Best Car GPS Reviews

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 10:10 PM PDT

Recently I started using TomTom START 45TM Navigator. Otherwise I am familiar with Garmin Nuvi GPS. I am really excited to learn and compare Garmin with TomTom.

So far, while I cannot say one is better than the other, they are both different in the features they provide and they both navigate well. I do prefer the TomTom though that is a matter of personal preference at this stage.

The TomTom Start is a very solid unit and feels very well made. I am very pleased with the construction of the TomTom. It is built to handle a little jostling and a few bumps though I would make very effort not to drop it regardless.

One thing I do not like, though, is the mounting cup. Yes, it does hold the TomTom in place very well and it is unlikely that it will “let go”, but it is a little awkward to attach to the glass and the swivel is very stiff. Also, while trying to adjust the angle the mounting cup popped right off the TomTom and I had to reattach it.

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Though I am no fan of the mounting cup, it does remove easily and this particular TomTom is no too big to fit in a third-party window mount. I have such a mount so I can work with that and be happy.

On power-on the TomTom comes up very quickly and is ready to go, a lot faster than I expected as the Nuvi is a little slower at acquiring satellites before it’s ready.

The menu system on the TomTom is very simple and easy to use. The large, colorful touch buttons on the screen make finding the desired function straightforward. The first screen offered (after the welcome screen) gives just two choices: Plan Route and Browse Map.

I especially like the Browse Map feature – when in an unfamiliar area it quickly shows proximity to gas stations, restaurants and other point of interest (which is very configurable). However, the points of interest list are not necessarily complete – there are at least two chain restaurants within a mile of the house that do not show at all on the browse map.

When not actually navigating, most of the time a user will spend is with the Plan Route function. There are a lot of options here. There is a selection for navigating Home, regardless of where you are, and since entering your home location is part of the start-up process this feature is at the ready almost immediately.

Entering an address is likely going to be the normal method of selecting an endpoint, though there are other choices such as navigating to points of interest, a point on the map or even a latitude/longitude location. There is even the functionality to save a location in a Favorites list.

There are six choices for voices, though only three speak the street names – and of those, only one is in English (one of the others is Canadian French and the other is Latin-American Spanish). If you don’t care about street names and you speak English you have choices. If you do care but do not like the built-in voices then you can go online and get more though there are associated fees.

Getting updates is easy. Once connected, TomTom Home (the application that interfaces to the TomTom) goes out and finds the updates, then with a minimum of interaction takes care of making said updates. Updating the map takes a while, which should be a given.

So, all this is great, but how does it navigate?

Voice aside, the navigation is good. The TomTom does a fine job of getting you from point A to point B using the conditions you stipulate: fastest route, shortest route, no highways, etc.

The screen is acceptable in size to allow clear viewing of the map and the voice augments the visuals. I have not yet used it in the car to go to work; I am eager to see if it selects a better route for me than the one I have been using for the last 2-3 years.

The Tom Tom Start is my first exposure to TomTom’s line of navigators and so far I am pleased with it. It’s a little different than my wife’s Garmin Nuvi, in ways I like. It’s perfectly fine for navigation and finding points of interest, and the map updates on this model make this a device I will use for a long, long time.

UPDATE 03/20/2013: I recently had a good reason to use my TomTom in North Carolina – a family gathering in a neighboring town that was 10-12 miles away from the starting point. I was not at all familiar with the area so this would be a good test. All had printed directions, but we chose to allow the TomTom to take us there instead.

The result was that we arrived sooner than others that left before us; we were guided on a very straightforward path that seemed more logical than the printed route (which came with a map). Going home that night, we again configured the TomTom to take us on the fastest route and it did so without a hitch – we knew that route very well already and the directions we were given were spot on.

And, I did use it to track to work to see if I could improve my route. With the exception of the first couple of miles (my commute is roughly 65 miles one-way), the route lined up almost exactly with the route I have been taking for years.

My opinion of the TomTom remains unchanged. It’s a good navigator at a good price point and it has served me very well. My experience with TomTom has been very positive and I would not hesitate to recommend one.

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Garmin Nuvi 40LM Review

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 09:41 PM PDT

I have had Garmin Nuvi 40LM Portable GPS over the last ten years. I have come back to Garmin for my last two because they have by far the best interface. My other Garmin is a 1690.

The maps that came with this GPS are up to date. A restaurant that opened within the last six months is on the list.

I have found the 4.3 inch screen size to be the optimal size. It has a nice size keyboard and amazing graphics. It feels ‘right’ on a car dashboard.

The two features I absolutely require are the speed limit on the screen and the lane guidance. Garmin Nuvi 40LM Portable GPS has both. This is my first Garmin out of three that goes into a split screen mode and shows the interstate signage as you come upon an exit you will be taking on your route. Great feature!

The audio is crisp and clear. It has plenty of volume capacity.

When needed, this unit will recalculate the directions quickly. I should also mention that it is very quick to acquire the satellites.

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The one thing that Garmin Nuvi 40LM Portable GPS does not have is traffic. My last four GPS’s have had traffic and I have found it to be of limited usefulness. More than 50% of the time, the traffic has cleared out and you are still being alerted. The alternate routes around the traffic jams tend to be somewhat dubious.

After a full week of navigating since my initial purchase, I am happy to report that there have been zero hiccup’s, freezes, resets, crashes or faults that I can think of. My unit is in use from 7:30am to 4:00pm everyday and has worked flawlessly, only once has it not found an address, and to its defense the address was a service road within the confines of a gated apartment complex.

The screen is really bright and I find that for me, a comfortable adjustment is at 40% brightness in either day or night driving.

I REALLY like the speed and sensitivity of this touch screen much better, it's almost like texting on an iphone, just light taps whereas the 205w, even after numerous screen calibrations, would take 2-3 taps of certain keys to get them to register.

Map scrolling is much smoother and faster also, just swipe your finger across the screen while in 2D mode and the map rolls smoothly, almost too fast at times, I occasionally have to remind myself to scroll slower so as not to overshoot my targeted area.

Just a reminder, this is Garmins base model, no frivolous extra features to make it cumbersome or complicated – it navigates, and it does that task VERY well.

Finally, what a great price!!! Just a year ago, you would have paid double the price for a GPS with all of the features you get with the Garmin Nuvi 40LM Portable GPS. It is an excellent buy!

Click here to Buy Garmin Nuvi 40LM Portable GPS on Amazon.com

Best Car GPS Reviews

Garmin nüvi 52LM Review

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 05:10 AM PDT

Once you are on the road, Garmin nüvi 52LM GPS is awesome. The map guidance is clear, the information on the screen is relevant and timely, and it even tells you what lane you need to be angling for. This is an indispensible part of how I drive.

This new version Garmin nüvi 52LM is so much more sleeker than the old model that I had, and it features a larger touchscreen (5 inches) with larger font that is much easier to read at a glance (especially the arrival time). Living near New York, I always had issues with the satellite connectivity every time I drove into the city with the older version, but with this one I’ve had absolutely no issues! The lane assist / junction view was particularly helpful on the more confusing interchanges and it automatically appears on the screen as you approach those interchanges as if it reads my mind.

I also like the real time speed indicator, which shows the speed at which I’m driving, though I must say the font turns red if you go even a little faster than the speed limit on the street that you’re driving on.

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The icing on the cake is Free Lifetime map updates! Thank goodness! You can easily update the map data by connecting this unit to your Mac or PC and syncing the device using Garmin’s Express software (easily downloadable from the Garmin website.

I chose Garmin nüvi 52LM because this has wide viewer. I don’t need traffic information. What I was surprised after I bought this was updatable map and navigating accuracy. I heard from my friends that old one sometimes navigates the wrong ways which do not exist because it is not updated. This can be updated and the data in navi can be stored and saved in the PC via miniUSB cable. This PC connection is so nice. I think this feature is not provided in older one. I love it.

The unit is a breeze to operate. The graphics are excellent, the size just right, and the features useful and easily accessible. The screen is bright even on a sunny day and the matte finish cuts down on glare. The voice instructions are clear and directions and maps are correct as well. The set up is effortless and the large screen really makes an enormous difference.

Garmin nüvi 52LM offers tremendous bang for your buck, I miss the photographic quality of the street maps of the 3790T but considering how beautifully the 52LM performs it’s one issue that’s easy to get past.

You can spend more – however if you are looking for a solid non problematic GPS that’s going to get you to and from where you need to go, warn you of traffic delays, provide alternative routes and is absolutely effortless to set up and update.

Highly Recommended.

best car gps reviews

Rabu, 25 September 2013