May as well put my 02c in here too I guess...... Garmin remain one of the leaders, and if you like 'em, why change? A possible alternative is nav S/W on a smart phone/iPad - I highly recommend "Navigon" - It includes the complete Navteq map database (& updates), and optionally real time traffic with auto re-route etc. I really, really like it. Cheers, Ian
I have two Garmin GPS'. One is a mapping GPS I use to track routes, mark locations, property boundaries, etc. for work and the other is a cycling specific model that provides directions and records quite a bit of data. Ultimately I am happy with both units but my experience with Garmin has been that newly released products are often only beta-quality ready and there are lots of bugs left to be sorted out. Garmin does fix the bugs with regular firmware updates but it can be frustrating to buy a new model product.
GPS devices are going to go the way of the Dodo. No need to have a separate device when smart phones can do the same thing.
I don't think that's true. The manufacturers keep coming out with a FLOOD of new models every year. I have a Nuvi 1450T in my truck that's hard-wired in and more or less permanent. Works very well, and I don't have to tie my phone up while driving 30K miles a year. Jedi
I may be wrong...just a prediction and I stand by it. I've never owned a landline. I don't take my camera with me on trips because I can take pictures with my phone that are just as good. I never thought I'd be without a desktop computer, but now I have a laptop...which I very rarely use now because my phone can do pretty much anything I need. I never thought I'd be developing systems that feed data to a phone, buy majority of my work is now providing data services to iPads and phones. The phone is taking over and consolidating the number of devices we use. Phones and apps grow more powerful and become more integrated...I see the GPS as the odd man out.
If you need it where you can get cell service (see debate above), I'd seriously recommend a smartphone with a ~4" screen. My car already has GPS but as long as my phone has enough battery I use it for GPS instead! It's got Google Maps- road closures are live so there are never any surprises. The best part, really, is the live traffic- it calculates the route with the flow of traffic, and if traffic gets bad ahead on your route, it will automatically reroute you around it!
The Google Maps navigation on my Android has failed me far too many times and taken me on too many weird and out of the way routes to trust it over my Garmin.
