Trying to pick out a new GPS

 

I currently use TomTom on my WM6 phone and it works well, but I have been thinking lately of going to a full blown dedicated solution. So what I wanted to ask is what should I be looking for in a new unit? what are the pluses and minuses of each system. Its not my intention to start a flame war, but I need the help.

Just went through this...

After having just gone through this, maybe I can off a few pointers. First, how much do you want to spend? Second, what is it you want from the unit?

Basic devices like mine allow you to set a destination, give turn by turn directions, and allow you to add custom POI data. More advanced models add feature like the ablity to preroute trips, get traffic info (by subscription), do Text to Speach (TTS) and announce street names, have built in MP3 players, have Blue Tooth, and a bunch of other features. Obviously the more features, the pricier its going to be.

Lots of good info can be found here: http://www.gpsmagazine.com/ (soory, I can't link yet). There's a nice "buyers guide" chart that helps sort out some of the features.

I chose the Nuvi 200 for its, price, simplicity, and ease of use. I don't need an MP3 player, nor a lot of the other junk. The only thing it doesn't do that I'd like is routing. It took me a while to sort through all the info before I made a decision.

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Chuck - Nuvi 200, Nuvi 255W

some questions are in order

It would help me to know which WM6 phone you are using with TomTom. I am assuming you are running TomTom v6.

I am very familiar with the Windows Mobile device range and capabilities for GPS. What is it that you don't like on the TomTom if anything? What features do you find you can't live without like ...Do you use Custom POI's, TomTom PLUS services, TomTom Weather, ?

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nüvi 680, nüvi 770, Garmin Mobile XT, etc...

Re: New GPS

Refreshing to meet other PocketPC users!

I guess it would help us giving you an answer knowing why are you considering switching, and what are you looking to get out of your GPS. Some brands are better at some things than others.

From personal experience, I can share the following:

Advantages of the PocketPC vs. a dedicated receiver are the size, form factor and portability. It's definitely easier to carry, hold a PocketPC on your hand and use while walking. The PocketPC also reduces the gadget-cluter - one device does it all. The price gap is getting narrower though, as GPSrs are coming down in price, but you can still get a very affordable PocketPC through with a cell phone contract.

Advantages of a GPSr? the only ones I can think of would be a larger screen, and perhaps the lack of Windows-related quirks.

Differences between GPSr brands? Wrong place to ask, this will ignite Brand War III! hahaha

Let us know what's important to you, and we can give you specifics.

I can carry my Nüvi just as

I can carry my Nüvi just as easily as a pocket PC.

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Newest to oldest... Nüvi 660, Street Pilot 2720, Magellan SporTrak Pro, Lowrance Global Map 100

True... but

buffettck wrote:

I can carry my Nüvi just as easily as a pocket PC.

but then you need to carry both a phone and a GPS ;-)

Pocket PC with phone gives some major advantages over dedicated GPS only units. For example watch this short flash on this particular version of one I have. http://www.pharosgps.com/gpsphone/ Even though the price on this is less than many of the dedicated GPS units that don't have anywhere the feature set. But Pocket PC Phones certainly aren't perfect devices and many people don't need the complexity that all those additional features brings.

Customizing the device for personal apps is huge too. I currently am running ActiveSteath software on my Pocket PC http://www.cheetahusa.com/ which has the capability to integrate with radar and laser detectors in addition to the red-light speed camera detection. The point is the Pocket PC has all the functionality of a small PC in terms of loading 3rd party apps to make it work the way you like.

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nüvi 680, nüvi 770, Garmin Mobile XT, etc...

more info

dcoffing wrote:

It would help me to know which WM6 phone you are using with TomTom. I am assuming you are running TomTom v6.

I am very familiar with the Windows Mobile device range and capabilities for GPS. What is it that you don't like on the TomTom if anything? What features do you find you can't live without like ...Do you use Custom POI's, TomTom PLUS services, TomTom Weather, ?

My phone is a xv6700, yep I know its suppose to be a WM5 device but I fixed that problem, and yes I am using TomTom 6. I like it, but my main reason is a bigger screen and I really only use it in my car so being able to walk around with it is not that big of a deal. I was also hoping that a dedicated unit might have better and or more detailed maps and POI content. I hope this helps .

Google Maps Mobile or Live Search Mobile too

Your model doesn't have built in GPS so you must be using a bluetooth receiver. That of course won't be an issue with the dedicated unit and that alone is going to be a great benifit. Plus as it was previously mentioned you get rid of the Windows Mobile quirks... and replace them with different quirks wink

I personally like the nuvi line that has the MSN Direct Services features because I like the real time info that it provides on Fuel, Traffic, Weather, etc. If that isn't important I think you will find the larger screens 4.3inch screens very nice for touch screen input compared to the Windows Mobile device but the 680 doesn't have the QWERTY option... what were those guys thinking? Custom POI's and icons is a huge bonus for me using the databases here at poi-factory. I personally like the Red Light, Airports, Rest Areas but there are TONS to choose from.

If you haven't tried it yet you should download the free Google Maps Mobile v2 for your Pocket PC and give it a whirl. www.google.com/gmm It finds your approximate location based on your phone signal and it has an option to use the GPS receiver. The beauty of it of course is that you have access to the Google search for a POI database that is unmatched. It is currently in beta and works OK but for those with GPS it sends up the data back to Google to improve their cell tower database accuracy. The downside to this app is its finiky dependence on the java app being connected to the cell data services.

You also have the option of downloading the free Microsoft Windows Live Search for Mobile http://wls.live.com/ This works exceptionally well if you live in a city that is supported in it current and expanding database. I like the Gas Prices feature here which Google doesn't have.

Both Live Search for Mobile and Google Maps Mobile give much higher detailed maps than you will ever see on a dedicated unit and it includes satellite views as well. You don't get 3D views however and it is limited to North Up view only at this time.

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nüvi 680, nüvi 770, Garmin Mobile XT, etc...

Remember, a GPS is never as

Remember, a GPS is never as versatle as a phone. You will always have your phone on you. On the other hand... a phone was designed to be a phone first.

True!

sharper4 wrote:

Remember, a GPS is never as versatle as a phone. You will always have your phone on you. On the other hand... a phone was designed to be a phone first.

In computer terms, dedicated devices (a.k.a. appliances) tend to do one thing very, very well; while general/multi purpose ones (i.e. computers) can perform many tasks anywhere from acceptably to very well, and even utilize the services of appliances.

These two ends of the computer spectrum have inherently opposite attributes and disadvantages: ease of use vs. adaptability, efficiency vs. flexibility, cost vs. scalability. Its up to the human (i.e. you wink) to consider all factors (including user comfort level) and select the best solution to a given application.

That said... a phone has no business trying to do a computer's job! mrgreen And therefore, the king of the gadgets is the PDA -the 'been there-done that' device- which is a handheld computer, now more often than not with integrated phone AND GPS. Not to mention it also serves as photo and video camera, calendar, notepad, task manager, phone book, music and movie player, handheld video game, workstation, Internet access device, etc. etc. Are all of these flavors the best there are? Possibly, no. But then, there's much more than one thing in the menu.

But back to seriousness, the bottom line is, you gain some, you loose some.

Krieger

Garman

I got to play with one (a friends) and it did not have the option to find a different route. Like in TomTom I can tell it there is a road block and it will find a way around it. Is this because they have a low end model or just how they all are?

Don't know about the

Don't know about the Garmans, but the Garmins (just kidding around) have the ability to reroute you. I believe this is true on all their models.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

ok

asianfire wrote:

Don't know about the Garmans, but the Garmins (just kidding around) have the ability to reroute you. I believe this is true on all their models.

ok I will have to press a few more buttons and find it.

I find garmins to be the

I find Garmins to be the easiest to use. Generally when you are searching for a location, you want to be able to enter the information as quickly as possible so you can get on your way.