anyone know anything about those gps roadmap thingys?

we need to buy one, we think we go out of town alot and i think it would be alot more convienent than me being navigator and getting yelled at
does anyone have one of these, and are they worth the price??? thx!

My brother has a TomTom that he likes, but doesn't love. It is one of the cheaper models and isn't completely as accurate as he'd like. I'm guessing he'll upgrade at somepoint to a more expensive model, no Idea if he'll stick with the same brand or not. I have a couple of friends who've got Garmin and they all have good things to say about that. I haven't heard any of them complain.
I want GPS too- and will probably get Garmin when the time comes, but right now we just Mapquest/ Google map everything before we leave the house.

I have been using Magellan handhelds for quite a few years now and I prefer the handhelds for the mobility use outside the vehicle. Garmin and Magellan both make excellent GPS units so I think with either brand you are safe. I do a lot of geocaching and thats why I like the handhelds. If your primary use will be for driving only, the vehilcle specific models will give you a larger screen and better navigational features as well as voice to quide you. Hope that helps.

I use a Garmin because my business is mobile and I travel the entire city. I don't know how I made it without it. I used to have to mapquest and print and that was a real mess if you had several jobs in one day. I did not buy the most expensive, think it was on sale for around $250. It is awesome. I do get a little tired of her voice though. Kinda crabby.

can you order one with a sexy voice,i wonder

ps-lowrider--if your gps gives out on you i can probably give you just as accurate directions pretty much anywhere in that city,and my voice may sound better

If I remember right you can download different voices, icons (for the little arrow that shows where your car is on the screen) and updated maps. I don't know that for certain- But have heard friends say that they've done it.

I will remember that Wilky. Guess I should check my manual to see if there are other voices that can be downloaded. I do have to say that she is always calm and patient. When I am stuck on the 10 during rush hour and yelling at her to shut up because I can't change lanes to exit she very calmly tells me she will re-calculate. Gotta love it.

Wilky, did you get one these? I am looking to get one now. I am constantly getting lost.

I checked on overstock.com, not sure where to buy one from either. Got a magazine with one in it today and it's a lot more expensive than the same ones on the net.

i love mine, i have been totaly lost several times in europe and the middle east. got me back to my hotel or to the ofice with non english speaking driver on those several occasions.
Here in western kansas, well, i Still think they would have there uses, but then i have always been a gizmo kind of guy.
z

I have tried TomTom, Garmin, and Megellan. Each one I took back for one reason or another. I ended up loving a GPS with the brand name of InVion, which has the most accurate (pinpoint) directions of all the others I have tried. Some GPS' will actually find you car in a parking lot. Some GPS' have a special fog setting that will tell you each of the intersections that are coming up. Some have built in cameras and mini video recorders other will even have MP3 players in them. Some will give the phone number of an address like perhaps if you looking for a drs. office out of town and you are running late, you have the number there for you to call ahead. Some even have the capability to download updated info from your computer. My InVion will actually tell me 30 minutes before the sun went down to turn my headlights on and then reminded me to turn them off after the sun came up. It also tells me when I am exceeding the speed limit. The more expensive ones will have the bigger screens and have info like zbounce said that will help you travel in Europe.

Just make sure that you get one that has a feature called text to speech that will give you street names. The reason that I sent the version of the TomTom back was because the voice would tell you "In 50 yards turn right." Well, there may be 2 turns coming up on the right, one right after the other like at the Salina turn off where you can turn on to I-70 from 135 and go to Westbound or you can turn to go Eastbound. Those exits are so close to each other you wouldn't know which one to take. When you get a GPS that give street names it will actually give the exit number. GPS' are pretty cool, you just have to get one that you feel is the best for what you need it for.

I got a garmin nuvi 350 @ buydig.com for 200 bucks. It's a great travel tool,it will get you where you want to go but sometimes the directions are not neccesarily the fastest way to get there.

Blackie Kuhn wrote:

I got a garmin nuvi 350 @ buydig.com for 200 bucks. It's a great travel tool,it will get you where you want to go but sometimes the directions are not neccesarily the fastest way to get there.

I think that's the model of my dad's Garmin. There was an area of KC with a lot of construction where it had us going in circles because of all the rerouting. It isn't worth it to him to update the software for $90 for as little as he uses it. Neat system, though, really neat!

I look at internet maps. If the route is too complex that my memory can't get me there I don't want to go. Lukes use of pinpointing exact spots is a good use though. He uses his handheld to mark exact locations in the middle of a field or pasture for historical research.

I don't need one of these! I never get lost! KNOCK ON WOOD!!!

I use mine to find my car in large parking lots

I have an internally permanent map. If I lose north from south, west from east , I get dizzy and disoriented. Werid, I know@ My son is like that to.

You been drinking too much milk of magnetism.

Justoo wrote:

You been drinking too much milk of magnetism.

Something, but not booze....lately! I'll have to fix that!! There is NO where to drink in Ellis

Dumb question...

So, with these, you buy the product... do you have to pay for the service separately, or do you get access just by buying it?

Nope, you only buy the GPS. You do have to pay extra for a GPS that has those extra features. With some GPS' you can get on the internet to add more info to the GPS you own, this may have an additional cost. The cheaper the GPS the fewer amount of features it has. BUT once you purchase your GPS there is no extra fees.

PS There are NO dumb questions!

Quote :

PS There are NO dumb questions!

Thanks, teacher.

Justoo wrote:

You been drinking too much milk of magnetism.

It's those genetically enhanced high-flux cows which are the problem.

They sleep pointing north.

suzyr wrote:

Quote :

PS There are NO dumb questions!

Thanks, teacher.

Wish I had one available for you to test, Suzy. My dad and my uncles grew up in Kansas City and moved to big cities, initially. It isn't a prideful thing, I don't think. Those guys could look at a map of a restaurant in some megalopolis and drive right to it . . . for the most part. Sheesh, I sometimes have a problem finding my way around Hays without taking some circuitous route. My dad and my uncles just like to gadget play.