GPS Question
12-12-2007 | 11:25 AM
#2
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From: Kyle, TX
Isn't that the ability of the GPS to read road names to you, etc? Not just major highways, but actual residential road names...? I'd get it. 
I just bought a Garmin Nuvi 350 for my Dad for Xmas, and I think it has text to speech.
I just bought a Garmin Nuvi 350 for my Dad for Xmas, and I think it has text to speech.
12-12-2007 | 11:28 AM
#5
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From: Toronto
Originally Posted by Vector02
Isn't that the ability of the GPS to read road names to you, etc? Not just major highways, but actual residential road names...? I'd get it. I just bought a Garmin Nuvi 350 for my Dad for Xmas, and I think it has text to speech.
I just bought a Garmin Nuvi 350 for my Dad for Xmas, and I think it has text to speech.the NUvi 350 has it. The Nuvi 250 does not. I'm wondering if the 350 is worth the upgrade is the only additional feature i'd want is text to speech.
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12-12-2007 | 11:39 AM
#11
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From: Illinois
Nuvi 650 has TTS and a 4.3 inch screen for $299.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=1&topnav=&s=1
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=1&topnav=&s=1
12-12-2007 | 11:41 AM
#12
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From: Toronto, Canada
Originally Posted by IlliNorge
Nuvi 650 has TTS and a 4.3 inch screen for $299.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=1&topnav=&s=1
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=1&topnav=&s=1
Ya, I was looking at our insane Canadian prices. Cheapest I could find (without an in depth search) was $520.
EDIT: $500 at Costco Canada.
12-12-2007 | 11:41 AM
#13
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From: Long Beach, CA
It really depends on whether you want it or not. Is it enough to hear "Turn right" or do you need to hear "Turn right on Piccadilly Circus"? I got the TomTom ONE because I just wanted a basic navigation system and I didn't mind glancing at it if my turn was coming up. I did some research (after I bought mine) and it seems that the Nuvi 350 is very highly thought of. I read that it has a more sensitive satellite receiver (than the 250) which takes less time to acquire the signal and doesn't lose the signal easily.
12-12-2007 | 11:46 AM
#14
I wanted a Navigation system that told me the street names. This way I can just listen to the directions, and watch the road and read street signs. So that is what I got.
If you just need something that says turn left ahead.... then you don't need TTS....
If you just need something that says turn left ahead.... then you don't need TTS....
12-12-2007 | 11:54 AM
#15
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From: Toronto
Ya, i'm torn. Obviously I'd like to have TTS, but I just dont know if its worth $100 more. Honestly, this GPS more of a toy for me anyways (vs something i really need for travel, etc).
12-12-2007 | 12:29 PM
#17
Go with Navigon 7100, TTS, Bluetooth, reality view, basically all the available features on the market and you cant beat the price specially when you consider that it comes with free lifetime traffic updater as well. I picked mine up for $299 from overstock.com.
12-12-2007 | 02:07 PM
#21
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From: Toronto, Canada
Originally Posted by Whiskers
Depends on the density of the city and the driver...
Free, then you answered your own question. Get it. Like you said, its a toy. How many times will you be lost down town where you need TTS.
12-12-2007 | 03:26 PM
#22
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From: Long Beach, CA
Originally Posted by Whiskers
Depends on the density of the city and the driver...
If you can get the 250 for free then go for it. If you see that you're really missing something without TTS then you can pick one up later, they're only going to get cheaper.
12-12-2007 | 03:58 PM
#23
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From: Toronto
Originally Posted by jlukja
If you can get the 250 for free then go for it. If you see that you're really missing something without TTS then you can pick one up later, they're only going to get cheaper.
Good point.
12-12-2007 | 04:38 PM
#24
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Originally Posted by dom
Ya, I was looking at our insane Canadian prices. Cheapest I could find (without an in depth search) was $520.
EDIT: $500 at Costco Canada.
EDIT: $500 at Costco Canada.
Haven't looked at their pricing for your purposes, but they're local, so you could easily drive over to pick something up (or ship)!
12-12-2007 | 04:41 PM
#26
Originally Posted by fdl
How difficult is it to navigate dense city streets without TTS?
Originally Posted by Whiskers
Depends on the density of the city and the driver...
12-12-2007 | 04:41 PM
#27
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From: Toronto
Originally Posted by juniorbean
Damn, all this discussion and you can get it for free ? Just get it already...
lol. Ya ya, but I don't want my friends riding me because I don't have TTS
12-12-2007 | 04:59 PM
#29
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Originally Posted by dom
Ya, I was looking at our insane Canadian prices. Cheapest I could find (without an in depth search) was $520.
EDIT: $500 at Costco Canada.
EDIT: $500 at Costco Canada.
FDL's cost: FREE
FDL, just get it already!
12-12-2007 | 05:05 PM
#31
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Originally Posted by fdl
Not really.
Get it and sell it. I mean, if you basically go to and from work, to friends' houses, the odd unfamiliar address....what use will you really get out of a navi device?
12-12-2007 | 05:09 PM
#32
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From: Toronto
Originally Posted by Street Spirit
Then why even bother with one at all. Get it and sell it. I mean, if you basically go to and from work, to friends' houses, the odd unfamiliar address....what use will you really get out of a navi device?
Get it and sell it. I mean, if you basically go to and from work, to friends' houses, the odd unfamiliar address....what use will you really get out of a navi device?You're right, but I still want one. I don't know why. Like I said, it's just a toy.
Do you want to buy it form me? How about $200 even?
12-12-2007 | 05:10 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by fdl
You're right, but I still want one. I don't know why. Like I said, it's just a toy.
Do you want to buy it form me? How about $200 even?
Do you want to buy it form me? How about $200 even?
We still use Dan's Garmin-PDA-Navi from ~5 years ago.
12-12-2007 | 10:07 PM
#35
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From: Toronto
Looks like it doesn't work very well anyways
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/nuvi.htm
The Nuvi does exhibit some odd characteristics when announcing instructions, however. One problem (annoyance, really) is the Nuvi's inability to parse words and phrases correctly in some situations. The Q.E.W. highway in Ontario, for instance, is rendered as "Q"; Echo Dr. comes out as "Echo Doctor," Simcoe St. is rendered as Simcoe Saint, while at other times the "St." is properly vocalized as Street. And sometimes "expressway" is pronounced as "exp," while further down the road it becomes, surprise, "expressway!" Any French word is totally mangled when the unit is set to "English", (but I suppose French speakers are used to that…).
There are many of these glitches, which really should be fixed, but continue with each update. Garmin doesn't seem interested in hearing about them, either. I've tried.
There are many of these glitches, which really should be fixed, but continue with each update. Garmin doesn't seem interested in hearing about them, either. I've tried.
12-13-2007 | 07:06 AM
#36
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From: Toronto, Canada
Originally Posted by Street Spirit
Nuvi 250: $239.00 @ Radioworld (where I linked).
FDL's cost: FREE
FDL, just get it already!
FDL's cost: FREE
FDL, just get it already!
SS. the prices I quoted were for the Nuvi 660. That $520 was from Radioworld, their prices are pretty good. Couldn't beat the $193 I just paid for a TomTom One XL (non TTS) though.
12-13-2007 | 08:50 AM
#39
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From: Toronto, Canada
Originally Posted by fdl
So Dom, do you miss the TTS?
Not sure what I'm missing since I've never seen it in action. I can see how it could be helpful though. I'm more visual so I'm looking at the GPS more than anything.
Nice thing about the 250 is its size. Nice and slim so its easy to carry around.
12-13-2007 | 09:07 AM
#40
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From: Etters, PA
Originally Posted by Street Spirit
Then why even bother with one at all. Get it and sell it. I mean, if you basically go to and from work, to friends' houses, the odd unfamiliar address....what use will you really get out of a navi device?
Get it and sell it. I mean, if you basically go to and from work, to friends' houses, the odd unfamiliar address....what use will you really get out of a navi device? On a weekly basis I drive to work, friends/family's houses and 99% of places I know. However we take several road trips a year for vacation and other things and many other times a year we travel outside of our "home" area. So this was my justification for asking for one for xmas, now I just hope I get one 
For me I will be happy with anyone I get, and if I end up buying one myself I don't think I care too much about TTS. I want the GPS as more of a "reference", because I have maps and know how to read them but that does you no good if you don't know where you are. Plus the POI that the GPS units offer are nice