[Dyre Straits]

Please, don't laugh! But, I did pick up a very cheap GPS a few months ago and I'm ready to upgrade to a much better one than what I got.

What did I get, you ask? Since you asked for it nicely, I got a

"GPS for Dummies" GPS Navigation For Dummies Personal GPS Navigation Devices

It was very, very cheap at the local CVS and I didn't want to invest too much into something that I might not actually find that useful. But, it actually does work well enough that I'm ready now to put some serious cash into a unit that has much better features and provides map updates periodically.

Please list your own brand and what you like/dislike about it.

As for the one I have:

PROS:

1. It does work
2. It was very cheap
3. It's useful when finding new customers on previously unfamiliar streets.

CONS:

1. The clock has to be reset every time I turn it on...even though I have the Daylight Savings option checked.
2. It's too bright at night and no way to dim it anymore.
3. Certain symbols are not available to input for searches...such as no "&" symbol.
4. The skins option is almost non-existent without paying for new ones.
5. The Media options don't work properly. (It does have photos and video media storage but it's really worthless.)
6. It's cheap.

[Cow_160483]

Well I would recommend a Garmin GPS, they are handy, easy to use and have rarely let me down. Which is more than i can say about asking for directions from random strangers on the street which is how the TomTom ones make me feel, but that just me.

[Tyrsonswood]

I use something really cool and high tech........ It's called a MAP.

[craig5320]

I use TomTom, but I won't pretend it's perfect but it does the job. If you're looking for something off the beaten track it can fall down.

[temeteus82]

At work we have nice system from VDO Dayton. Maps are from Navteq.

[MIG-31]

I use a Medion MD95025..Pocket PC With Medion Navigator 5..

To be honest its not perfect but it does the job for me..But i would not mind updating this year..But this time round its most likely going to be a Tom Tom...

[BiGBrOwNPimpsta]

the one built into my cayenne...and if im on the go google maps on iPhone is good enough. i hate dash mounted GPS units

[Callandor]

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

I use something really cool and high tech........ It's called a MAP.

lol, that makes two of us. One of my friends wants to get me one for my bday though haha.

Used to supplement with google maps on my blackberry but I've lost 2 blackberry's so far, and a Nokia 5310 xpress so I've just decided to use a cheap Samsung now.

[Judas]

i use the land mark discriptions form of GPS... turn left at 2nd tree, turn right at pile of rocks.... follow the ambur yard light

[comp_ali]

I ask someone when I get lost , does this count as GPS.

[Reckless187]

I dont have a dedicated Satnav system, I use Copilot Live Pro on my HTC HD2 and its not let me down yet. I had TomTom on my iPhone but no longer use that. Both Satnavs were about as good as each other, but I no longer use the iPhone and was thinking of selling it off.

[Mousey]

I'll borow my dad's TomTom for the drive to work when i'm working because it's a long drive and i don't know the area. It's far from perfect, Takes forever to find a satellite when you first turn it on but rarely loses track of you afterwards

[BiGBrOwNPimpsta]

i actuallly find myself knowing the roads better myself due to google maps and gps. just shortcuts and stuff. a map is such a hassle....i might as well ask at a gas station

[Dyre Straits]

I was looking closely at a Magellan this evening. About the only thing I didn't care for was the non-QWERTY keyboard layout. I really do want that and couldn't find a way to configure for it. Price was attractive enough, too.

[Necrosis]

I use a Tom Tom, Navigon, and once in awhile Google Navigation on my Motorola Droid.

[Dyre Straits]

TARGET has a good deal on a Garmin nuvi255W. After checking it out in the store, I decided this was a decent upgrade over the one I've been using.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=13431#

I'm presently getting the free map update as I write this.

[FuNsTeR]

i use my new HTC Desire mobile .... it is cool as toast

[Dyre Straits]

Those using TomTom GPS: I see where they offer lifetime free map updates? How well does that work? I really can't see the logic of having to pay Garmin the cost of the GPS just to get map updates for life. (They offer only ONE free update after purchase.) So, I'm checking out other options again.

The ones that have my attention at the moment are a refurb TomTom XL 335 SE, or maybe the TomTom XXL 530S?

Any opinions?

[Mr cairo]

I use a program called Sygic on my Samsung Tablet ... its pretty good not 100% but close enough

[OldBuzzard]

I use two different GPS 'devices' depending on what I'm driving, and where I'm going.

For local stuff we have a Magellan that seems to work just fine.

For long distance trips in the Motor Home, I use an old HP notebook with MS Streets & Trips installed on it. MS S&T came with a GPS receiver that plugs into a USB port.

[dj_stick]

Google maps on my iPhone

[niceguyrichy]

i use Skobbler on my iPhone

[temeteus82]

Ovi Maps on Nokia N8

[Tyrsonswood]

Paper map on the passenger seat........


I even know how to fold them so they fit back in the glovebox.

[niceguyrichy]

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

I even know how to fold them so they fit back in the glovebox.

show-off

[Matth]

Not one I'd have picked (Mum got it from a friend):
RAC Satnav 220 (unused, still had it's screenguard on), but on reading up, it's a little dated (Route 66 Navigate 7), and the suupport for it from RAC is DISMAL.
Original maps - 2007, and while there was an update you could buy, the update breaks the device's star feature - TMC traffic status.

When the time comes to look for a new one, I definitely want TMC Pro as a feature.

[Judas]

My Dodge Challenger uses a Garmin that is updateable...that is built directly into the console...

Like how easy it is to configure ... and how it reports elevation.... a tweak and i can navigate by land description (NW 23-9-8 W3) .. something I've only managed to find that is a additional option on garmin...

[Dyre Straits]

I did pick up the TomTom XL 335 SE Refurb for $59.99 last week. I didn't want to post anything about it until I'd used it for a few days.

The article I read that stated that TomTom XL GPS's were getting "free updates" is either outdated or misleading. There ARE free updates but they are user corrections. This is fine and dandy by me as long as the corrections are totally accurate and free of charge. Users can make corrections on their own device and then upload them via computer connection as well as download others' corrections the same way. If a user wishes to download a map update from TomTom it can be done for as little as $9.99 for a quarterly update. This price is well within my own range of satisfaction. And, in an area where few roads are being built, updates won't be needed more than once per year or so, anyway.

I also like the way addresses are entered vs. the Garmin I was using.

All-in-all, I'm quite pleased with how it works vs. the Garmin. AND, after nearly a week waiting for a reply from Garmin for support and not hearing anything at all from them, I'm convinced they don't really care.

As a side note, I do have GPS on my Blackberry. But, my connection is sooooo slow it's next to useless to try to use it. I'm considering going to a 4G LTE setup after the first of the year.

[Dyre Straits]

This is just an update after a few weeks of using the "new" TomTom GPS I got.

This one, as others have stated, is not perfect. However, it seems to fit the purpose for me better than the Garmin I was using. I've grown to like it a lot better.

[Dyre Straits]

Well, I like the TomTom so much I went and got another one. LOL!

What I 'thought' I was getting with the first TomTom didn't actually happen. I had bought it with the understanding that I would get LifeTime Free Map Updates. BUT, the reason that didn't happen was due to the fact that the one I bought was a Refurbished item. So, the code for activation couldn't be found nor could it be used. But, the way it takes input and other things fits my style very well.

So, one of the Christmas/Birthday gifts I got was a $25 Walmart Gift Card. Using that, I got a brand new XXL 550 M that DOES come with the Lifetime free map updates (every quarter) and am presently doing the first back up so that I can get it activated. This one is also a bit larger than the XL 335, too.