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tycoonuk Occasional Visitor
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Joined: May 29, 2007 Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:37 am Post subject: New Sat-Nav- TomTom or other (American Mapping) |
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I am looking for a new Sat Nav, limited budget, but need American Mapping as planning to holiday in North America later this year. Also looking for it to be as new release as possible so I have the newest features on.
Would it be better/cheaper to buy one with inbuilt maps (not many sold and expensive) or buy a TomTom and American Maps separately?
As I plan to go in late September to America, should I wait and see if any new models come out yet?
If so, what do you recommend?
Many thanks in advance.
Many thanks in advance |
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dhn Frequent Visitor
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Joined: Oct 08, 2007 Posts: 2544 Location: Toronto CANADA
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Andy_P Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 19991 Location: West and Southwest London
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:20 am Post subject: |
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With TomToms, newest releases don't necessarily mean newest features.
The older Gox40 and x50 models have more features than the newer Via and Go1000/1005 models, but are not quite as fast to create routes.
In general, I think buying a satnav with the map you want on it usually ends up cheaper than buying the map separately?
If you opt for a TomTom and want to buy the map later, make sue you get a model with an SD card for extra storage. |
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PaulB2005 Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 9:17 am Post subject: |
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Do you have a Smart phone? |
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iainkirk Lifetime Member

Joined: Jan 14, 2006 Posts: 31
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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SmartPhone...if you want something cheap but not very good.
Or
TomTom Go 950 from Argos for £159.99 |
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PaulB2005 Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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iainkirk wrote: | SmartPhone...if you want something cheap but not very good.
Or
TomTom Go 950 from Argos for £159.99 |
Not sure what you mean about the Smartphone? |
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technik Lifetime Member

Joined: Mar 18, 2004 Posts: 789 Location: Midlands UK
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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PaulB2005 wrote: | Not sure what you mean about the Smartphone? |
My Nokia has free satnav built-in, OVI Maps for any country, but the display is too small and voice prompts are too quiet for serious use. _________________ GO 620, Tomtom Android EU,
Garmin 2548LMT-D; 2599LMT-D |
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iainkirk Lifetime Member

Joined: Jan 14, 2006 Posts: 31
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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I meant that if you've got a recent Android phone (for example), then use one of the Navigation programmes for that.
I don't rate them on my Hero, but I believe some of the newer handsets perform better.
I still prefer dedicated satnav units, particularly TomTom. |
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technik Lifetime Member

Joined: Mar 18, 2004 Posts: 789 Location: Midlands UK
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IanS100 Frequent Visitor

Joined: May 05, 2008 Posts: 870 Location: Southport
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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I have the HTC Desire (Android Phone) and whilst screen resolution is great & navigation acceptable it's still nowhere near as easy to use as the TomTom. Something like a Samsung Galaxy with a dedicated navigation program would probably give the TomTom a very good run for it's money but in my opinion Google Navigation & a regular android phone just isn't there yet, but watch out TomTom Android & iPhone are on their way!! |
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technik Lifetime Member

Joined: Mar 18, 2004 Posts: 789 Location: Midlands UK
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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IanS100 wrote: | Android & iPhone are on their way!! |
The problem with using phones for satnav is when someone calls you, or you need to make a call as often it will crash the satnav or freeze the phone and lose the calls. There's no substitute for a proper dedicated satnav. _________________ GO 620, Tomtom Android EU,
Garmin 2548LMT-D; 2599LMT-D |
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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iPhone4 running the TomTom app v1,6 coupled to the car audio system via Bluetooth for music, nav instructions and phone calls and I have never had it crash the call or the nav it simply works.
To be honest I have been very impressed with this set up over the past couple of months where I have been using the car as a mobile office covering long distances with quite a few calls on each trip, its never faltered once, these days it tends to be my main choice for nav in the car.
I have gone full circle to be honest, I started out with the good old PDA and CF based GPS, then moved to a PDA based mobile phone running TomTom v3, next TomTom v5 then a mixture of various PND units and GPS equipped mobile phones. The HTC Artemis P3300 was a cracking unit running TomTom Nav 6, the Asus M10 running Garmin Mobile Maps is great (even though it was never well received to market) but the iPhone4 in a car equipped with Bluetooth audio and a decent powered cradle outperforms the standalone devices by a mile.
The big plus point is the fact that its a single device, so you won't be tempted to leave it in the car - Mike |
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technik Lifetime Member

Joined: Mar 18, 2004 Posts: 789 Location: Midlands UK
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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mikealder wrote: | the iPhone4 in a car equipped with Bluetooth audio and a decent powered cradle outperforms the standalone devices by a mile.
The big plus point is the fact that its a single device, so you won't be tempted to leave it in the car - Mike |
Can you still see where you are going while in a call?
Surely you won't get voice directions while still in a call?
You can't browse the internet or send a text and navigate at the same time (If the passenger wants to) _________________ GO 620, Tomtom Android EU,
Garmin 2548LMT-D; 2599LMT-D |
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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technik wrote: | Can you still see where you are going while in a call? |
Yes I have that option available
technik wrote: | Surely you won't get voice directions while still in a call? |
No I don't, but if I feel I need nav instructions I have the option to reject the call and call back later, driving in an area where you require audio assistance from a navigation device to work out your route isn't the best time to accept a phone call, selective use is safer.
technik wrote: | You can't browse the internet or send a text and navigate at the same time (If the passenger wants to) |
You can if you really want to, checking e-mail/ messing on the internet while driving is possible as is sending a text message, but such activity is not something I would do.
If the Pax wanted to do that via my phone they could do and the nav app would still work running in the back ground, if the Pax wants mobile internet then they should use their own phone IMHO - Mike |
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PaulB2005 Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:48 am Post subject: |
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technik wrote: | IanS100 wrote: | Android & iPhone are on their way!! |
The problem with using phones for satnav is when someone calls you, or you need to make a call as often it will crash the satnav or freeze the phone and lose the calls. There's no substitute for a proper dedicated satnav. |
Never had a problem with NDrive. Admittedly NDrive does stop working as it does not support multitasking however once you end or reject the call NDrive starts up again automatically. As Mike says if I'm relying on the sat Nav for directions probably not the best time to take a call. |
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