Recommend Me A GPS

[Rohdekill]

I'm looking for a portable unit (window mounted) that has:

- minimum 4.3" screen, but would prefer a 5"

- bluetooth (must have)

- mp3 (must have)

And preferably with:

- voice to text

- look ahead navigation or whatever it is called (what lane to be in, and not only the current turn, but the next turn beyond that). Nothing is worse than getting a turn left, only to turn and have it say turn right in 50 ft and you have to jump two lanes in rush hour.

Thanks for all the recommendations!

[RiverCampher]

I'm not an expert on GPS but I guess if you could specify a location and a budget that would help someone make a suggestion?

[sc302 Veteran]

Tomtom. Take your pick.

I have a Magellan and a tomtom. The tomtom is 4 years old and the Magellan is 2 months old. The Tomtom is faster, more accurate, and doesn't freeze up. If I had a gun I would put a bullet through the Magellan. I haven't met a gps where the Bluetooth hands free was worth a crap, they need external mikes to work decent. Better off just getting a crappy Bluetooth head set, they work better. I have had garments and other tomtoms, I would go back to tomtom everytime from here on out.

[HawkMan]

I would suggest a TomTom. but the new TomTom's have some issues makign them suddenly stop receiving satelite signals if you don't update them.

however my primary reason for not suggesting them is I'd rather suggest Mio or another brand(though they're really good) that usesthe same software as them(iGo I think). I really miss my old Mio that was stolen, it was cheaper than my new TomTom and better, and most importantly, it had a full screen speedometer view, plus some other information in the corners around it, like what tway the next turn is, how long untill next turn, how long til destination and some other averages and stuff.

Havign a full screen speedo is far more useful than a full screen map, I just navigate by the voice anyway and can eaisly switch to the map view if needed.

[Rohdekill]

Well, I've looked at basically everything out there on Amazon. 99% of them dropped the MP3 app. I have a Nuvi 350, which is awesome, but has an extremely small screen. The MP3 player pauses for any direction alerts as well as calls, then continues right on. No need to adjust volumes (i.e., turn down radio to hear GPS). I also get to hear what I want without a monthly fee, ads, or a DJ rambling on. It's pathetic they drop something so useful, yet keep the photo viewer.

My budget range is $300.00 for North America.

[HawkMan]

Not checked the new Mio's but I'd be surprised if they didn't have an MP3 app. however seems kind of useless if you don't have it connected to your car stereo in some way. listeing to music form the GPS would be... at best a backup solution. I'd rather get a decent pioneer set with USB/iPod dock/AUX inputs, and well, I did :p

[Rohdekill]

Not checked the new Mio's but I'd be surprised if they didn't have an MP3 app. however seems kind of useless if you don't have it connected to your car stereo in some way. listeing to music form the GPS would be... at best a backup solution. I'd rather get a decent pioneer set with USB/iPod dock/AUX inputs, and well, I did :p

What I have in place currently is the Garmin Nuvi 350, bluetoothed to by BB (yeah, I know...but it's a work phone). The speaker jack from the GPS goes to the car's AUX IN. I play music, hear all directions and calls through the car stereo. I never need to touch the radio. However, the screen is way too small which causes far too much distraction as I often find myself leaning in to read the small screen or tapping the screen to find the next turn ahead of the one I'm about to make so I can get into the proper lane.

[spacer]

Honestly, just get a smart phone. They all have GPS now, and they are way more valuable than a stand alone GPS unit.

I have a Garmin Nuvi (don't remember the exact model) and it was really nice. But a few months after I bought it, I got my first smart phone, and I have literally never used it since. It just collects dust in a drawer.

[tsupersonic]

Honestly, just get a smart phone. They all have GPS now, and they are way more valuable than a stand alone GPS unit.

I have a Garmin Nuvi (don't remember the exact model) and it was really nice. But a few months after I bought it, I got my first smart phone, and I have literally never used it since. It just collects dust in a drawer.

There are pros/cons to both solutions.. The nice thing about using a smartphone is that you have updated maps, traffic, etc. The bad thing is it eats through your battery, data plans are mostly limited now (although if you have Android, you can pre-cache on WiFi). I love using my Garmin, even though I have an Android phone. For me, it's much easier to use - the Garmin software is superb (even compared to all the other garbage GPS makers out there - TomTom, Magellan, etc.), the battery life is decent. The only downside is my GPS is old, and didn't have lifetime maps, so I have maps from 2010. For a pinch, the phone is great, but on long trips, it's always the Garmin.

[HawkMan]

Honestly, just get a smart phone. They all have GPS now, and they are way more valuable than a stand alone GPS unit.

I have a Garmin Nuvi (don't remember the exact model) and it was really nice. But a few months after I bought it, I got my first smart phone, and I have literally never used it since. It just collects dust in a drawer.

Actually sales of stand alkone GPS' has picked up since pepople learned more of GPS through their smart phones.

stand alone gives bigger and better screen, far better interfaces, better speakers, better and faster GPS'. In general there's a lot of pro's for not using your phone as a car GPS

[Big b0b]

I'm looking for a portable unit (window mounted) that has:

- minimum 4.3" screen, but would prefer a 5"

- bluetooth (must have)

- mp3 (must have)

And preferably with:

- voice to text

- look ahead navigation or whatever it is called (what lane to be in, and not only the current turn, but the next turn beyond that). Nothing is worse than getting a turn left, only to turn and have it say turn right in 50 ft and you have to jump two lanes in rush hour.

Thanks for all the recommendations!

Not sure if I'm too late as I'm usually a lurker on the forum, but I figured I could throw in my .02 here as I did a fair amount of research before my purchase.

I went with the NUVI1690 Garmin GPS. It does voice navigation, lane assist (most important to me) and is bluetooth capable. Though, I don't recall finding a GPS that supported MP3 files, I'm not sure if there even is a gps that will play music. You could always get an adapter cord for your stereo?

I like this gps due to it's easy to read screen, simple instructions and simple set-up and go. Set the destination and sit back and enjoy the drive!

[TAZMINATOR]

I wouldn't recommend a Mio GPS because I have one here but it's dead... not working anymore. I have had it for 1 yr.

Garmin is a better solution. I have not tried TomTom yet.

I have not used a GPS for awhile now because I haven't been on the long trips since 2010.

I tested a GPS on my phone and it was interesting but I wouldn't use it for long trips.

[HawkMan]

If its dead within one year it's still within warranty. So... Why aren't you returning it to be fixed. And any electronic device can go bad, just because you have one that is dead does not mean they're all bad.

I find a bigger issue with the fact that every TomTom we have sold the last 1-2 years has been returned because they suddenly stop receiving satellite signals untill we download an update. Which is absolutely ridiculous. There is no good reason a gps should suddenly not find satellites because you haven't updated the firmware in the last few months. Especially when it happens when you are on a vacation and are about to head back.

[Astra.Xtreme]

Do the new Garmins have a capacitive screen, or are they still resistive?

I have a Garmin from a few years ago and the one thing that I don't like is that you literally have to tap the screen for it to register.

If they have a capacitive screen and a faster, more responsive processor, I'd definitely buy a new one.

[KingCracker]

I've always had good experiences with Garmin Nuvi's.

[TAZMINATOR]

If its dead within one year it's still within warranty. So... Why aren't you returning it to be fixed. And any electronic device can go bad, just because you have one that is dead does not mean they're all bad.

I find a bigger issue with the fact that every TomTom we have sold the last 1-2 years has been returned because they suddenly stop receiving satellite signals untill we download an update. Which is absolutely ridiculous. There is no good reason a gps should suddenly not find satellites because you haven't updated the firmware in the last few months. Especially when it happens when you are on a vacation and are about to head back.

I wouldn't bother them to send me a replacement because I don't want a replacement device goes dead on me again... so I get something else instead of Mio.. My brother had Mio as well but it went dead on him too... He got a Garmin instead.

[HawkMan]

I wouldn't bother them to send me a replacement because I don't want a replacement device goes dead on me again... so I get something else instead of Mio.. My brother had Mio as well but it went dead on him too... He got a Garmin instead.

Why would your replacement go dead. You have a sample ration of "one" device and from hpthat you're inferring that 100% are bad. When every electronic device ever released has at least ~5% failure rate as standard.

By contrast, my Mio, before it got stolen lasted me years and was still better than the more expensive TomToms and grains I've tried. Better tunnel simulation, better maps(with upgrade iGo software instead of the pre iGo it came with) and unlike the more expensive "cheap" ones, it had tmc and Bluetooth.

Honestly, not having a token device replace on warranty for a repaired or replaced free one seems stupid to me. But then some people have more money than they need and just throw stuff away.

[remixedcat]

Google Maps app is really good though. I loved having it for my Virginia Beach trip and the real time traffic data was really nice. Made the trip so much smoother. I don't think it's hard to use at all. The routing engine was awesome and didn't derp up like my mom's Sanyo POS does all the time. The routing engine is the most important part, the GPS app can look pretty all it wants and if it can't route it's not worth a damn. Google Maps nav looks nice though. Also you get real time map data that's not dated. Also Google Maps actually responds to feedback and mapping corrections. Navteq and others that use thier data don't respond as quick.

[HawkMan]

Google Maps app is really good though. I loved having it for my Virginia Beach trip and the real time traffic data was really nice. Made the trip so much smoother. I don't think it's hard to use at all. The routing engine was awesome and didn't derp up like my mom's Sanyo POS does all the time. The routing engine is the most important part, the GPS app can look pretty all it wants and if it can't route it's not worth a damn. Google Maps nav looks nice though. Also you get real time map data that's not dated. Also Google Maps actually responds to feedback and mapping corrections. Navteq and others that use thier data don't respond as quick.

TomTom's live GPS' has better live updating than any google, most GPS' inf act updates theirmaps more often. As for routing, TomTom, Garmin and Mio all beat google hands down on that. except for the unfortunate thing with the GPS not receiving signals without an update after a While the tomTom Live GPS' also has full live traffic where supported, TMC , and community updated maps.

[remixedcat]

Well the routing engine depends on the area as well.....

[articuno1au]

I use my HTC Trophy 7 with the turn by turn app.

It streams the directions to my headunit (and thus to my speakers) and I can play music off the phone at the same time so that I have music with break in directions.

Also, the maps are always up to date and I can save an offline cache if I want to. Lastly, it's always with me. It's an enormous win win.

[Dashel]

So, side question. Does anyone know of an inexpensive 'GPS' positioner that can be added to a vehicle? Friend has kids without smartphones and they would like to monitor the vehicle remotely on the sly.

[HawkMan]

check if the insurance company provides them.

why on the sly though ? why not just tell them they're monitoring them ?

either way, I don't think GPS monitors and cheap can be in the same sentence. maybe those you can keep in your pocket when taking walks or taking photos. but those you have to recharge and dump with a cable regularly. and they won't record speeds and such.

[Dashel]

Don't need speeds, just position/time record (say every 15-30 min). Downloading the logs later would be preferable actually for their needs.

I don't agree with the 'sly' approach myself, but, not my kids.

[HawkMan]

check photography sites, they usually have some cheap simple loggers. heck they give them away free with soem magazine subscriptions at times :)