View Full Version : Portable GPS units
BHR4CE1
08-03-2007, 08:16 AM
Hey all,
I want to buy a portable GPS unit to use when I travel and rent a car. Anyone have one of these? How do you like it? What are the features you can't live without?
I have been checking them out, and so far it seems that the Garmin Nuvi 680 is the way to go, but wanted to hear from anyone here that might have a recommendation before I order it.
Thanks in advance!
cairorex
08-03-2007, 04:53 PM
I have the Garmin 650 or 660.....
It is absolutly wonderfull! The good thing about these portable units is you can program them from the comfort of your couch!
BHR4CE1
08-03-2007, 06:21 PM
I have the Garmin 650 or 660.....It is absolutly wonderfull!
That is great to hear, thanks. From most people I have talked to, the Garmin 680 seems like the top of the heap right now. I am getting this for some traveling I will be doing in early October, so I am trying to wait until the last minute to get it. Maybe that way it won't be obsolete by the time I land and get in the rental car!!!
Hey all,
I want to buy a portable GPS unit to use when I travel and rent a car. Anyone have one of these? How do you like it? What are the features you can't live without?
I have been checking them out, and so far it seems that the Garmin Nuvi 680 is the way to go, but wanted to hear from anyone here that might have a recommendation before I order it.
Thanks in advance!
Tom Tom - you can get Celeb voices like Mr T.
Take a right fool!
I pitty the fool who doesn't take a u-turn ahead.
Richard in NC
08-03-2007, 07:12 PM
Hey all,
I want to buy a portable GPS unit to use when I travel and rent a car. Anyone have one of these? How do you like it? What are the features you can't live without?
I have been checking them out, and so far it seems that the Garmin Nuvi 680 is the way to go, but wanted to hear from anyone here that might have a recommendation before I order it.
Thanks in advance!
Tom Tom - you can get Celeb voices like Mr T.
Take a right fool!
I pitty the fool who doesn't take a u-turn ahead.
I always figured that should be an option on the BMW NAV. With the male voice control module and the female Nav voice on the 650i, I've expected them to start arguing one day.
BHR4CE1
08-03-2007, 09:37 PM
With the male voice control module and the female Nav voice on the 650i, I've expected them to start arguing one day.
But why?...wouldn't she always be right????
Spyder
08-04-2007, 10:00 AM
The original Tom Tom Go was my only GPS unit until I took delivery of my 650 last year. I bought it years ago after it was introduced at the CES as the first great touch-screen portable. Entering addresses is a far faster process with a touch screen than iDrive scrolling.
In addition to occasional use in LA where I rarely need a GPS, I've used the TTG throughout the US and Europe in rental cars. Newer units from Tom Tom and Garmin have surpassed my original, but it still satisfies my needs as in Albuquerque last weekend.
BHR4CE1
08-04-2007, 11:15 AM
Entering addresses is a far faster process with a touch screen than iDrive scrolling.
Yup. All my other vehicles have in-dash GPS units with touch screens. They BLOW AWAY the Nav in the 6er. It is light years BEHIND anything else. :ball:
Spyder
08-04-2007, 12:19 PM
Entering addresses is a far faster process with a touch screen than iDrive scrolling.
Yup. All my other vehicles have in-dash GPS units with touch screens. They BLOW AWAY the Nav in the 6er. It is light years BEHIND anything else. :ball:
Bear, what are the key advantages, aside from touch-screen, that make other OEM units superior to the iDrive Nav? I do recall someone complaining that the Lexus unit will not allow entering addresses while driving, which is too Big Brother-ish for my taste.
Richard in NC
08-04-2007, 12:45 PM
I have played with a few competitive navs. I like the BMW setup but the 2 biggest iDrive annoyances to me are the hard force feedback in the controller which makes scrolling long lists a pain. Ever try to scroll through a 200 song playlist? At least thats gone in '08 models. I also dislike the multiple "zones" on each screen. some screens have 2 zones, other 4-5. You have to take your eyes off the road long enough to see where the cursor/highlight is, push the controller up/down multiple times to get to the proper "zone" in the display, then rotate it to get to the item wanted. On a touch screen, it takes 1 touch. Done. Simple.
One other thing that GM and Lexus touch screens have is POI indicators on the display. You can touch them for details.
Although, one issue with the Infinity Nav is the controller is too small and too long a reach. The BMW controller beats it.
I do find the latest CIP update helps a bit, especially when searching for POIs. You can enter "wen" and 10 miles and find all the closest Wendy's for example. It works for local POIs or a new dest (using the center of the city for the distance). It finally makes POIs useful.
Spyder
08-04-2007, 02:22 PM
+1. The Nav on my '08 ED 535 is superior to the one on my '07 650, especially the search features which came in very handy in Europe when navigating to some castle, church or museum for which an address wasn't available.
karen1122
08-06-2007, 12:23 PM
Tom Tom GO 910 works for me. It is considerably less expensive and I say this because it is my second Tom Tom unit. The first was taken out of my rental car because some stupid idiot forgot to bring the unit in for the evening. :jackit:
The portable GPS's are real targets for thieves. Get used to removing the unit whenever you are not in the car.
Bear, what are the key advantages, aside from touch-screen, that make other OEM units superior to the iDrive Nav? I do recall someone complaining that the Lexus unit will not allow entering addresses while driving, which is too Big Brother-ish for my taste.
The lexus unit won't let you enter addresses and do a lot while driving. although you can do it all with voice. But even that can be more distracting than the touch screen. say five and it enters nine....once you get pissed at it, it's more dangerous than pushing the screen.
the lexus system is nice though. i like being able to push a button on the steering wheel and it tell you what address you are at. it even knows that the entrance to Staples on Whilshire BLVD in Beverly Hills is not on Wilshire but on a side st. it is a very nice nav.
BHR4CE1
08-06-2007, 05:40 PM
Bear, what are the key advantages, aside from touch-screen, that make other OEM units superior to the iDrive Nav? I do recall someone complaining that the Lexus unit will not allow entering addresses while driving, which is too Big Brother-ish for my taste.
I have Alpine units in all my other vehicles, and besides the touch screen and the fact that everything they do is done as soon as your finger lifts off the button, they are just so much more intuitive. The actual navigation portion of the units seem to be more accurate as well.
As far as not being able to use certain functions while you are in motion is concerned...yes, that would be a problem if you didn't slip the install guy a little something extra to disable that feature. ;-)
BHR4CE1
08-31-2007, 09:23 PM
Well, I just got back to LA from a trip to Boston/Maine and surrounding areas. The Garmin Nuvi 680 performed like a total CHAMP! This thing runs circles around the iDrive version. Gave me the weather reports along my routes, as well as gas prices too!
It found roads in rural Maine that were basically not even "real" roads. I am talking about roads that were made by the property owners on these 10+ acres lots. AMAZING!
Hard to believe this thing cost me less than a grand and fits in your pocket! It also has translation software for traveling abroad, as well as Fodors and Zagats restaurant reviews. Maybe I will buy another one and send it to the powers that be at BMW USA so they can learn from it.
;-)