jlukja

TomTom ONE owner here. Very basic features but works great.
Likes:
- speed sensitive volume
- excellent satellite receiver, never loses signal
- updates available by internet (roads, voices, points of interest)
- when not plugged in (i.e. without cords) fits perfectly in the upper center console storage bin of my TSX.
- simple and intuitive
- small and compact, easily slips into your pocket
- cheap (saw it on sale for $129)
Dislikes:
- only one destination at a time (doesn't route plan mulitple stops)
- relatively short battery life
- rather large and clumsy winshield mount

Renegade

What is relatively short battery life? The nuvi 200W has about 5 hours rechargeable lithium. Can you plug it in to a DC port in the car? Any advantage of getting the Tom Tom One over the nuvi 200w?

is300eater

I never believe in the battery life-hours stated by any company... it's pretty always shorter than they say... I've never had any experience with Garmin's or Nuvi's but... I'm sure you'll be fine with it... a lot of people here swear by it... One thing cool about TomTom is... FREE updates constantly. But I think they're all going that direction anyway.

synth19

woot.com guys, another deal for today!

is300eater

damn, you weren't kiddin'...

$89.99 and $5 shipping!!! (too bad it doesn't have Canada maps loaded, cuz I do go up to Vancouver quite often, oh and NO Hawaii and Alaska)

Renegade

Bought my mom a nuvi200 today for $99..looks pretty nice, still waiting for my 200W to come in! That navigon has a cool view for sure, wish the nuvi looked cool like that

Renegade

Wow that navigon is awesome, $90 and great reviews...oh well, I guess my nuvi200W will have to do. Is there anyway to charge these things besides in car?

Renegade

WTF I cant believe the Nuvi doesnt include some type of adapter to plug it in the wall to charge..what a disgrace, anyone know where I can find a cheap one?

is300eater

the TomTom 920 I bought (and returned) came with a USB cradle/cable that charged it while you got (constant) updates... did it come with anything like that?

Renegade

Nope, just the car plug charger. That really pisses me off. And no miniUSB cable either to download updates...hmmm

is300eater

http://cgi.ebay.com/GPS-GARMIN-NUVI-...QQcmdZViewItem

synth19

I picked up the Garmin 200 today and it's awesome! I already used it. Just as easy as the other garmin I borrowed, but this one is more compact. Fits in your dress shirt pocket. Downloading 2009 updates as we speak.

baboya96

Just bought mine two hours ago and yes it's a great little gadget. but then i must admit being used to OEM Navi in my lexus, this is no comparison. It's all good though. I'm pretty certain it's worth every penny....

Did you buy a usb cable? It didn't come with it. What are you downloading? just 2009 maps? any POI?

Renegade

Are the Garmin updates free?

synth19

^ I believe the first one is free, with this purchase, the 2009 update is free.

^ I just updated the 2009 updates, I didn't really look into anything else such as POI, etc. This thing is pretty bare bones (just how I want it). But this also means no usb cable, case, etc. However, I have 3-4 of those cables from digital cameras, external harddrives, etc. The download took about 2 hours, but relatively simple. No need to delete any files, or anything of that nature. This navi is perfect for my civic and NSX. I wont upgrade the NSX audio/navi etc until next year, so this will do just fine since I SUCK at directions. And no plans in upgrading anything in the civic. lol

Renegade

Downloading the update now, unit will prob die in the middle lol, USB doesnt seem to charge this thing cuz it gets locked up. Bought a wall adapter for $10 online.

synth19

link?

Renegade

http://www.semsons.com/acwaplto12vd.html

caligirl2k

I have the Garmin Nuvi 680 and it works great..

jlukja

My TomTom is around 3 hours + or - . I say its relatively short because I've read that the Garmins can get you 5 hours and up. I think the new TomTom130 is supposed to have longer battery times and an integrated winshield mount.

As mentioned above, the TomTom comes with a mini usb cable that you can also use for charging. It also comes with a car plug.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

My car garmin is awesome.

synth19

tom tom for $82!

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=866870

PatrickB

I got a Garmin Nuvi 750 at Sams Club for $299 and I really like it. I didn't need bluetooth. I had an "off" brand for about a week and returned it. The Garmin is much better IMO. I bought a cheap friction mount and although it serves the purpose, it dosen't look as good as the Garmin one.

is300eater

Okay, I wasn't sure if I should just start a new thread about what I need to know... but we'll see if it works out here.... I'm looking for a GPS that will do the following:

for example: you start off entering an address number like "6981"... and right away, it gives ALL the possibilities of every addresses in it's data with that number combo... either that or on the next step, only certain letters will be high lighted for the first letter in the street name, does that make sense?

PatrickB

My Nuvi 750 does that. You can choose a state or a city I believe or you can just start entering the number. Then for the street, as soon as it narrows it down enough, it generates a list for you to pick from.

I suggest checking them out in person to see what interface you like best. OR there might be some examples on youtube??

is300eater

I have some credit at Costco (i returned something) and they have the 680 at certain stores... do you think that model does it? I tried looking for it on Youtube but didn't see any vids showing it...

AS3.0CL

my 660 does what patrickB's 750 does.

wackura

Some people make the argument that it's better to get a non-nav vehicle to allow for portable nav which lends itself to upgrades, but in Acura models the nav screen does other stuff like show a more detailed readout for the audio, AC system and display a backup cam, so it would be nice if the guilt in nav could be configured to show something other than nav by default such as the audio screen.

is300eater

well, some of us bought cars w/o navi so we don't really have a choice

wackura

Be that as it may. Some have suggested nav model depreciate faster for having outdated appendages but if the nav screen could be repurposed that might not be as much an issue.

is300eater

I can see the debate there on both sides, and to be honest? if I had a choice I would rather have a factory navi... simply cleaner look... but when I stumbled onto an Infiniti lot and saw the deal on my FX... I jumped on it not caring that it didn't have navi... oh well

is300eater

so, last week... I returned something at Costco, had some credit. I've been wanting to get a GPS... I had a couple (somewhat) far away places I had to visit over last weekend... so I bought the Nuvi 680. I guess about a year ago or so... it was one of Garmin's higher end model (retailed was like $900!! back then)... it's my first Garmin... and frankly? I really don't know why people rave about Garmins... I'm still not sure if I'm going to keep it... it does get me from point A to point B which is the most important thing... I find it often times NOT giving me the shortest OR the fastest route (just simply illogical routing)... but then again... this is usually the case with EVERY brand. IMHO, it's missing a lot of features that even my TomTom 5, the gadget I had on my Treo 700wx phone had... and that's like 3 years old

things I like about the Nuvi 680:

*the screen is bright and can be seen easily under any lighting (at least in the car)

*I love how it turns on and off accordingly to me starting up the car and turning off

*FREE one year MSN traffic/weather/gas prices/movie time is pretty cool (but I can get all those on my phone )

*calculating/recalculating is pretty fast

* peaker is pretty loud (for IT giving directions, but as a handsfree device... )


things I DON'T like about the Nuvi 680:

*NO qwerty keyboard!!! I don't know who, at Garmin, that's got shit for brains to not design this higher end model with the option... The letters are "ABCDEFG...." instead of "QWERTY..." entering addresses could be a LOT faster... (this IS my #1 complaint)

*when you opt for "detour" it simply recalculates a different route w/o asking you what part to avoid... where as with my TomTom, you can actually pick whatever street or freeway to avoid.

*POI icons are kinda weak... I was playing with a friend's Navigon 7100 and on the screen, as you're driving... little business logos (i.e. Starbucks, Mobil Gas, Panda Express etc. etc...) ARE the icons, instead of just the "fork and knife" and gas pump icons.

*I said the screen was bright and can be seen under bright conditions, but I actually don't care for the graphics... I'm not too keen on the thick bold colorful lines...

*the FM transmitter is shit (but that's usually the case with EVERY brand)

*Bluetooth ain't so great either, it comes in and out...

*speaker is GREAT for hearing the spoken directions, but as a bluetooth hands free device it's shit. (again, one of those features thats usually pretty bad with any other brand)

*at times illogical routing, neither the fastest OR the shortest


I'm not completely dissin' Garmin, I just don't know why some people rave about it like they are SOOOoooooo much better... anyway, like I said... in the end, it still gets me from point A to point B

Costco just got in the Nuvi 260W model which has basically everything the 680 has, but no MSN, bluetooth, FM transmitter for a $100 less... I may just return the 680...

Danil ACE

I recently purchased the Garmin 250W from Amazon for ~$185 (plus taxes). This is the 4.3" widescreen version of the 250, which includes maps of Canada and Alaska in addition to what the 200 includes standard. Mine shipped with 2008 maps so I did the free update to 2009 maps, which didn't take long to download, but took quite a while to install onto the gps itself. I'm sure there are differences between the 2008 and 2009 maps, but I have not noticed a difference where I live.

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

another fan of garmin 260W here, it was wonderful on my last road trip

although buying the 250W for $50 less is tempting... only difference looks like 250W doesn't have text to speech

is300eater

^^^okay... but have you had any other brands before? I ask because everybody swears by them, but in comparison... are they really that much better? I'm just not all that impressed... I'm looking for reasons not to return the 680

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

damn, does this mean price went up on the 250W by $25 over just a few days?

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-250W-4-.../dp/B000REECKS

(currently 209.99)

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

i work in an electronics store so i get to test out a wide variety of GPS

i haven't touched a garmin 680 (has way too many features for my liking, im with the other guys who say 'just get the bare minimum of what you need)

i've handled magellans, tom toms, mios, navigon, sony, etc

260W is by no means the best of whats out there but its def the best for me

what are you looking for EXACTLY from your GPS? maybe i can help

is300eater

well, it's like I said in my other posts... it bothers me that, for example... I don't like the route it's giving me... so the only option is "detour"... You press that, and it re-routes the directions to whatever it wants... where as with the TomTom (and again... I'm talking about the very cheapest TomTom Navigator 5 for my Treo phone from 3 years ago), you can view every direction ahead of time... which is another feature I don't believe the 680 has, and you can take out any streets you want... and it'll re-route it accordingly. So, say... I know a certain area that's always congested but GPSs don't always know... with the TomTom, I'll take that part out from the beginning... and it's done... re-route and I won't go near it... with the 680, I can only press "detour" and hope not to go near it.

and I hate hate hate the keyboard not having the option to switch to "qwerty" style.

so that's 3 things right there.
*lack of better detour option
*not being able to view or review the directions ahead of time (at least I haven't figure it out yet)
*the keyboard thing

SupaRookie

I have a magellan maestro. I did the hack with 6 millions points of interest. Got it on clearance for $75! But I dont like it much; I prefer the TomTom.

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

right off the bat the qwerty thing is big enough for you to stay away from garmins

someone correct me if im wrong but im pretty sure the entire NUVI line (and my 260W) does not come with qwerty option and modifying it (if its even possible) is a pain in the ass. im 99% sure all garmins don't have qwerty option as well.