Community Newsletter: Q&A: Aren't all GPS devices essentially the same? Why the price differences?
- 12/14/07 1:05 AM
Garmin Sat Nav
by markmercer - 12/8/07 3:26 AM In reply to: Aren't all GPS devices essentially the same? Why the price differences? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I bought a Garmin Street Pilot (UK version) when the price was still pretty high. I soon became desperately frustrated by the lack of map information. Newish roads were missing. When road improvements had taken place, even many years ago, Garmin would announce "off route" at frequent intervals and offer to reroute me. There were no Industrial Estates, Hospitals, Churches or other landmarks.
What I have to do is to find destinations on other web sites such as 'street map', then transfer the 'way points' into Garmin.
What really chokes me is that I paid over a hundred dollars for an upgrade that wasn't. It had merely added other countries and all their towns which pop up annoyingly on every destination search. The UK maps had not been updated and I was still without much of the information I needed and thought I was paying for.
The system has many good features but if you need to locate a destination whilst on the road it takes so long to set up you can probably get there much quicker by map reading and/or asking passers by. I am often looking for an industrial estate so my Garmin (without pre-programming from other sources) is a non starter!
I am not sorry I bought it. It certainly has its uses but on the road it needs a lot of interpretation because it quite often says something totally stupid. After all it is just a little computer. . .
I have no comparative data about other systems but one bit of advice for buyers - ask when the maps were last updated. If possible dial in a few actual addresses before you buy.
Tom, uh, Tom
by ehymel - 12/8/07 6:18 AM In reply to: Aren't all GPS devices essentially the same? Why the price differences? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
TomTom, as others have observed, a Netherlands GPS manufacturer, was very much the runner-up after Garmin and Magellan, but has grown to be part of the top three in the world - in Europe, it is the largest producer of GPS units. It has recently acquired the (Dutch as well) second digital mapmaker in the world, TeleAtlas - the "original", American, mapmaker, on the West Coast, is being bought by Finnish Nokia, a cellphone manufacturer that is now beginning to produce GPS/cellphone equipment - both their N95 and 6110 Navigator phones have a GPS unit built in that can be used independently from the phone.
I would like to emphasize that for use in a motor vehicle, a GPDS unit with voice capability, one that will "talk you to" your destination, is indispensible. Looking at a GPS screen, when you drive, is not only dangerous, it may make you miss traffic signals, diversions and obstructions that your GPS does not (yet) know about.
Another factor that should be taken into consideration is the price of maps that do not come with the unit. I recall needing a Europe map for my older handheld Magellan, and finding out the company wanted some $400 for it. I ended up buying an entire GPS unit for my laptop, mail order from England, which, with a full street level map of all of the European Union, came to $200, including shipping.
So, before you decide, go to the manufacturer's websites, and find out how much they want for maps, and map upgrades. The maps may otherwise set you back more than the original unit cost you, if you decide it would really be dandy to have a map of Johannesburg, when you go there on a business trip.
Bigger Screen, then mainly good, old "bells & whistles."
by jehelmes - 12/10/07 11:15 AM In reply to: Aren't all GPS devices essentially the same? Why the price differences? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
First let me say that I was one of those lucky ones who snared a TomTom One for $120 and I love it. It does everything that 95-99% of us really care about in a GPS device. While the screen is the passing 4:3 format (not widescreen), it is plenty bright and easy to use (in spite of what some other responders have suggested). This may not be the case with all $100 GPS units; however I am confident the budget models from the REPUTABLE GPS manufacturers will please almost anyone.
I suspect the main reason for the rock-bottom pricing is that manufacturers are phasing out their 4:3 screens for widescreen units. I recognize the utility of a widescreen, allowing the full screen height to be used for the maps while information is displayed off to one side (my map gets cropped at the bottom & the right side for such info). Furthermore, one may get "widescreen envy" once 4:3 screens become extinct like buttons and B&W screens; however IMHO, the difference between widescreen and standard ratio isn't worth $100 (or nearly double the price). Though I am an iPhone-owning tech geek who was first on his block with a 16:9 HDTV, the standard screen perfectly satisfies me in a GPS unit.
Beyond the widescreen (which can be obtained for around $250), your dollars are squeezed to get "bells and whistles" like:
-Voice input
-Extra memory with overseas maps
-Bluetooth communication with cell phones for hands-free calling
-FM transmitter for MP3/iPod connectivity with car stereo, and...
-Custom voices (in case you want your own voice or perhaps Brittney Spears, Darth Vader, or John Cleese's voices barking directions at you.)
While it would be cool to talk to my GPS like a Star Trek captain navigating to unknown territory...again IMHO, it's not worth another $200, $300, $400 (especially if you are someone considering budget models in the 1st place.) Beyond that it seems to me there are far cheaper alternates to bluetooth, FM transmitters, and extra memory. And I'm not even going to say what I think about custom voices because I don't have THAT much time on my hands...plus I'm falling in love with the TomTom's default "Jane" anyway (why are proper British accents so sexy?)
Another "added feature" is "advanced technology" GPS signal reception...but once I connected my TomTom One to my computer to download updates, my reception has been phenomenal (FYI, only been in the suburbs with it so far). I now get a locked signal within seconds. Note, prior to the update, it took as much as 15 minutes to get a signal...so to any frustrated TomTom One owners: run to your computer and download the updates!
Bottom line: I cannot imagine ever regretting this purchase.
Free TomTom Voices
by billangell - 1/14/08 7:32 PM In reply to: Bigger Screen, then mainly good, old "bells & whistles." by jehelmesIn case you would like a little variety in your TomTom voices, you can download a lot of free voices from thie Austrailian web site http://www.ozpoi.com/TomTom_Voices.html
gps
by rdm1783 - 12/14/07 3:05 PM In reply to: Aren't all GPS devices essentially the same? Why the price differences? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i own a mio it is one of the cheaper brands but it gets the job done.its price range from 150-200 dollars its very simple and to the point.actually mio just created another mio that is in the same price range but the screen is bigger and it has more features
Lat/Long input ability
by Tonto_Lost - 12/31/07 6:30 AM In reply to: Aren't all GPS devices essentially the same? Why the price differences? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Info in general, was very useful. I only saw one mention of the ability to determine Longitude and Latitude. I would like to have this ability. I have a bottom of the line Garmin (hand-held) that provides that info (for hiking, kayaking etc). I would like to see that in a Vehicle GPS. It would come in handy, when I do some environmental monitoring and am given the Lat/Long coordinates. My hand held will get me close, but it takes a long time for it to hone in and with questionable accuracy.
It would also be nice to be able to input the lat/long coordinates (like google maps)to determine when I am located to by desired sampling site.
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