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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: erricrice on Mon, 26 July 2010, 11:15:15

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: erricrice on Mon, 26 July 2010, 11:15:15

So I'm going to be getting a GPS soon for my car, what do you guys recommend, have you had good/bad experiences with certain brands/models?

Any information would be very very helpful, I want to make sure I make a really good decision on getting this since it is my first and I hope to make it my last for a long time.

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: wellington1869 on Mon, 26 July 2010, 12:27:31

i dont know much about gps (i've used tomtom and magellan) but the one feature i'd recommend is where it reads out street names (apparently you pay a bit extra for that feature).  The other feature i'd recommend is hardware volume knob/buttons, cuz there's nothing more irritating than fumbling around on the touchscreen when you just want the damn gps lady to shut the hell up.

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 26 July 2010, 12:34:21

I have stock GPS in my Ford Edge, and I had to turn that ***** (GPS lady) off.  Pretty much every turn (or time she tells you to keep going straight) is about 4 interruptions.  She always butts in during a song I like, too.  That, and she can't handle all the German and Spanish street names we have around here.  Her saying "Nacogdoches Road" is pretty funny.

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: wellington1869 on Mon, 26 July 2010, 13:01:24

a killer feature for gps devices would be if the gps lady can sense when a person is having a conversation with someone else, or is listening to a song, so rather than butting in, gps lady should "clear her throat" and wait politely for a minute. Then she can escalate with polite cough, and then to a "excuse me...". Only then if its the last possible minute should she butt in with her stupid directions.

She be easy to implement; all you need is for the gps device to have a microphone to sense the ambient noise level inside the car.

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: wellington1869 on Mon, 26 July 2010, 20:56:22

Quote from: kishy;206702

Recent (last couple days) experience says that for highway driving at least, maps and road signs are wayyyyy better than a GPS.

It's quite taxing to go over exactly how much that thing contradicted the printed map and road signs, so I won't.

call me crazy, but i actually like pulling over to ask people. Its like you get to mingle with the locals, and its so civilized.
unless you happen to be in Georgia of course. Just drive on thru, drive on thru.

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: wellington1869 on Mon, 26 July 2010, 20:57:10

of course you can always pull over to ask them how the heck to work the damn gps  :)

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: iMav on Mon, 26 July 2010, 22:10:22

I've got a Garmin Zumo 450 (motorcycle-specific GPS).

Love it!

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: erricrice on Tue, 27 July 2010, 07:47:26

Hmm, well you have all given me much to think about...

Thanks guys!

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Tue, 27 July 2010, 07:47:54

Just grab the first $60 GPS you see on DODTracker.com.

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 27 July 2010, 08:03:41

Quote from: iMav;206727

I've got a Garmin Zumo 450 (motorcycle-specific GPS).

Love it!

My Dad has some Garmin one in his car. Does the job nicely.

Title: GPS recommendation
Post by: Tr0j4nM4x1mus on Tue, 27 July 2010, 12:28:24

I have the garmin 265w it's nice ...has bluetooth (I never used it) the 205w is basically the same thing but cheaper...had it to over that's the one I'd get