<p>I don’t “Need” a GPS, but I “Want” one. I am thinking that this year’s Black Friday sales might bring the prices down into a range that will make me take the plunge. Anyone have any advice? Garmin seems to be the leader. What about Tom Tom? Any ohter brands? What are must have features? Anything to avoid? I read that some have Bluetooth. What would Bluetooth do on a GPS? Make updating easier? Thanks.</p>
<p>P.S. This would be for the car.</p>
<p>We tried both Garmin (not Nuvi) and Magellan. Garmin was easy to use, Magellan was returned to the store because of its extreme user unfriendliness. Bluetooth will allow you to make phone conversations on your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone with both hands on the steering wheel (like having intercom in your car).</p>
<p>Lukester. I’ve been thinking about it. Try edgegps and look for a refurb Garmin 2610 for less than 200 bucks with the 2008 unlock code for NA. It was there two weeks ago anyway. If you like it and use it , then splurge. You can ebay the “used” refurb 2610 for $150.</p>
<p>Edit: dang it. They appear to be sold out. If looking for refurb, be sure you get the unlock code for City Navigator NA 2008. Or else you’ll end up sometimes with a much earlier version. Try to find a 2720 or maybe a Quest 2.</p>
<p>I’m a Scout leader. I’ve seen scores of GPS’s in the wild and not-so-wild places, and about 90% of the happy users I’ve talked to have Garmins. Not very scientific, but there you go. Mine is a cheap Garmin – I don’t even remember the model number. The good thing is that the lighter ones are usually cheaper – kind of a bonus when you think of the price of titanium spoons.</p>
<p>Do all GPS require one to “pay” for database updates? What are the after buy costs?</p>
<p>Garmin vs. Magellan- We currently have one of each. H has a Garmin, and I have a Magellan. I like the graphics better on the Magellan as well as the voice. The female voice on Garmin, which I don’t think can be changed, is very robotic and nasal sounding. The female voice on the Magellan sounds human. We find them equally user friendly, although I definitely use the minimal features to get from point A to B since I am not at all a “techie”. The other thing that I have found is that Magellan tells you how many minutes from A to B. Our Garmin gives the time of arrival. I guess it is because I got used to a Magellan before we bought the Garmin, but I just want the minutes, rather than calculating it in my head. BTW, the Garmin is much more sleek and smaller than my Magellan. I don’t know how small the latest Magellan has gotten, but the Garmin is nice and small.</p>
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<p>DH and I use a Garmin Quest. If memory serves correctly, we ordered the update and could use it for two units for $75.</p>
<p>DD uses a TomTom. It does an okay job, but twice has given her incorrect directions. It has Bluetooth so she can do the hands-free phone thing, but she really doesn’t use it very much.</p>
<p>My GPS is built in - which reminds me, I need to call the dealership and order an updated DVD as mine is now three years old, and doesn’t reflect new construction, etc. since then. You will find that they all can give incorrect directions, some more than others. They may also route you somewhere by a different way than others would go. For my job, when I’m in areas I’m unfamiliar with, I really don’t care if it takes me by a route that’s two miles longer, as long as it gets me there, and I don’t have to deal with maps, etc.</p>
<p>Major warning here: once you have one, you’ll never want to be without one again. This holds true for rental cars, etc. It is addictive… it changes how you pay attention to where you’re at - you don’t have to pay attention to landmarks, cross streets, etc., because you have the GPS to fall back on.</p>
<p>I love my Bluetooth capabilities, all my buttons are on my steering wheel, so literally my hands do not have to leave the steering wheel to dial, answer, talk or hang up the phone. As for manufacturers, I’d try to check out Consumer Reports and see what brands tend to be favored, then research the different models within that brand.</p>
<p>I recently rented a car with a Garmin Street Pilot and just loved it. S3 and I were on a college visit trip and found it was great for looking up restaurants and gas stations in the area.</p>
<p>We love our NuvI–she has a name and a presence in our lives. We got her before our first college visits. She has been taking us home ever since. I am spatially challenged and my hubby has never believed I can’t navigate–but I can’t. Nuvi is a friend in need.</p>
<p>northeast- we have a garmin and we changed the voice to “english” - ie, brittish. I love the way it sounds and it makes me smile every time it directs us somewhere. :)</p>
<p>fender, then I wonder if we can change the voice too. If we can, my H has not figured that out yet. We only have it for a couple of weeks. Thanks.</p>
<p>if i remember right it’s in where you set your language preferences - we were jokingly putting it on spanish and then we realized we better put it back to a language we understand before we get lost in the menu and don’t know how to change it back! then we discovered the totally awesome brittish voice and I just love how it sounds.</p>
<p>i took it to York the other week and then I took it out of my car to use in a friends car when we were driving somewhere together and my friend was like “where did you get an english gps???” she then realized they have almost the same model and that it could be changed, so I would poke around in your settings… hopefully you will like it as much as I do :)</p>
<p>what model do you have?</p>
<p>Oh. Remember that there are (as far as I know) three categories of GPS. The first is the kind you find in cars – map oriented and aimed at finding street addresses or landmarks. The second is used by hikers and works on map coordinates or lat-long numbers. Roads and such are relatively unimportant to these users, and their GPS’s do not even need a map function. The third category is used by boaters and includes knowledge of shorelines, islands, and other specialty items. I suppose there are also pilot GPS units, I just have no idea.</p>
<p>My GPS is used for outdoor stuff, and does not have a map function. I want to try geocaching with it, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.</p>
<p>I have a built in one (a few years old) and my husband has a Garmin StreetPilot which is much faster to caluculate (and recalculate if you miss your turn) and just incredible. It’s programmed to have a lovely female Australian voice!</p>
<p>We use the British voice also. The only thing I like better about the American voice is she sounds so happy when we arrive at our destination. Our British “Emily” is more restrained. My son thinks the American voice is “tooting her own horn”.</p>
<p>Bethie, I love how you referred to the voice as “she”. When I was visiting my friends I was talking to their mom about it (her husband has one that she hates using) and she was like I just don’t like it when she tells me to turn in 400 feet because I just don’t know how far 400 feet is. She says this then she says this then she says I missed my turn and she just keeps going on and on until I turn around.</p>
<p>She referred to it as “she” like ten times in a row.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Ever since getting a car with GPS my husband seems to have forgotten completely how to get anywhere on his own. Reading the map is my job. Stopping to ask for directions is completely out of the question…</p>
<p>My d. has had Garmin Nuvi 300something for over a year now and loves it.</p>
<p>Just bought s. a Garmin 550(?)–on sale at Best Buy–for his birthday. It has bluetooth. I asked salesman about it and he said you synch (or whatever term is) your phone to it and then can use it as a handsfree system. The caller will come up on screen and you can push icon on screen to answer, ignore, etc. I’m not sure you can dial out, or I guess maybe if you have voice commands?</p>
<p>This will be really hard to resist buying this year. I’ve always wanted one. I think this may be the year! Thanks to all for your input. </p>
<p>Now, if anyone sees or hears of a great deal on one, let me know.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>