TomTom GO, Garmin SP 2610, Magellan RoadMate 700?

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Thanks in advance for any feedback on this matter.

CRITERIA:
1- Quality of maps. Must include detailed maps for UK, France,
Switzerland and other maps, detailed or not for European countries.
2- What about support for speed cameras (UK at least)?
3- What about support for traffic (UK at least)?
4- Speed, reliability
5- Voice support
6- Screen

(Prices incl. tax & delivery, not financial costs charged by banks in
case of processing exchange rates, 2% max with my bank for all Europe)

TomTom GO with maps for 1 European country=GBP 447.45 ~EUR 682 ~USD 819
+
TomTom GO European detailed maps ~at least GBP 100 ~EUR 150 ~USD 185
(Price of Tom Tom 3 European detailed maps is GBP 106.94)
Manufacturer site: http://www.tomtom.com/images/go_factsheet_eng.pdf
Best price found (by me) in Europe, 18 June 04:
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/viewprod.php?product_id=2278&category_id=17
Tom Tom 3 European detailed maps (for reference ONLY):
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/viewprod.php?product_id=1738
European detailed maps for TomTom GO will only be available mid-July
(too late for my 2004 holidays)

Garmin SP 2610 =EUR 1084.85 ~GBP 712 ~USD 1303
Manufacturer site: http://www.garmin.com/products/sp2610/ (Select
European maps)
Best price found (by me) in Europe, 18 June 04:
http://www.aspidshop.com/export/store/product_info.php?cPath=3_7_8&products_id=18

Magellan RoadMate 700 =GBP 934.94 ~EUR 1425 ~USD 1712
Manufacturer site:
http://www.magellangps.com/fr/products/product.asp?PRODID=1010
Best price found (by me) in Europe, 18 June 04:
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/viewprod.php?product_id=699

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

SP2610:

1- Quality of maps: 5/5?
2- Support for speed cameras: No?
3- Support for traffic: No?
4- Speed, reliability: 5/5? (Speed is apparently very good. Stable software. Waterproof)
5- Voice support: 4/5? (All major languages covered, no choice between female or male or accents? Quality of speaker? Not on unit, but on power cable)
6- Screen: 4/5? (Not as large as others, lower resolution, but good control of anti-reflection and auto-backlight)

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

SP2610:

1- Quality of maps: 5/5?
2- Support for speed cameras: No?
3- Support for traffic: No?
4- Speed & quality of Software: 5/5? (Speed is apparently very good, software is powerful and stable)
5- Reliability, Warranty: Well finished waterproof unit. 2 years Warranty of Garmin is apparently complemented by outstanding customer service
6- Voice support: 4/5? (All major languages covered, no choice between female or male or accents? Quality of speaker? Not on unit, but on power cable)
7- Screen: 4/5? (Not as large as others, lower resolution, but good control of anti-reflection and auto-backlight)[/quote]

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Road Mate 700:

1- Quality of maps: 5/5?
2- Support for speed cameras: No?
3- Support for traffic: No?
4- Speed & quality of Software: 4/5? (Speed is apparently very good, software is less powerful than SP but more user-friendly? Maybe not as stable as SP 26X0?)
5- Reliability, Warranty: 3/5 (Is hard drive robust enough? Nice unit, not waterproof. 4X4 use? 1 or 2 years Warranty? Does reputation of Magellan matches Garmin?)
6- Voice support: 4/5? (All major languages covered, choice between female or male or accents? Speaker on unit)
7- Screen: 4/5? (Large and good resolution, control of anti-reflection and auto-backlight?)

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

TomTom GO:

1- Quality of maps: 4/5?
2- Support for speed cameras: Near future?
3- Support for traffic: Near future?
4- Speed & quality of Software: 3/5? (Speed is apparently better than PDA versions, software is less powerful than SP but more user-friendly? Maybe not as stable as SP 26X0?)
5- Reliability, Warranty: 3/5 (Integrated battery with 5 hours autonomy, which SP 26X0 and Road Mate 700 lack. Is unit robust enough? Nice unit, not waterproof. 4X4 use? 1 or 2 years Warranty? Does reputation of TomTom matches Garmin?)
6- Voice support: 4/5? (All major languages covered? French? Choice between female or male or accents is covered. Apparently superb sound from speaker on unit)
7- Screen: 3/5? (Large and good resolution, control of anti-reflection and auto-backlight? Apparently not very visible with heavy sunlight)

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Tim,

Sorry for double post on Pocketgpsworld.com.

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=9090

I did make a formatting mistake in my title. Have seen you did correct it. But I had already resent post (corrected).

Thanks for your comprehension...

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

SP2610:

1- Quality of maps: 5/5?
2- Support for speed cameras: No?
3- Support for traffic: No?
4- Speed & quality of Software: 5/5? (Speed is apparently very good, software is powerful and stable. Only GPS with IR remote)
5- Reliability, Warranty: Well finished waterproof unit. 2 years Warranty of Garmin is apparently complemented by outstanding customer service
6- Voice support: 4/5? (All major languages covered, no choice between female or male or accents? Quality of speaker? Not on unit, but on power cable)
7- Screen: 4/5? (Not as large as others, lower resolution, but good control of anti-reflection and auto-backlight)

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

For all these systems, is it possible to benefit from the excellent work done by all enthusiasts and compiled by Dave concerning POIs?

Cf. http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/PocketGPSPOISync.php

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Link below gives a detailed view of performance of dedicated in-car GPS units:

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http://www.autonav2000.com/Compare/compare2.htm
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Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Hello,

Just ordered the StreetPilot from http://www.aspidshop.com/export/store
Best price found (by me) in Europe, 18 June 04

Garmin SP 2610 =EUR 1084.85 ~GBP 712 ~USD 1303
Manufacturer site: http://www.garmin.com/products/sp2610/ (Select
European maps)

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Thanks again to http://gpsinformation.net

Joe's review (Joe: 'Which GPS do I like to use now when I go on automobile trips? The StreetPilot 2610. Would I take it hiking or boating? No') did convince me to buy the SP2610.
http://gpsinformation.us/sp26xx/sp2610rev.html

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Received Friday 25 June 04 at 10:00am the Garmin SP2610 after having ordered it on Wednesday 23 June 04 at around 11:00.

Packaging was superb. Genuine Garmin packaging was itself packed up with bubble-wrap and again protected by a further bigger carton packaging, itself firmly scotchtaped by Aspidshop.

Thanks to Aspidshop!
_________________
StreetPilot 2610 (Garmin)
VW Passat Saloon (2003)

Tim Buxton · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:49 am Post subject:

Frenchie,

I hope you're really happy with your new 'toy'. Please let us know, after you've had time to play with it, how it measures up to your expectations, the pros and cons, etc..
_________________
Tim

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

Sure, will do.

Try to do that during the week-end.

Quality (presentation of kit, software case, documentation, finition of unit, Garmin packaging) and good service from Aspidshop make for a superb 1st impression.

Now, I have to do the real stuff. Stop speaking, start playing. Laughing

_________________
StreetPilot 2610 (Garmin)
VW Passat Saloon (2003)

Frenchie · Regular Visitor Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 136

I did get it on Friday.
Installed it on Sat. morning.
SP 2610 could receive signal from inside house.

Have no external antenna in the car, but never lost the signal in London and from London to Leeds, apart from 5 seconds in London as I was under an aerial motorway (M4) near Chiswick roundabout.
Internal antenna is more than enough as quite powerful apparently.

The more I use it, the more I love it.

Impressed by very professional finition, speed, reliability, remote, screen, sound, ease of use...

Superb.

I will come back for more details.

ONLY cons:
Not easy to load POIs for radars
No standard AVOID zone for LONDON congestion charge
No link with traffic application

I wanted first a good navigation system with the basics right, rather than having some kit doing a little bit of everything but not in a professional way.
_________________
StreetPilot 2610 (Garmin)
VW Passat Saloon (2003)

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