # 1