The GPS's Way or the Highway

 

We're checking out our new Garmin DriveAssist 50 while on vacation. When we switch up drivers, I've been devouring REAMDE by Neal Stephenson.

Came across this humorous passage in the afternoon:

"The GPS unit became almost equally obstreperous, though, over Richard’s unauthorized route change, until they finally passed over some invisible cybernetic watershed between two possible ways of getting to their destination, and it changed its fickle little mind and began calmly telling him which way to proceed as if this had been its idea all along."

http://imgur.com/etqickp

--
Nüvi 2595LMT

WOW...

Does the Drive 50 really hold it's breath and turn red when you don't follow it's route???

Perhaps it needs to be seen by a psychologist.. or a psychiatrist.. maybe a less irate programmer!! razz

--
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!

Wow

http://imgur.com/etqickp

Wow, that's more than I'd want to see on a route. I hope my current devices keep running for a long time.

Really?

In what way is that more than you want to see? You don't have to have the info bar on the right showing, although I do and each field can be set to show the information you want.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

At Least..

At least the newer GPSr's no longer say that annoying "Recalculating...Recalculating" after deviating from a route.

I'm sorry Dave

Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?... I'm sorry Dave, I cannot allow you to do that.

--
NUVI 350

But ...

bdhsfz6 wrote:

At least the newer GPSr's no longer say that annoying "Recalculating...Recalculating" after deviating from a route.

Actually occasionally they do but while I haven't been able to verify exactly when they do it seems only to be after a major change of route.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Red

sussamb wrote:

In what way is that more than you want to see? You don't have to have the info bar on the right showing, although I do and each field can be set to show the information you want.

My concern is the top red Wrong Way and the red border. Oftentimes when I'm on a route in familiar areas, I will divert from the suggested route and it can take my nuvi several turns before it recalculates. The info bar is an option I don't use and am glad that it's optional.

For the youngsters among us, further chilling text...

MikeSid wrote:

Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?... I'm sorry Dave, I cannot allow you to do that.

DAVE: Open the pod bay doors, Hal.
HAL: I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.
DAVE: What’s the problem?
HAL: l think you know what the problem is just as well as l do.
DAVE: What are you talking about, Hal?
HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
DAVE: I don’t know what you're talking about, Hal.
HAL: l know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I’m afraid that's something I can’t allow to happen.
DAVE: Where the hell’d you get that idea, Hal?
HAL: Although you took very thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.
DAVE: All right, Hal. I’ll go in through the emergency air lock.
HAL: Without your space helmet, Dave, you’re going to find that rather difficult.
DAVE: Hal, I won’t argue with you anymore. Open the doors!
HAL: Dave...This conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.

If you're still confused, note that HAL is a computer (whose letters are each oddly one character earlier than IBM!)

I'm so glad that Aussie Karen in my GPS doesn't have such an attitude about her mission and my routes.

Ha ...

CraigW wrote:
sussamb wrote:

In what way is that more than you want to see? You don't have to have the info bar on the right showing, although I do and each field can be set to show the information you want.

My concern is the top red Wrong Way and the red border. Oftentimes when I'm on a route in familiar areas, I will divert from the suggested route and it can take my nuvi several turns before it recalculates. The info bar is an option I don't use and am glad that it's optional.

Well you only get that if you go the wrong way down a one way road and not when you simply go off route smile

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Karen

I must admit that I have noticed a slight change in Karen's voice when I ignore her directions for the third time.

--
Nuvi2797LMT (2) Nuvi260,Ford Sync3 Navigation. Captain Cook was a Yorkshire man too.

Oh

sussamb wrote:
CraigW wrote:
sussamb wrote:

In what way is that more than you want to see? You don't have to have the info bar on the right showing, although I do and each field can be set to show the information you want.

My concern is the top red Wrong Way and the red border...

Well you only get that if you go the wrong way down a one way road and not when you simply go off route smile

Oh, thanks. Now I like that. A wrong way red alert is great. Obviously I was wrong in thinking it was a route diversion alert. Thanks again.

Ha!

bpaine wrote:

I must admit that I have noticed a slight change in Karen's voice when I ignore her directions for the third time.

twisted

@CraigW

I suspect the red at the edges of the screen was photoshopped in for added effect.

Have to admit, I like the look of the screen. If I were to get a new GPS, which isn't likely, I'd go for a DriveSmart 61. Looking at what Garmin offers, the DriveLuxe seems to be a bit overkill for me while the Drive seems too basic.

--
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job." --Douglas Adams

No ..

Strephon_Alkhalikoi wrote:

I suspect the red at the edges of the screen was photoshopped in for added effect.

Don't believe so. Only had it come up once and if I recall correctly everything went red, you couldn't fail to see it.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

This isn't what it seems

This isn't the GPS saying you've strayed from the route, it's the unit saying you are going the wrong way on a one way street. From the DriveSmart owner's manual:

Wrong way on a one-way street

The device plays a message and displays a full-screen warning if you travel the wrong way on a one-way street. The edges of the screen appear red and an alert remains at the top of the screen until you leave the one-way street or correct your direction of travel.

I Miss

I really miss the "Custom" message on my 660 that said "You never listen to me. Now I have to re-calculate." when I deviated from the current route.

--
Metricman DriveSmart 76 Williamsburg, VA

Echo

Narvick wrote:

This isn't the GPS saying you've strayed from the route, it's the unit saying you are going the wrong way on a one way street.

Yes, as already stated a few posts above yours smile

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

and

sussamb wrote:
Narvick wrote:

This isn't the GPS saying you've strayed from the route, it's the unit saying you are going the wrong way on a one way street.

Yes, as already stated a few posts above yours smile

Also to let you know that you weren't late because everyone else was leaving.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

Great Quote - Thanks for posting

WAASup wrote:

We're checking out our new Garmin DriveAssist 50 while on vacation. When we switch up drivers, I've been devouring REAMDE by Neal Stephenson.

Came across this humorous passage in the afternoon:

"The GPS unit became almost equally obstreperous, though, over Richard’s unauthorized route change, until they finally passed over some invisible cybernetic watershed between two possible ways of getting to their destination, and it changed its fickle little mind and began calmly telling him which way to proceed as if this had been its idea all along."

http://imgur.com/etqickp

Thank you for posting that passage.

Oops

sussamb wrote:
Narvick wrote:

This isn't the GPS saying you've strayed from the route, it's the unit saying you are going the wrong way on a one way street.

Yes, as already stated a few posts above yours smile

Whoops, somehow I missed that!

Easily done

smile

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

You're welcome Brumpyb

Brumpyb wrote:

Thank you for posting that passage.

You're welcome Brumpyb

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Nüvi 2595LMT