+- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com)
+-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: Garmin GPS (/showthread.php?tid=55191)
Pages:
1
2
Garmin GPS - msglee - 05-19-2008
I'm looking to buy a GPS. Can anyone comment on this unit, besides being from Costco. The price seems right and I like the features.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11277587&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US&s=1
Re: Garmin GPS - Chupa Chupa - 05-19-2008
I got my dad the lower 330 a couple of years ago. It's a nice unit but kinda clunky/awkward footprint. If you attach it to the windshild it creates a horrible blind spot. I bought that model for him b/c it was the least expensive at the time. There are a lot more models in the price range now though. I'd look at the Garmin Nuvi models now. I also like the Navigon units.
Re: Garmin GPS - AlphaDog - 05-19-2008
I think that's the model my friend got from Costco a while back; if not exactly, it's very close. She's been happy with it and has been using it to navigate while living and traveling in her 35 foot motor home, towing a car. So far there was only one route it screwed up. It put her on a scenic mountain highway, in spite of being set to the "bus" option. She's since learned to double check a map if she's in mountainous areas! Other than that she's appreciated having it, and she's given it quite a workout already.
I know she has a place to mount it in the "cockpit" when she's driving the big rig, but I'm not sure where she puts it in her Jetta.
Re: Garmin GPS - h linamen - 05-19-2008
Don't know about that particular model, but I have the Garmin Nuvi 200 W and absolutely love it. Garmin has a great reputation. The model you are looking at comes with the beanbag device which sells for $39 itself. I bought it separately and much prefer it over the windshield mount. That alone drops the bottomline cost for the GPS to $169 and makes it a good deal, in my opinion.
Re: Garmin GPS - Cary - 05-19-2008
I bought a Nuvi 650 because of size - it's easier to hide away. The Garmin interface is great. I use the beanbag mount, and like it very much.
That's a great price.
Cary
Re: Garmin GPS - guitarist - 05-19-2008
I like mine a lot. My wife got a Tom Tom, which is regarded as a better device, even referred to flatteringly as mac-like, but even though my Garmin is more modest and a year or two older, I find it more pleasing to use, more accurate, simpler. Good at self-correcting, too. When you ignore the directions or miss a turn, it recalculates quickly and offers an updated instruction.
When I lived and worked in LA, it saved me countless hours, I never got lost, never had to think that hard. Though this is probably true of GPS car navigation units in general, it's arguably the most beneficial consumer electronics personal assistant device I've ever used, making a once aggravating task completely easy through smart technology. I dig my Garmin.
Re: Garmin GPS - Michael - 05-19-2008
Two issues with it: it's relatively large (4.4 x 3.2 x 2.25) and it's an older technology that Garmin is likely to quit supporting sooner rather than later.
I bought a c320 two years ago (about the same size, but not as advanced as the Costco one) and they no longer support new maps for it. They just released a map a couple of month ago and on their website it says, "no map updates available" for my c320. I might be able to purchase the maps separately and load them, but they won't do a download on a unit that old. The c550 isn't as old and is currently being supported, but I'd bet it's on the way out. Of course, everything is on the way to obsolescence...
The seeming replacement for the c550 is the Nuvi 260. It's substantially shallower (.8" deep) so it slips in my shirt pocket easily, but with the same size screen. It also talks street names. It's currently $221 at Amazon. With the beanbag it's $241--oops, it just changed to $249. Remember you can get a price adjustment for 30 days. I bought a 260 with the beanbag and I like it more than the old c320.
Costco will add shipping and tax. Amazon is an out the door price. Costco you can return forever... Each place has it's benefits.
Re: Garmin GPS - olnacl - 05-19-2008
I bought a Garmin 660 and a beanbag mount. Excellent. I recently gave it on to a friend and put in an in-dash Pioneer because I didn't want to deal with hiding it every time I parked the car.
Re: Garmin GPS - Microman - 05-19-2008
Once i forgot I had Garmin 660 set to shortest distance instead of fastest. I got to my destination which was Yosemite, but I certainly saw some areas I never would have.
I also called Garmin the other day, because my 660 was having me get off the fwy, and then right back on. San Diego here in Southern Cal., near the Sepulveda Pass. Long story short, they asked me if my avoidances had TRAFFIC checked and I did. THey said that some streets have a LOT of traffic, and that if I want to always avoid them I choose that option. I was surprised that it was totally independent of the FM Traffic option that I also use.
Thought there was a major problem with the software, but easy fix.
Now if they would only get that the 210 FWY goes all the way to San Bernardino now, and not direct you up towards Barstow , and then back down to the 30, would be great. I cant beleive that the 2008 maps don't have that.
Oh well.
Re: Garmin GPS - graylocks - 05-19-2008
the walmart circular in today's mail has the Garmin 200 for $168. worth checking out.
i bought my brother a beanbag mount for his c330 (or some number like that). he thinks the mount is the best thing since sliced bread. my garmin 2620 came with a beanbag mount so that's all i've ever used. pretty convenient.