Help - with Garmin GPS choice

[Liz]

Amazon is having a big sale (up to 75% off) on popular Garmin's. I've read reviews until I'm way more confused.

If anyone has time to check out the Garmin models to see if you are familiar with any, and could give me some input and/or advice, I'd be most happy. I've been wanting to get one, but having never used one, it's hard to decide what options I need - and which ones I can live without. For example, 2 of the more expensive ones only give the option for one stop along the way even if you're traveling across the US. Everyone seemed to complain about this.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1000287661

Any help would be appreciated. I'd like to get one if any of the models are worth it. The prices look great (to me). I don't know how many they have, but they're cheaper than Costco - much cheaper here.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Liz

[SmartWombat]

Ah, you mean navigator, not GPS.
Difficult.
I got one of the early GPS III with a screen, not a colour navigator like we have today.
The great feature for me was the software support, it has a world map display on your PC on which you can plan your route. Yes, the whole world.

I don't know of anything like that for today's colour navigators, which is a shame because planning a multi-stop trip on those tiny screens feels to me like looking at the read map through a keyhole.

I decided on the Navman N series, because they support multi-stop trips.
Oh and because Costco had the N20 on special here in the UK, and then I found the widescreen N60i at Circuit City on special.

What you needs depends on how you use it, and how the screen is used.
If the navigator puts its menus and controls on the left and right edges (Navman do) widescreen is good because you get more space for the map.

Do you want it as a picture player, MP3 player, bluetooth phone loudspeaker, text message reader ... or just as a Navigator ?

I don't like modern navigators because they assume every user is an idiot, or has the eyesight of a 70 year old. It's like the maps are drawn with crayon.

Best one I ever had was a cheap Medion navigator, that zoomed out to the point that the side roads were one pixel wide. It was a true map display (not the 3d perspective that everyone uses today) so it was perhaps not easiest to read, but I've been map reading since I was 9 and have no trouble with map mode.

If you're not happy reading maps, then the perspective mode with the way you're going always UP on the screen is the simplest to use - but you will not have a clue where you are or where you are going unless it has a compass heading or a little compass indicator icon.

Backup !
Check that the one you choose has the ability to backup your own waypoints, routes, places of interest etc onto your computer - so if you let the battery go flat you don't lose everything.
Or if it's stolen and you replace it with the same model you can reload it with your data.

Oh and if it has a "Home" feature, having had one stolen, I would not put my home on it.
I would not want to be on holiday and guide the thieving scumbag to me empty house !
Just a local landmark that gets me close to home and on the right side of the city that routing to and from "home " works with the major intersections.

From that lot I'd go for the nuvi 650.

[Mr Yuck]

I'd go for the 650 as well. I have a cheap Tomtom with a 3.5" screen and I have shaky hands...so when typing stuff in, I misspell due to my twitchy fingers.

Consider getting one that will work with an external antenna (for GPS)
--that's a great security feature, you can mount the device low in the car, more discreet than on the window....and with an external antenna, you'll get a stronger signal.

[bluesguy]

FWIW I bought the Garmin Nuvi 650 back during the summer from Walmart online. It was a discontinued model elling for about $100 bucks more then what is on Amazon. Big selling point(s) for me was a very advanced model at a much cheaper price point, a larger size screen for these old eyes, touch screen input, and voice announcements for streets, etc.
In addition, is has a mp3 player and voice book capability. Good luck wading thru the choices and options. Hope this helps somewhat.


bluesguy

[Liz]

Paul - thanks for the input and all the info you included.

Mr. Yuck - thanks for the input. I don't think any of these have the external antenna....if I get one of these now, it's for the price. However I may end up waiting until closer to Christmas.

Bluesguy - thanks for the helpful input. There is a lot of informration in trying to compare these models. The one thing that I don't like is what many of the reviewers are complaining about on most of these - they only allow on stop even if you're going across the country.

I may end up waiting. I kind of jumped at the idea of saving all that money. I did hear that the prices on electronics are going to drop significantly between now and Christmas. It may be worth waiting a while longer. It's not like I HAVE to have one. The price seems like a great deal though, especially on the 650.

Thanks again everyone.

Liz

[bluesguy]

Personally, I would not let the lack of multi-stop programming be a deal breaker for me if all other aspects of a unit meet my needs. When you get to the destination that you have programmed, it is simple to just program another destination. It uses the arrival destination as the jumping off point for the nest destination. Basically if you are going from point a to point d then you know the points that lie in between. I would program the point a to be leg, then when I get to point b, reprogram to point c, and so on until I get to point d.

bluesguy

[Liz]

Personally, I would not let the lack of multi-stop programming be a deal breaker for me if all other aspects of a unit meet my needs. When you get to the destination that you have programmed, it is simple to just program another destination. It uses the arrival destination as the jumping off point for the nest destination. Basically if you are going from point a to point d then you know the points that lie in between. I would program the point a to be leg, then when I get to point b, reprogram to point c, and so on until I get to point d.

bluesguy

Thinking about it realistically, I think that makes more sense. I think when I read all the complaints about this one feature, I kind of "latched" on. Thanks for the input on this. I might go with the 650 afterall.

I appreciate your help.

BTW - are you happy with the 650? Anything I should be aware of?

Liz

[Liz]

I think I will go for the Nuvi 650........if anyone has any more input or would go for any of the others, let me know. Otherwise I might order the tomorrow.

Thanks everyone.

Liz

[SmartWombat]

I use the multi-stop to force navigation on particular routes.
I have a particular back road run from Speyer to Hockenheim that avoids all the queues and requires 3 waypoints to force the correct route from the hotel to the track.

[bluesguy]

Thinking about it realistically, I think that makes more sense. I think when I read all the complaints about this one feature, I kind of "latched" on. Thanks for the input on this. I might go with the 650 afterall.

I appreciate your help.

BTW - are you happy with the 350? Anything I should be aware of?

Liz

Just a point of clearfication, I have the 650 model. Also on this waypoint thing, you can sort of get around that deficiency by preprogramming each leg of your trip like I stated before you can save then give them a name, then just recall them when needed.

bluesguy

[Liz]

Just a point of clearfication, I have the 650 model. Also on this waypoint thing, you can sort of get around that deficiency by preprogramming each leg of your trip like I stated before you can save then give them a name, then just recall them when needed.

bluesguy

Whoops! Thanks for pointing that out. My mistake - I made a typo on 3 posts. I knew you had the 650 - and it's the one I'm looking at (even though I typed the 350).

Liz

[Liz]

I just ordered the Nuvi 650 for $199. No tax or shipping charge.

Thanks for the help!

Liz