What does "portable" really mean?

 

I have been researching "portable" gps units and wondering does the term refer to more than just being able to move unit from car to car, i.e. does it have rechargeable battery, can it be placed in your pocket while walking, etc. Has anyone had experience using the so-called "portable" units while walking in a strange city, or on a bicycle? Is the reception good enough for say walking around a city, etc. and would it be good for finding your parked car, etc. I am looking at Magellan versus Garmin and the Garmins with similar features are significantly more. Or am I missing the point about what "portable" truly means.

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Nuvi 750

What does "portable" really mean?

infinitidriver wrote:

I have been researching "portable" gps units and wondering does the term refer to more than just being able to move unit from car to car, i.e. does it have rechargeable battery, can it be placed in your pocket while walking, etc. Has anyone had experience using the so-called "portable" units while walking in a strange city, or on a bicycle? Is the reception good enough for say walking around a city, etc. and would it be good for finding your parked car, etc. I am looking at Magellan versus Garmin and the Garmins with similar features are significantly more. Or am I missing the point about what "portable" truly means.

I have a Garmin nuvi 370 (pocket portable)and have set the navigation to "pedestrian" and it works well while walking around and yes you can set current location when you park your car and find it again in a strange city.

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Sandman --------Nuvi 370

They Really Are Portable

They have a battery, can be placed in your pocket and used in the city as a pedestrian or on bicycle. The Garmin 7xx series automatically records your last location when the unit is powered off in the car so that you can find your car if/when needed.

I had an occasion where a friends vehicle broke down in a unfamiliar city. We used the GPS to locate the nearest dealer, call the nearest tow company and used the GPS to direct the tow truck driver to the dealership, as he was unfamiliar with the location. It is also a great unit when things are going well.

I am a Garmin customer for life due to the quality of the units, the service/support and the features. You tend to get what you pay for and Garmin is a good value at a fair price.

The Garmin units tend to be a better value and have more features that the built in units that I have experienced, before considering that they are portable.

It is important to really determine your needs or desires before selecting a GPS. I was amased at how much I use the features that I was sure that I would never use. I'm glad I got the one with all of the features because I have used and benefited from all of them.

Good luck in your selection and enjoy the use of whatever you decide to buy.

Bill

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nüvi 880 - nüvi 760 - nüvi 660 - StreetPilot 2620 - Portland, Oregon

they are really portable

remmenber portable tv's.

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nuvi 350

I use mine all the time to find my car in a big parking lot or if I park it in an unfamiliar place and know that I won't be able to find it.

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

portable gps depends on what the meaning of is is.

tiffany wrote:

remmenber portable tv's.

Or when they first came out with portable computers, nicknamed "lugables"

I wish Garmin put a new

I wish Garmin put a new update out for the nuvi 680 to where it worked more like the 7xx - like where I parked my car, auto fill of the State, City, etc. ;-(

I remember my first portable PC... it was the Compaq and weighed about 28 pounds!

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

How do you do that?

asianfire wrote:

I use mine all the time to find my car in a big parking lot or if I park it in an unfamiliar place and know that I won't be able to find it.

How do you do that?

.

dcoffing wrote:

I wish Garmin put a new update out for the nuvi 680 to where it worked more like the 7xx - like where I parked my car, auto fill of the State, City, etc. ;-(

I remember my first portable PC... it was the Compaq and weighed about 28 pounds!

The update is available. It's called the nüvi 760. ; )

Bill

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nüvi 880 - nüvi 760 - nüvi 660 - StreetPilot 2620 - Portland, Oregon

mark the spot, then put it in "off road" mode

jj4mvp wrote:
asianfire wrote:

I use mine all the time to find my car in a big parking lot or if I park it in an unfamiliar place and know that I won't be able to find it.

How do you do that?

Before I leave my car, I touch the screen and then hit "save". I then (when returning to the car) put it in "off road" mode (which makes it line of sight) and I go straight to it. Just remember to put it back to "fastest" before you drive, I have forgotten a few times, but it is quite obvious once you try to route a route.

Also watch where you are going!!!! I have been so concentrated on the GPSr that I have often almost run into a light pole...but of course that could just be me being dumb.

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