Hey all,

Cell phones used to be "fixed" installations in vehicles when they first became common. You could use it in your vehicle but couldn't take it with you. Well, we all know how that has changed.
Do you think navigation systems are going down the same road? With the popularity of Garmin and all the others out there does it make sense to have something you can only use in the car it comes with?
Granted, the TL's nav system is integrated with other functions in the car and the display is much nicer however I don't think it will be long before the technology in the portable units catches up. They will eventually have the same technology that we have now, and you'll be able to take it with you when you leave the car.
Last but not least is the price. The portable units are getting cheaper by the day. How many of those could you buy for the price of the TL's nav option?

Of course, no one can predict the future. It will be interesting to see if navigation systems remain "fixed" components or get abandoned by automakers. Whadda ya think?

 

I see what you're saying about the technology and comparing it with cellular phones (getting smaller and more mobile), but I don't think the comparison is very accurate. The portable nav units have been around for a LONG time; probably nearly as long as navigation has been around itself. The add-on nav system is fine for cars that didn't come equipped with it, but for my money, I'll take a fully seamless and integrated nav system. They always look better in a car.

Having anything removable come standard on a car -- to me -- seems more like add-on-ish and not something that a manufacturer would embrace. Like you said, the nav in the TL is integrated into many other features on the car, not to mention the screen is pretty dang large. A screen that large wouldn't be convenient for portable use. You might as well carry around a laptop if you're going to go that route.

 

I agree with bretallica. Your analogy is imperfect in that there are already lots of portable GPS devices. In fact, I can even use Google Maps on my Treo 700p so I don't even need a GPS device when I'm in an urban/suburban area.

I do remember when cell phones were installed equipment, though. They still are--my RL has OnStar, which is essentially a high-power cell phone.

 

Just want to clarify: In no way am I advocating the demise of fixed navigation systems. Just wondering what some peoples thoughts were on whether or not nav systems might be heading ( or not heading ) in the future.
I'm quite happy with the nav in my TL and can't imagine not having it.

 

I bought a very nice portable one for about 1/8th the cost of the TL nav.

Even the nicest Nav systems rarely run much more than a grand. That is the portable auto systems anyhow. The built in systems are really probably worth about half what they cost in reality.

 

What's really puzzling is why a navigation system isn't standard equipment in all vehicles. I predict it'll become standard fare in all cars within 5 years time.

On the topic of cell phones, there really ought to be a law that prohibits drivers from talking on their cell phones (while driving) without using some type of handsfree device. Many places around the world have enacted such laws (some as many as 10 years ago), but here in Vancouver, Canada, everybody drives around while holding on to their phones with one hand and trying to operate all the vehicle's functions (including just driving) with the other.

Go figure.

 

You do realize that its the conversation that is distracting and not the actual holding of the phone?

 

I love seeing people driving TLs with their phones to their ears. I'm thinking, maybe they don't have bluetooth but who doesn't have bluetooth now a days, espeically if you can afford to drive a TL?

 

Chicago has such a law. Good luck getting in enforced though.

 

Jersey's passing a law that you can't text message while driving this way cops can now pull anyone over if it looks like they're using a phone while driving.

 

That is an interesting point. I actually was thinking along the same lines... for Acuras its not a big deal but with other manufacturers (actually all of them) I see this "technology package option" which runs in the 3K range (nav + some extras) so it is getting more and more expensive to get in-built navi....

In addition if you have multiple cars in the house, you are looking at spending a lot of moolah getting in built NAVI for all cars...

I might just go the portable NAVI route next time around and buy a decent portable one with a remote and all...PLUS big thing I like about the portable one is that I can customize my routes etc...rather then being in dark...

 

sometimes, with few passenger in the car, i want to have a short private conversation with someone, then i need to disconnect from bluetooth

 

That's exactly why I don't always use my Bluetooth, plus some phones like Sony Ericssons have poor bluetooth strength. With my SE phones it was always staticky.

I believe in California it is against the law to be on the phone and drive at the same time.

 

^ There is (or should be if I'm not mistaken) a "transfer" command that lets you go from bluetooth to regular handheld, and vice-versa -- like if you're getting into the car when you're already talking on the phone.

I think this thread is getting off topic!

 

Here's my

Before the TL, I had an '04 Accord W/O navigation. I bought a very nice Garmin system for around $700 (They are now even cheaper) It worked great and I used it on several long trips.

Here's the "BUT": I never seemed to have it in the car when I needed it. Find a restaurant near work or an alternate route around a traffic jam. I wanted navigation in my new car and the TL-S came with it. I find that having it always available is great. I have already used it more than I thought I would.

I agree with the comments that navigation will eventually become standard on all but the entry level cars. It is one of those things that when you don't have it you don't miss it, but once you get it you wonder how you got along without it.

 

If that is true do you have a rule of no talking in the car then? I think dialing and answering the phone is where the largest distraction is. Scrolling through the address book to find an entry.

 

Interesting. My Sony Ericsson phone had BETTER sound quality (both talking and listening) then my current Samsung phone.

 

Interesting topic and opinions. I have built-in Navi, use it a lot and am quite fond of it. I like that its tied in to the whole information system thing.

But I feel that the aftermarket unit are already better in some respects. It's easier to upgrade or redesign a single simple component that something that is intergrated into a complex system. It pisses me off to no end that the Civic and Accord have more advanced systems than the TL right now.

For those who care there is one other not so small detail. I just today negotiated a new TL for a friend, he chose not to go with Navi. I had the dealer compute the difference in monthly payments (60mo @ 3.9%) and it came to $50 more per month for the navigation system. When broken down like that I would have a harder time justifing the purchase. I'm glad I didn't have to think about this when I got mine

 

to answer OP, I've thought about the same thing, but I think both have their uses - I expect to eventually have a hand-held device that gives me similar capabilities as my in-car nav does w/the hand-held being integrated into a phone. I think that perhaps another analogy for in-car vs portable navi is that of desktops & laptops...they both are fairly popular, even after the introduction of the portable computer years and years ago - they both serve their purpose. You could have a navigation unit/phone that you just plugged into your car & it used the built-in screen to interface w/the nav

 

Now that I've got a car with a nav system I can't imagine ever having another one without it. It's way overpriced but that's the price we pay to have what we want and automakers seem to know that. Sure, I could go out and pick up a portable but will it be as convenient? Not at all. With the portable ones coming down in price I'll probably go ahead and get one for the next wifes car.
On the HFL thing:
Whenever I see a car puttering along slower than all the other traffic or drifting around out of their lane I just know that the driver is on a cell phone. Sure enough, when I get around them they're chatting away and look engrossed in the conversation, driving is secondary. I don't know why but I find myself distracted by phone conversations more than just talking with passengers. Weird. Like the bumper sticker says, "Hang up and drive". Cell phones and driving should be two activities that are mutually exclusive.

 

I haven't used my desktop computer since I got the laptop. It pretty much belongs to the kids now. I got the laptop 2 years ago when I had a need for portable computing. Even though that need is gone now I can't see myself going back to a desktop again. It works as a desktop (Dell Inspiron 17" widescreen) and everything goes with me if I travel. Plus if I need more working room on my desk I can just toss it aside.

 

Time limit got me for the edit.

I can't imagine trying to use it as a portable nav system though, way to obtrusive. Even a portable with 7" screen would be cumbersome.
Technology is advancing faster than we can envision new products and uses. There are video displays on flexible medium now that can be transported anywhere.
Imagine a navigation system that is completely self contained and resembles nothing more than a 8.5" X 11" transparency. It would have voice commands, touch screen, and all the other bells and whistles and we would be able to just attach it to the windshield as some sort of quasi heads up display? When your done, peel it off, bring it into the house (or wherever), plaster it to a wall, window, and voila, HDTV! The possibilties are endless . . .