03-28-2008, 04:14 PM
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#1 |
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Chief of Naval Operations
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: the burbs of baltimore
Posts: 11,924
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Help me find a GPS
So, I'm trying to get a gps for a friend for her bday. Her work forces her to drive around to meet clients and what not around the DC area, and if anyone knows, dc beltway traffic is horrible, so I've been thinking about how traffic would be a nice option to have.
so yeah, I don't own a gps (i'm a guy, c'mon  ) so yeah, I've been doing some research to try to find teh best optionAnyways. I've been going through a bunch of deals sites and I'm narrowing down to these options: navigon 7100 @ costco - 300 huge upside, free traffic for life. no subscriptions. others: bluetooth, voice command recognition down: unknown brand. unknown how accurate/useful traffic is. unknown lots of other things. Magellan 4250 @ buy.com - 250 upside: bluetooth, voice command recognition, known brand, price down: subscribing to traffic 60 bucks a year. Dash @ amazon - 400 upside: incredible features, internet, traffic (that seems more accurate, and more detailed). downside: unknown brand, price, 10 bucks a month for subscription to traffic and internet, price I can be convinced to get the dash if it's absolutely the best thing that I HAVE to get, but... I'd rather not. my choice is more between the navigon and magellan. If there's any other things that I should consider, please let me know. TIA!
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03-28-2008, 04:18 PM
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#2 |
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Admiral
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: OKC
Posts: 5,046
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first, you input into your GPS directions to the nearest electronic store...
Oh wait, you might have to mapquest it since you don't have a GPS  sorry no help here  |
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03-28-2008, 04:32 PM
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#3 |
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Fleet Admiral
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: about 15 min away
Posts: 8,165
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i have a magellan (i'm gellin') maestro 3100. it's basic, but i've never needed more. it's nice. and the SO has a blackberry, so i guess we can use her internet for that up-to-the-minute stuff.
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03-28-2008, 04:51 PM
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#4 |
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Admiral
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: You could pick up Lindsay Lohan for less than a intel 990x, and still have money left over to bail her outta jail
Posts: 5,029
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i use a garmin 550 and love it. but i got a heck of a deal on it .$150 just before Christmas was going for $249 and up at the time. .
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You could pick up Lindsay Lohan for less than a intel 990x, and still have money left over to bail her outta jail |
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03-28-2008, 05:57 PM
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#5 |
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Chief News Editor & Master of His Domain
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 8,161
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the garmins are really nice. Magellens have crap for warranty support, though I like the actual units.
For a cheap one that is okay, Pharos makes a few decent models. They actually get a GPS signal fairly quickly. Stay away from Navman and V7 and Cobra. And most generics, really. Nothing beats the Garmin Navi for ease of use.
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lpmiller Chief News Editor Nobel Prize Nominee Reverend in the Universal Life Church Once Shot A Man For Snoring Too Loud Way Too Lazy To Change His Signature "The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity to tell the difference." - Calvin and Hobbes |
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03-30-2008, 07:20 AM
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#6 |
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Admiral
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: You could pick up Lindsay Lohan for less than a intel 990x, and still have money left over to bail her outta jail
Posts: 5,029
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sorry gave you some wrong pricing on my gps .it's a garmin streetpilot c550. and it set you back around $350 today !they are avail cheaper online but not a whole lot.
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03-30-2008, 07:56 AM
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#7 |
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Commander
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Posts: 1,295
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Go with Garmin. Nothing beats them. If you want to save some money here are some deals on a few older models. I have owned a nuvi 360 for close to 2 years now and love it.
BeachCamera through Amazon has the Garmin Nuvi 360 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator for $229 w/ free shipping. You must look on the right hand column and click on "add to cart" for BeachCamera. PCNation has the Garmin NUVI 650 Portable GPS Navigation System, featuring a 4.3" touchscreen LCD, 2GB internal storage w/ pre-loaded NAVTEQ maps, bluetooth for hands-free calling, FM transmitter for (optional) real-time traffic updates, MP3 player, Text To Speech, for a low $287.40 Free Shipping. Tax in CA. When my Nuvi 360 goes out I want a Nuvi 700 series they are really nice. |
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03-30-2008, 08:12 AM
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#8 |
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Chief of Naval Operations
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: the burbs of baltimore
Posts: 11,924
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what about garmins do you love? have you tried other brands that lack that functionality?
The thing with gps' vs anything else, it seems like everyone has one. they either love it or it's just ok. but, there isn't anything that really sways them to try out a different brand. at least when I try to ask my other friends who have gps'. I have one friend who loves his tomtom, and told me to get a tomtom. and the story seems pretty similar. get my brand cuz I love it. |
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03-30-2008, 11:26 AM
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#9 |
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Chief of Naval Operations
Join Date: May 2000
Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA
Posts: 13,621
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I have a Mio C220 and can't imagine wanting any other features. I believe the C230 is the one that supercedes it. As far as I know, they are less than $150.
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03-30-2008, 11:48 AM
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#10 |
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Admiral
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: East coast
Posts: 7,116
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Get the Garmin 660 at buydig for $249 shipped. I have one and I just ordered one yesterday from buydig for my sister's b-day. Let me know if you need more info.
edit: the reason I bought the Garmin is based on reviews which state that the Garmin has better routing capabilities than the Tom-tom or Magellan plus other enginerd (I am one too!) friends of mine gave me advice to buy the Garmin. Last edited by guiseppewv : 03-30-2008 at 11:52 AM. |
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03-30-2008, 12:42 PM
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#11 |
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Admiral
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: You could pick up Lindsay Lohan for less than a intel 990x, and still have money left over to bail her outta jail
Posts: 5,029
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i had a tom tom and was not impressed as i was with the garmin! also the garmin is easyer to make adjustments with (the menu easyer to use )
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03-30-2008, 05:37 PM
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#12 |
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Secretary of the Navy
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood
Posts: 34,997
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I still say that you can't go wrong with a Garmin...
But hey, everyone has their own opinion on which is better.
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03-30-2008, 07:53 PM
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#13 |
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Chief of Naval Operations
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: raising my pimp hand strong
Posts: 13,038
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i agree df.
and it's a device that 90% of the brands cover the exact same functionality well. it's not complicated. mine has extra features like an mp3 player that i'll never use. just get something that's compact and has a good display and it will be fine.
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03-30-2008, 08:53 PM
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#14 |
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Vice Admiral
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,352
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garmin nuvi 660 owner here...love it.
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03-30-2008, 09:47 PM
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#15 |
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Commander
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Posts: 1,295
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I bought a mio for my dad. at first I thought it was my dad who just couldnt figure it out. So I took it from him and gave it to my wife. She could not stand it. She sold it on ebay. I bought my dad a garmin nuvi 660 and he was able to use it no problem.
I find the nuvi interface much better than the mio. The mio did have some cool features but not worth the other annoyances. |
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03-31-2008, 02:08 PM
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#16 | |
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Vice Admiral
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Cali, but missing Hong Kong and Texas
Posts: 4,782
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Quote:
i have this one also, i use it ALL the time. and it has TONS of poi's in it. i've never opened the manual and i've been able to use all the features on it and input address in it with ease. it calculates very fast, and it gets me from a --> b quicly. i love the mio!
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Life is like toilet paper, long and useful! The stars at night, are big and bright *clap 4x* deep in the heart of TEXAS! |
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03-31-2008, 02:13 PM
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#17 | |
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Chief of Naval Operations
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: the burbs of baltimore
Posts: 11,924
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Quote:
Hey guisse, I'm seeing the garmin nuvi 660 for 330 on buydig. where'd u find it for 250?!? |
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03-31-2008, 05:08 PM
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#18 |
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Secretary of the Navy
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood
Posts: 34,997
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Wow... a Nuvi 660 for $250!!! Now that's a great price!
(Grumbles... at spending over $400 for the Nuvi 350 a few years back.  ) |
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03-31-2008, 05:53 PM
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#19 |
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Admiral
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: You could pick up Lindsay Lohan for less than a intel 990x, and still have money left over to bail her outta jail
Posts: 5,029
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fyi on garman to they keep there software updated .i just updated my c550 via the internet and the usb cord they supplyed . simple operation to do .this update was releases on o3-07-2008 took maybe 4 mins .
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04-01-2008, 12:26 AM
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#20 | |
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Vice Admiral
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,352
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Quote:
Don't feel bad, I spent 700 bucks on the 660 when it first came out...(it was $899 at the time.) |
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04-01-2008, 09:16 AM
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#21 |
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Admiral
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Maryland
Posts: 6,578
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My wife just got Garmin Nuvi 350 from a friend about a few weeks ago. I personally don't like it based on the directions it gave me and what I know was the quickest way. We live in Maryland but we travel to Virginia and DC also.
However if I didn't live in the area and already know my way around I would say it's pretty good for those who get lost easy. That's why my wife has it...she gets lost all the time because 495 east/west/north/south ramps are confusing and relative to where you are currently. She likes it because it'll get you there, recalculates if you miss the turn, loud and she can do a search for nearby businesses. We're still trying to figure out if we have the latest updates maps. There are some new roads and traffic patterns with all the condo construction and now the new Nationals Stadium. She's thinking to spring for the traffic attachment.
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04-01-2008, 09:21 AM
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#22 |
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Lieutenant Commander
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 696
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Costco has the 660 on sale for $299 right now, then if it ever breaks, you can take it back as well.
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04-01-2008, 09:30 AM
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#23 |
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Lieutenant Commander
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 696
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okay, I lied it's the 650.
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04-01-2008, 01:38 PM
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#24 | |
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Admiral
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: East coast
Posts: 7,116
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Quote:
Sorry, I screwed up. Costco has the best price right now at $299. I accidentaly ordered a 360 for my sister instead of the 660. I am going to have to return it. I guess my eyes are going bad. |
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04-01-2008, 06:59 PM
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#25 | |
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Secretary of the Navy
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood
Posts: 34,997
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Quote:
I probably would've given my brother my Nuvi 350 and bought myself the 660 for that price. BTW... the Nuvi 360 is a great unit as well. It's the upgrade (later model year) to my 350 that adds Bluetooth capability to the Nuvi. |
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04-02-2008, 10:08 AM
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#26 | |
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Vice Admiral
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,352
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Quote:
Actually, Costco's Nuvi is the 650 not the 660. Which is going for $299 (after $100 off). |
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04-02-2008, 10:15 AM
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#27 |
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Chief of Naval Operations
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: the burbs of baltimore
Posts: 11,924
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comparing features, it seems like the 360 and 660 are the same exact gps except different screen size.
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04-02-2008, 10:17 AM
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#28 |
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Chief of Naval Operations
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: the burbs of baltimore
Posts: 11,924
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oh, and I'm still confused as to which one to get...
I think everyone's saying garmin. but... 330 for a 660? when i can get the magellan for 250 with the same features? yeah, i'm kinda torn, and not sure if that's really worth it... |
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04-02-2008, 11:01 AM
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#29 |
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Chief of Naval Operations
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: the burbs of baltimore
Posts: 11,924
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04-02-2008, 01:35 PM
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#30 | |
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Secretary of the Navy
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood
Posts: 34,997
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Quote:
BMW versus Benz? More or less you have to decide what fits your comfort/budget level. Garmin just has earned alot of our respect in regards to GPS units. And I guess you could assume that they are a "premium brand" in the industry. |
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