gps

[acwd45man]

anyone have a tomtom gps, what is your opinion of them, and how well do they work?

 

[Russ from MN]

We have one, works OK, really handy for driving in an unfamiliar area. just upgraded the software, we will find out if that was worth it in 6 weeks. The newer ones all have free lifetime upgrades. ours was $25, still an OK deal. They are only for use on streets and roads, would not be of any use in the wilderness, gets really confused when I drive out on the lake!

 

[Eldon (WA)]

(quoted from post at 21:06:45 12/28/12) anyone have a tomtom gps, what is your opinion of them, and how well do they work?

just bought one from Costco and used it on a trip to Iowa....it got confused a few times along the way. If I turned whenever "nnalert" wanted me to, who knows where I would be right now LOL! I thought I had updated it before I left, but will try it again. I did like the big 6" "diagonal" screen, the ETA was very accurate and I liked being able to see at a glance how much longer to a destination.

 

[JMS/.MN]

You might have to explain that comment, 'drive out on the lake', for our way South friends- LOL.

 

[oldtanker]

(quoted from post at 22:06:15 12/28/12) You might have to explain that comment, 'drive out on the lake', for our way South friends- LOL.

Better yet post some pics of people driving on the lakes! The show Dirty Jobs did one on recovering a vehicle that went through the ice. My dive instructor was the guy who recovered it with a BIL assisting.

Rick

 

[UncleTom]

I have a TOMTOM. I wouldnt be with out it. I always used it when i first got it even when i new where i was going just to learn the way it works so i can understand it better. It has talked me to the front door of where i was going. It will even tell you what lane you should be in ahead of time for an exit. Worth every penny IMO.

 

[ohiojeff]

I purchased a new TomTom to replace my old Magellan,what a mistake,the old Magellan was much more user friendly.

 

[MisterT]

(quoted from post at 05:06:45 12/29/12) anyone have a tomtom gps, what is your opinion of them, and how well do they work?

We have a Tom Tom and love it. Yes, it occasionally will try to take us down a dirt road, but that is not the fault of the device. It is trying to get you there in the shortest route, and according to the satellite it is getting information from, there is a road there.

A GPS device should never be used as a stand-alone route planner, but rather should be used in conjunction with a GOOD, printed road map. (disclaimer) Sometimes even Rand-McNally is wrong.

 

[Hay_Man]

"according to the satellite it is getting information from, there is a road there."

Nope, it's the map database contained in the unit that is in error about the roads. The satellite just provides the unit with location, not road information.

 

[John T]

We have one kid that has a Magellan,,,,another with a Tom Tom, and we have a Garmin. Once you go through the learning curve with any brand, that sorta becomes the one you like.

That being said and having used all of them to some extent, GARMIN is the ONLY one I would have and we travel coat to coats a gazillion miles in the RV (some remote areas) so it gets a real workout and test lol. Ours has always worked right no problems while the kids have had some problem with theirs.

MAIN REASON IM SOLD ON GARMIN: When I did updates etc and had to call tech support I IMMEDIATELY GOT THROUGH NO WAITING TO A REAL PERSON IN KANSAS WHO SPOKE ENGLISH instead of Habib in Pakistan who I couldnt understand

NOTE they are NOT perfect and do make mistakes, you have to use common sense and have some sense of direction and LOOK AT A REAL MAP now n then

Does the word "recalculating" come to mind lol

John T

 

[Old Bob]

We have one, also have a navigation system in both trucks. TomTom does all the work, navigation systems are never programed. Buy one that you can update from your computer at no cost to you.

 

[JMOR]

Just like Fords, Chebbys, Dodge/Fiat..........whatever any man has is always "the best" make!

 

[Hay_Man]

I had a Garmin and was happy with it. It was stolen out of my truck. I have looked at all the brands to replace it, and see that some don't have the features it had. So if I replace it, I will get another Garmin. I also used Garmin equipment on-board various aircraft I operated and feel if it is precise enough for instrument approaches in aircraft, its good enough for my truck.

 

[David G]

I have a Garmin, Escort and Honda built in. The Garmin has the best maps and list of attractions.

I am getting a marine one before we come back to visit Old, because I am tired of the Garmin telling us to get off the lake and back on the road when we are boating.

 

[Goose]

I'm on my second Garmin. This one has free lifetime updates.

It does have occasional flaws, but I live by it when I'm on the road on my job. My wife's Chrysler minivan has built in GPS, but it's on the radio screen and the radio controls do double duty. I've never bothered to figure out how to use it. When we go somewhere with the van where I want to use GPS, I just stick my Garmin on the windshield.

Which brings up another point. I like my GPS unit on the lower left corner of the windshield just above the dash where I can glance at it without really being distracted from the road. Seems all the auto manufacturers put the built in GPS down where you have to completely disconnect from the road to focus on it.

 

[EricInSEI]

All commercial maps have small, intentional
mistakes. That is how they keep other people from
just copying their maps. One of the online maps
showed a road in our hayfield, we lived on a dead
end road and almost nobody would ever be
inconvenienced by that inaccuracy.

Then, of course, there are just plain mistakes. In
Dearborn County, Google thinks that North Dearborn
Rd ends when it gets to Pinhook, and that Pinhook
continues East. Actually, Pinhhook ends and North
Dearborn Rd continues East. So their directions
will tell you to turn West on Pinhook but the road
sign at the intersection says North Dearborn Rd.