Yes, a GPS device is still a good gift idea!

I know I definitely prefer my Zumo 665 over my Blackberry or LG Ally. Trying to see (or hear) either of them while driving and I'd crash for sure.

Total agreement. I have an Android tablet and although Google Maps is nice on a large screen, the areas where I lost data rendered the thing useless. Also, I'm not crazy about Big Brother logging all my POI searches, location, or speeds that I'm traveling at either! I will always prefer a standalone PND. I just hope they don't go away due to the phone app fans!

Don't they have some phone/tablet navigation apps with maps included? Seems like that would cure the 'out in the country with no cell signal' syndrome.

Yes they do.

I would not say a work if I got another GPS unit for xmas!

Just my opinion, but I think the writing is on the wall. I feel that the reality is that standalone GPS devices are becoming more and more like commodity appliances than a meaningful long-term gadgets. On another thread -- it was asked why Garmin discontinued the MP3 player -- I think part of the logic is simply that. Reduce features and increase functionality because at the end of the day, its going to more and more a niche market with strong overlap with phones and tablets.

Dont get me wrong, I still like, and use my 765t, ass phones are getting better and better, I find myself increasingly using my adnroid phone for navigation. If my 765t holds up another year or so, I think this will be the last GPS I will ever buy.

I think they meant "as phones".

No I think he meant "ass phones"

Motorola is coming out with a smartphone for people who have trained theirs to take calls.

there is such a thing as butt dialing so it would stand to reason that it is being done on ass phones.

LOL!!!!

I'm debating getting a standalone PND for my in-laws, who are much older and don't have the patience to learn smart phones.

They have outdated GPS in their cars, which cost far too much to update the data. So a standalone GPS might make sense.

But the vast majority of folks I know prefer a smart phone because they don't have to carry two separate devices.

I think you answered you own question, they are old and feeble (like me) and learning a smart phone for an old person is not easy, how they managed to have the patience and build this country is mind boggling.

Now seriously, you can’t give them a smart phone unless you are willing to pick up the monthly tab for the data plan, they are also familiar with a PND even if theirs is outdated, so IMO a PND is a “smart” choice.

I just purchased a new standalone PND for my parents to replace their soon to be outdated one and they don't use smartphones and most likely won't in the future. For me, I just replaced mine with a new unit and I have a Iphone but don't want the GPS on it as it's a small screen and no easy place to put it without getting distracted to look at the screen.

I agree that the dedicated GPS units may become a niche market, but I like having a dedicated unit that is not dependant on phone service since I can travel overseas with it which would involve having a compatable phone service in the countries visited. Not a problem with the stand-alone GPS.

Also, since I found this thread under the "Yes, a GPS device is still a good gift Idea" heading, I wanted to share my positive experience buying a remanufactured 1490T from Compusa a year or so ago. I was wary about the quality/reliability of a remanufactured unit, but it was flawless cosmetically and operationaly. The bluetooth was buggy, but I attribute that to a crappy cell phone I had at the time.

I resemble that remark, I'm old and feeble.

Hey you old and feeble man, I was waiting for you to vote me for General Maintainer 2011 but nooh you had to come and vote for yourself… That’s OK now I know who my friends are…