Good GPS other than SprintNav and Google??

stormseek · #1 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 07:58 PM

Im looking for something thats noob friendly i don't drive and i want it to talk so it can be helpful for the driver to get around. No Google or... SprintNav since you gotta pay for that.

Ive heard of TomTom and IGo but im looking for you guys good feedback

bradleyem · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 08:47 PM

IMHO nothing beats TomTom.....It's really the only one that I've seen that functions like a stand alone GPS. And damnit...you made me mess up my perfect post count......

**jason25** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradleyem

IMHO nothing beats TomTom.....It's really the only one that I've seen that functions like a stand alone GPS.

I agree, I have been using TomTom for a couple years now and love it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradleyem

And damnit...you made me mess up my perfect post count......

maybe you shouldn't of posted then

kayfouroh · #4 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 08:57 PM

Garmin XT is what I use and I have no problem with it.

iviyth0s · #5 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradleyem

IMHO nothing beats TomTom.....It's really the only one that I've seen that functions like a stand alone GPS. And damnit...you made me mess up my perfect post count......

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason25

I agree, I have been using TomTom for a couple years now and love it.

maybe you shouldn't of posted then

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayfouroh

Garmin XT is what I use and I have no problem with it.

I'd hope that you wouldn't have any problems with those programs considering they cost money....
to the OP, here is a free GPS app called Amaze that was recommended by another member on another thread. If I may ask, what do you need out of the GPS that the combination of Telenav/Sprint Navigation and Google Maps combined cannot achieve

.

I have a real hardware tom tom GPS and the TeleNav works just as good and even speaks street names better sometimes

veedubguru · #6 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 12:52 AM

I personally like Garmin XT, and have been using it for almost 2 years now. Tom Tom always did some rather unusual routing for me. It wouldn't get me where I wanted to go sometimes, or was a little inacurate on telling me where I needed to turn. Not knocking those that use it, just in my experience Garmin is worlds better, runs much quicker, and runs exactly like a stand alone GPS unit. Only Garmin drawback is that it doesn't speak the street names, but I'm ok with "turn left in .1 miles" then "turn left now" as I approach.

The latest Garmin XT has a google search feature that will find just about anything you can think of that's near you, give you the phone number and auto-routing! There are alot of other great features like the fact it constantly (even during your active route) checks for traffic issues like backups, road closings, construction, etc, and will route around them if desired. And if you want to see how it works in person, head in to a store that has Garmin GPS units on display. The software is nearly identical, but better on the ppc version due to the internet connectivity.

The problem with Amaze, Google maps, Sprint NAV and the like, is that your maps are being downloaded in real time as you need them. Not a good thing if you drive where you are either getting only 1x data, or worse than that, little or no reception. No data = no maps to route. I guess that's ok if you never leave a metro area, but on a cross country trip you'll run into trouble.

With the commercial programs like Garmin and TomTom, the maps are loaded on your SD card, so they are very fast and smooth, and work perfectly regardless of wether or not you have good data signal. I have the entire US map set on my SD Card and it takes up about 1GB. Best part is, these programs are a one time fee and you'll get use of it on every pocket pc you own from time of purchase forward.

Just my two cents... or three... maybe four.

iviyth0s · #7 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 12:58 AM

How much is the Tom Tom program versus Garmin?? I'm having a hard time justifying getting either of them since I own a full GPS but if they are cheap enough and work well enough then I'd consider selling my GPS unit

veedubguru · #8 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iviyth0s

How much is the Tom Tom program versus Garmin?? I'm having a hard time justifying getting either of them since I own a full GPS but if they are cheap enough and work well enough then I'd consider selling my GPS unit

I paid $100 for my Garmin new on Ebay. It came with bluetooth GPS, but I made some changes to the program so that I could use it with internal GPS. You'll have to google how to do all that... it's not allowed conversation here.

lostcausnjtown · #9 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 01:01 AM

I think they can both be had for a under a 100 bucks.

**ou2mame** · #10 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 05:33 AM

i use garmin regularly, tomtom on occasion. tomtom has had some weird problems on my phone though, but overall, it works well. its a very "dated" experience though, compared to garmin. i tried amaze a few times, but i'd rather stick to an sd card solution if possible because i like to talk on the phone while i'm driving, and garmin and tomtom work just fine while on a bluetooth headset.