Is Garmin Really the Best???

Your experience is subjective as it relates only to you. The original versions og Garmin Express were crap (no polite way to put it either). The later editions have been relatively bug-free for GPS updates as the constant revisions have more to do with their "wearable" stuff than the truck/RV/auto units are concerned.

Magellan is a brand you don't hear about any longer. It was bought a few years ago by a Japanese company and pretty much disappeared from the scene. I do know they disabled the loading of custom POI and only offer paid content now so for those of us "power" users they are a non-starter. Tom-Tom has its issues, but as I'm not a TT user, I can't speak to the ease/loading/updating of their units.

Any issues you might be experiencing in maintaining and updating your GPS are not always the fault of Garmin.

There may be issues with your computer, anti-virus software, or even you. Thoroughly read and understand the instructions.

Garmin Express has taken lots of hits, and I'm surprised it wasn't ditched in favor of rebranding it as something new to replace itself, but it seems to work now. I've used it successfully the last few times for maps and firmware updates. It's getting pretty transparent. Garmin Express seems to be working pretty good now in maintaining my three Garmin GPS devices.

Perhaps your map updating difficulties lie with your old Nuvi. Your profile shows as a 2720 Street Pilot. These units have small internal memory.

Never owned a Tom Tom or Magellan so no comment on map updating.

You may want to purchase a newer Garmin that has 8GB internal memory and your map update worries will be over.

List of most Nuvi's internal memory.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/34375

I have used Tom Tom, Magellan and Garmin. Of the three, I prefer Garmin. Thought the routing was better.

Of course, I am sure the others all improve from year to year. So comparisons you get from people may not be relevant.

I had a 60CSx that Garmin Express was able to update when GE was young. But later versions of GE eliminated support for the older devices such as the 60CSx and I was left to use the older Garmin softwares to maintain the 60CSx.

You might want to look into getting the earlier Garmin softwares such as Webupdater, MapInstall, MapManager, etc., to maintain that older GPS device.

I had to revert back to the older maintenance softwares and leave GE altogether when it came to managing my 60CSx. Garmin was nice enough to get these older softwares to me so I can continue to use the 60CSx.

I learned this through trial and error, and then a call to Garmin support that explained and confirmed all this.

Updating maps was indeed stressful, but once the line was drawn between those supported by GE and those that are no longer supported by GE, it became easier to maintain all my GPS devices. I use GE for the newer devices, and the older Garmin maintenance and support softwares for the 60CSx. Check to make sure that your GPS is FULLY supported by GE. I recommend you call Garmin and talk to someone.

If indeed deckie49 is still using a Street Pilot 2720, then the question becomes 'is my ten year old GPS really the best' becomes a different question than 'is Garmin really the best.' Of course an ancient GPS isn't anywhere near the best and that changes the question to something else.

It's been pointed out to me in the past that users here at The Factory are primarily Garmin users and that's certainly the case for me. I therefore can't offer advice on other brands, but for sure, folks with a nuvi, even a 5-year old nuvi, will not have map update problems as long as they use a current version of Garmin Express (or MapUpdater) and have a fast internet connection. Whether TomTom Magellan or Garmin, map updates are immense and without a fast internet connection, no one will find the map update process easy or fast.

To answer deckie's question, we'll need to hear about the device currently being used and the user's internet speed.

CraigW, good point. I sort of had this experience too. I recently updated from a 60CSx to a 64s. The 60 was not compatible with GE, the 64 is compatible with GE. I had to use completely different softwares to maintain the 60CSx, and GE to maintain the 64s. I obtained the 60CSx when it first came out, about 8-9 years ago, and that is incredibly old for a device like that. A typical GPSr model has a very short life cycle. Basically, the 60CSx was no longer supported, I had to safeguard old softwares to maintain it, and hope that updates to my computer would still allow the old software to run. Well, given all that, it just came time to get a modern 64s.

I didn't realize this was about a 2720, a very old model. It might be time for a modern replacement.

When Garmin Express first came out I had problems with it too. The last two map updates went smooth and without any problems.

1. Which marketplace should we be discussing? Most participants here associate Garmin = Nuvi, however I find the handhelds/hikers more mission critical. Then again there is the avionics & wearable market place. I submit the Nuvi are about navigation, the hikers are about spot on location accuracy, trac recording stability and field usability.

2. Isn't the question: Is/Are Governmental agencies compromising what GPS manufacturers are permitted to deliver to the retail general population marketplace on the hardware side? And are those that might know the answer to that question free to discuss, here on this type of forum?

3. Which of course is separate from the software side of the business like routing, Basecamp & Garmin Express.

4. Further, might there be a different answers for some users in the U.S. as say compared to Europe, the Far East, and elsewhere?

I have an older HP laptop that is still running XP. Garmin Express now works fine with map updates. The earlier versions had many issues, but they seem to have been resolved. My last three or four map updates have completed with no issues.

5. I submit for $120 + tax for a 2xxx 5" LMT Nuvi, consumers are getting a pretty good deal, compared to other alternatives such as "on limited grid phones" or OEM equipment. Of course others might disagree, which is the hallmark of open marketplaces.

6. Does that make Garmin instruments, their software or support beyond reproach? Isn't that what all these other thread about?

The products are generally good, but making the update software simpler and less prone to hiccups would be a good thing.

In this case, it simply appears to be about trying to keep a very old electronic piece working as time passed by and technology advanced.

Try Map Updater next time & see if that works any better for you.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/39873

YES & NO

I've owned Garmin's almost exclusively. The only other unit I had was a Navigon when they tried to break into the US market.

The Garmin was superior to the Navigon or sure.

Yes and no
I have garmin nuvi and tomtom start, same models in many vehicles 2 licensed maps in every one, so every body can browse to where everybody else is.. Big Big family, can't escape em anywhere

the garmin map is great in canada/usa, less so in australia
tomtom maps less in North America, more accurate in Aus, but includes mexico and puerto rico
Map updates for the garmin, are really slow in coming, but they are easy to do
Map updates for the tomtom, come daily, are the result of changes submitted last week, total new maps 4 times a year, and are a total pain in the a̶s̶s̶ neck to complete using the new c̶r̶a̶p̶w̶a̶r̶e̶ software

going to buy only
garmin for Canada
tomtom for Aus

I like Garmin, never really had any problems updating maps but I don't use Garmin Express either. I have seen some of the newer Garmin's have some nicer features then mine, like "turn left at the traffic light". All in all I think Garmin's are pretty cool.

I have only used Garmin other than a cell phone. It has always met my needs, and I have never had a reason to look elsewhere.

Wonderful paper weights!

I've owned several Garmins and they all worked for me. They're much better, and more convenient, than GPS systems that come installed in autos.

I bought our GPS's to navigate, not to Bluetooth, play music, have photo album and probably internet next. More features, more used up memory, more battery drain, more things that beak/need fixing!

Tom-Tom is much harder to update and and I don't think there support is nearly as good.

While some people only want navigation, Garmin also makes specialty GPS for marine, aviation, GIS, motorcycle, backcountry, adventure and other uses. These units have specialized features like water and shock resistance, glove-friendly brighter screens, headset and radio compatibility etc. They cost a lot of money.

Automotive Nuvi models are cheap compared to the specialized GPS units, and include features you can use or turn off. What's the problem?

This is where the new money (defined in multiple ways) is at:

http://www.wired.com/2014/09/garmin-vivosmart-wearable/
http://www.garmin.com/en-US/company/investors
http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GRMN:US

Now which comes first: growth in profits; capitalizing advances in R&D via deployment; reading, meeting $ growing new market share?

Works for me. I've used my brother-in-law's Tom Tom and prefer the Garmin over it. Maybe because I'm just used to my Garmin.

I have no personal experience with this, but from what I have read in other forums, TomTom's IQ Routing feature is similar in function to what Garmin's Traffic Trends feature is supposed to be, but the TomTom feature is far superior to Traffic Trends.

I thought I remember reading on here one time that updating TomTom maps was a pain. Am I imagining that? I never used one myself and they also may have streamlined the process.

Garmin still the best

I have owned Garmin and TomTom and currently have a Garmin in each vehicle. There are features I really liked in the TomTom software but the most important reason for a GPS is the map and I have found the Garmin to be more accurate. I am sure TomTom maps are pretty good in most urban areas but not so good in more rural areas. We take a US highway when visiting my in-laws that was not on the TomTom maps, despite having been in existence for at least five years. Not just some rural road but a US Highway. I found that unacceptable and went back to Garmin and have never had that kind of problem since.

Tom Tom and then switched to Garmin. I thought Garmin was much easier to navigate thru the menus. Both units did a good job of navigating from point to point. I think Tom Tom has some neat features, just like Garmin, but prefer Garmin over Tom Tom. I have never had any trouble with Garmin Express!

it's really subjective..I've been very happy with my Garmin, and when I have had problems, it's usually been operator error, and this web site, and help from everyone here has been incredible..

So is my fully loaded S&W .40 caliber semi-automatic... but when the crap hits the fan and it's needed, both my S&W and Garmin do what their suppose to!

Nuvi1300WTGPS

plug in to pc or mac
answer yes to the updates I want
wait for beep

the software to update tomtom is pretty good

Hi,

I never had a problem with Garmin. The only thing I do not like about it is when I use it as a Bluetooth speaker phone. I have a 2595 and the speaker being in the back makes the sound output low. Otherwise, I works for me.

Either I didn't remember that right, or TomTom has gotten a lot better on the update process

I have had no problems here!
maps and software update effortlessly!
Garmin has smooth running system now!

my family has both tt and garmin . I definitely prefer garmin for the updates and ease of use .
mike

Garmin - software does work as long as your machine is not slow- You mention Garmin express issue - make sure your USB are working.
Other than that Garmin is easy to update and the maps are okay because red lights camera used to be built in the maps but now i dont see it so we have to add them by uploading. Tom Tom maps are more user friendly and have red lights.

In terms of use both are good but i would look at price in determing which model to buy. Eveyone has sales - Bestbuy, Costco sells Garmin.
IMO