Are there any significant differences between Garmin, Tomtom and Magellan, etc?

 

I was just curious if there are any significant differences between the major manufacturers of GPS units? Or are they all pretty much the same thing.

A question that broad deserves a response >>

yes and no.

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"You can't get there from here"

popular = best?

Judging by most popular here at the POI-Factory Garmin is the best or maybe not.

At the right you have the Active Forum Topic, click on more and you can see the participation in the DomTom, Magellan, Garmin and "smart"phones sections, the number of topic and messages may give you the answer.

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Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV

depends

sonealtx wrote:

I was just curious if there are any significant differences between the major manufacturers of GPS units? Or are they all pretty much the same thing.

It depends on what you classify as a difference. A lot will depend on how you will use the unit. If all you want is something to guide you from here to there, then there is no real difference. They just do the job slightly differently. But, if you want to do other things with the unit such as load files having addresses and coordinates for locations, have icons display for points not shipped with the system or play custom alerts, then there are major differences. Those differences run from easily accomplished to not supported by the manufacturer. So, what do you want?

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Illiterate? Write for free help.

I have used Garmin and tom

I have used Garmin and tom tom gps units. I find that the tom tom starts up faster and has better features for the price (ie. voice recognition for under $200, traffic with no ads). However, it has less maps available than Garmin and a slightly more confusing user interface. Both route me through back alley's and neighborhoods instead of taking the freeway, so, equal fail on both brands.

I have never tried a Magellan gps, always thought there was some rumor about infrequent/no map updates.

Are there any significant differences?

Nope, only in the eye's of a specific brands owner and his or her technical knowledge.

TomTom gives you a much more customizable interface.
Garmin gives a simple, clean user interface with only a few options to deal with.

I myself keep a Garmin GPSr in the trunk of my car. I strictly use a smartphone with loaded maps, that way I always have a GPS on my person.

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Using Android Based GPS.The above post and my sig reflects my own opinions, expressed for the purpose of informing or inspiring, not commanding. Naturally, you are free to reject or embrace whatever you read.

significant? No really

For most people, they all get the job done. Which one is absolute the best depends on how you feel and how fast you can learn all the features.

Having owned 1 Magellan GPS,

Having owned 1 Magellan GPS, 4 Garmin GPS units, and 2 TomTom units, I think yes they are very different.

The Magellan GPS I had was a few years ago, and the interface was awful, along with performance. The newer units today seem better but still aren't as good as Garmin.

The TomTom units I own have okay user interface, but the battery in them are awful. I will fully charge them, and in a couple of weeks, even with the battery off, the battery will be completely dead. Simply unacceptable.

The Garmin units I've owned have had wonderful user interface - simple to use and very useful. The battery is great, I can fully charge it, leave it in my drawer for a couple of months, turn it on and the battery is still full. The only acceptable outcome.

So in my experience the Garmin units are the best, with TomTom / Magellan rating a distance 3rd fighting for second place.

My TomTom units are disposable, whereas I am glad to have my Garmin units.

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http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21626 - red light cameras do not work

Tom Tom had the stupid

Tom Tom had the stupid commercials. I wouldn't buy one because of them

mine doesn't

JimElvis wrote:

Tom Tom had the stupid commercials.

Mine doesn't.

Commercials?

JimElvis wrote:

Tom Tom had the stupid commercials. I wouldn't buy one because of them

What model of TomTom was this? No TomTom that I have used has commercials. In fact, one reason that I got a TomTom was that the Garmin has ads if you get traffic data and the TomTom does not.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

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XXL540, GO LIVE 1535, GO 620

TV

-et- wrote:
JimElvis wrote:

Tom Tom had the stupid commercials. I wouldn't buy one because of them

What model of TomTom was this? No TomTom that I have used has commercials. In fact, one reason that I got a TomTom was that the Garmin has ads if you get traffic data and the TomTom does not.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

I'd venture a guess and say they were referring to TV commericals.

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Streetpilot C340 Nuvi 2595 LMT

Map Updates

I had 1 Magellan, the maps were always out of date even with the latest Magellan map update. I love my Garmin 765t

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Garmin Nuvi 765T, Garmin Drive 60LM

Big difference for me is the maps

I have owned a few Garmins and a couple of TomToms. I like the interface of the TomTom better than Garmin but the Garmin is more than usable and I find the maps in the Garmin to be much better.

I am sure the maps in urban areas are pretty good on both of them but Garmin seems to be more up to date in not-so-urban areas. I have always tried to keep the maps up to date but the TomTom would be missing highways in rural areas that have been there for years.

Ultimately, the interface is nowhere near as important as actually getting where I want to go.

oops

yep

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Jeff...... Nuvi 2460, Nuvi 2595

Never had a Magelan but I

Never had a Magelan but I used TomTom app on my Windows Mobile phone prior to getting an Android phone a year ago. I've also owned nuvi 350, 660, 765, and I am now on 3790. As with any sophisticated hardware, it is only as good as the software support. The nice thing about Garmin is that from the early days they seemed to get the interface right. They've refined it over the years, but a user familiar with an older model should have no problems using a newer one.
TomTom was an OK GPS but while its interface was more customizable, it was a bit more cluttered. (Same can be said about the Google navigation on my Android: very capable GPS but requires too much interaction from the user.) Overall, at that time I found Garmin's navigation and maps better.
One thing where TomTom was superior was an ability to use ZIP codes. Garmin to this day does not, which is my greatest gripe with them. On the other hand, the newer 3790 guidance is far better to anything I've used.
In any case, if you are unsure what GPS to get, treat them like cars. Take them for a test drive. See if you can spend a few days with each one, and then compare cons and pros of each one. One thing for sure, having any GPS is better than not having one at all.

Flat batteries

nuvic320 wrote:

The TomTom units I own have okay user interface, but the battery in them are awful. I will fully charge them, and in a couple of weeks, even with the battery off, the battery will be completely dead. Simply unacceptable.

That's one of those design trade-offs that was a poor marketing decision for people who use their GPS in the way you do. TomTom wanted to help speed up the satellite acquisition time, so they actually leave the receiver power on for a couple of weeks, even when most of the unit power has been switched off.

That is intended to give better start-up performance for the folks who use their units frequently - which TomTom apparently assume is most people. However, it means that folks like you who use a GPS only a few times a year are going to encounter flat batteries.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

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XXL540, GO LIVE 1535, GO 620

There are many differences

There are many differences depending on what you want to do with it. If you want to use it only as a GPS, I would suggest Garmin or Tomtom. If you want to hack it, some Magellan and other Off brands that have Windows CE as a base OS on them can run Miopocket.

I only have experience with

I only have experience with Garmin and will stick to them. Friends that have different manufacturers GPS units I was not impressed with, but maybe you just need to get used to it. I think the Garmin nuvi's are one of the best, if not the best out there.

TV

-et- wrote:
JimElvis wrote:

Tom Tom had the stupid commercials. I wouldn't buy one because of them

What model of TomTom was this? No TomTom that I have used has commercials. In fact, one reason that I got a TomTom was that the Garmin has ads if you get traffic data and the TomTom does not.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

I think the poster was talking about the TV and radio commercials TomTom had a while back. Annoying at best.

Commercials

ericruby wrote:
-et- wrote:
JimElvis wrote:

Tom Tom had the stupid commercials. I wouldn't buy one because of them

What model of TomTom was this? No TomTom that I have used has commercials. In fact, one reason that I got a TomTom was that the Garmin has ads if you get traffic data and the TomTom does not.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

I think the poster was talking about the TV and radio commercials TomTom had a while back. Annoying at best.

I was not aware of any commercials on TV, but I was aware of commercials associated with displaying traffic info on the Garmin units. That's why I assumed Jim was talking about ads on the GPS itself. Thanks for the information.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

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XXL540, GO LIVE 1535, GO 620

TV commercials

-et- wrote:
ericruby wrote:
-et- wrote:
JimElvis wrote:

Tom Tom had the stupid commercials. I wouldn't buy one because of them

What model of TomTom was this? No TomTom that I have used has commercials. In fact, one reason that I got a TomTom was that the Garmin has ads if you get traffic data and the TomTom does not.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

I think the poster was talking about the TV and radio commercials TomTom had a while back. Annoying at best.

I was not aware of any commercials on TV, but I was aware of commercials associated with displaying traffic info on the Garmin units. That's why I assumed Jim was talking about ads on the GPS itself. Thanks for the information.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

Yes, I was reffering the to TV commercials. "Sue Sue, where should we turn"

> Tom Tom had the stupid

> Tom Tom had the stupid commercials. I wouldn't buy one because of them

Judging the quality of the product by its commercials is totally absurd, imho. Do you really think that situations depicted in the commercials written by hired scenery writers, have slightest relation to the real-life usage of the product? or even the IQ of the people in marketing department vs. engineering department.

If any correlation is there, I think it only can be the negative one: while some companies mostly invest in marketing, others mostly invest in the product. More and better commercials too often mean less money for the product.

I had a Garmin, bought a new

I had a Garmin, bought a new Tom Tom, when I went to set it up it said my maps were out of date, they charged $9.95 for the updat. I went ahead with it & took their offer for lifetime updates, I think that was $89.95. After checking the Tom Tom I found it didn't have some of the features I liked so I returned it to Best Buy, full refund. I called tom Tom to request a refund on the map updates & was told coldly no. Waited a couple days,called again this time asking for a supervisor, they said they would relay my question to one while I wait. Again turned down for the refund so I simply cancelled the charge with American Express..... never to even consider doing business with them again! also telling my friends of my experience.

How I see it

commercials are made to attract buyers and are apporved by the company.
Their commercials repelled me