Best 5 GPS systems

[gpsonblog]

1. Garmin Nuvi 660

The price tag is a little hefty, but if you can swing it, the Garmin Nuvi 660 delivers a solid-performing and versatile GPS device that offers navigation basics, tools for the world traveler, Bluetooth, and more. If the Nuvi 660 is too much for you, Garmin offers other models in the Nuvi series with the same great performance, so there's sure to be a model to suit your needs.

2. HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion

For the movers and shakers, the HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion delivers a sleek, all-in-one solution that can not only keep you on track during your travels but also with your schedule. This PDA-GPS combo is one of the sleekest we've seen to date.

3. Magellan Maestro 4250

The Magellan Maestro 4250 is one of the first portable navigation systems we've tested with a voice command feature. While the ability to operate the GPS device with the sound of your voice is cool, we're more impressed with the accuracy and solid performance of this mid-level system.

4. Mio C520 Navigation Receiver

The sleek Mio C520 is a good-value GPS device, packing in advanced navigation features, a large screen, and other extras for an affordable price. It's even sleek enough that we'd use it as a video player. Our only complaint is that we think you can get a slightly better experience and smoother performance from competing systems.

5. TomTom GO 720

Portable navigation systems are a dime a dozen these days, but the sleek TomTom GO 720 differentiates itself with a new Map Share community tool that gives you access to constant map updates and a useful safety option in case of an emergency.

Do u agree?

[ray2008]

Any of the latest 7"- 10" screen netbooks, running XP (costing the equivalent of a good dedicated GPS), work great as a GPS. And you get the additional benefits of a portable PC.

Then there's the likes of the Nokia 6110 and other brands of mobile handsets with integrated GPS and mapping software that can take you anywhere, and also serve as a phone, Internet device, music player etc.

I have both and they work very well, and are extremely versatile. I'm typing this post on my 8.9" screen, wireless broadband, GPS PC right now.

Cheers

Ray

[bmurray2250]

There are many different GPS systems out there and none that do everything but some are starting to do the cross over like the HEMA GPS. I have a TomTom One XL street navigation unit and Garmin GPS60. The TomTom is good for the roads but I also need a unit to do the tracks, hence where the GPS60 comes in. I also purchased a external antenna from overseas which cost $11 on ebay which works on both units.

Having a laptop using realtime mapping is great but may not be possible when family are in the car. Have looked at the Asus EeePC as it small and no spining hard drive. I agree with Ray that a laptop is extremely versatile.

[ray2008]

Yes, slowly, very slowly, GPS navigators are merging with regular GPS mapping systems and providing the best of both worlds. The closest that I've seen have the Route 66/Navteq maps and usually contain all roads and tracks within Australia. I say usually, because some are *******ised and track data is removed. But many won't allow you to upload/download data, plan trips etc and make them truly versatile.

The Nokia 6110 is part way there, in that it has all road and track data, and you can record your trips and later download them in a variety of formats. But it still won't allow you to plan trips on a computer and then upload that for later use. All the technology is there, but it's been crippled for some reason.

Maybe the GPS manufacturers do this on purpose, just to try and increase sales of their products. Why sell one when you can sell two? No wonder PC based mapping and the likes of Oziexplorer are so popular.

Cheers

Ray

[Dirtbag]

I don't know where you copy/pasted your information from, but it's a little outdated.
The Garmin Nuvi 660 has for quite a while been superseded by the 760.
The 760 is essentially the same unit as the 660, minus the flip-out antenna, and a few other small changes. The biggie for me though is the 760's ability to log your tracks.

The FM transmitter is a beauty too. It transmits the voice directions to your car stereo, and also has a media player to play Mp3's. Last week I did a 3000km trip and the 760 served me up random tunes the whole time. I have about 50 albums loaded on to a 4GB SD card, so I didn't need to play a single CD for the whole trip.

With the supplied City Navigator maps for the city stuff, and Shonkymaps, Tracks4Australia, and Contours 2.0 (10metre topo transparent overlay), this is really all I need.
I haven't found any tracks missing yet.

Here is a comparison of the 660 and 760: Garmin nüvi 760/660, Automotive GPS Unit, Review

Cheers
Glenn

[shortyb]

Originally Posted by ray2008

Any of the latest 7"- 10" screen netbooks, running XP (costing the equivalent of a good dedicated GPS), work great as a GPS. And you get the additional benefits of a portable PC.

Then there's the likes of the Nokia 6110 and other brands of mobile handsets with integrated GPS and mapping software that can take you anywhere, and also serve as a phone, Internet device, music player etc.

I have both and they work very well, and are extremely versatile. I'm typing this post on my 8.9" screen, wireless broadband, GPS PC right now.

Cheers

Ray

hay thats not a bad idea, those small 8" Notebooks are going cheep, you just need a GPS input ariel, any idea where to get them?

I find the GPS's on off have to smaller screen, those notebooks are too small for a laptop but would be great for a gps

[shortyb]

anyone got the New HEMA gps? any good?

[ray2008]

Originally Posted by shortyb

hay thats not a bad idea, those small 8" Notebooks are going cheep, you just need a GPS input ariel, any idea where to get them?

I find the GPS's on off have to smaller screen, those notebooks are too small for a laptop but would be great for a gps

I use a Nokia Bluetooth GPS, because it has a battery that lasts about 22 hours and charges from the same 12V outlet as my Nokia phone:



But any of the Bluetooth GPS units will work, as just about all the netbooks have Bluetooth as standard. You can check out a whole bunch of them here:

Bluetooth and Wired GPS Receiver Solutions for PDA's, Notebooks and Mobile Phones - Organiser World Australia

This is what I actually have for my setup; it uses a RAM mount specifically designed for the Fujitsu P1610, which has a swivel touch screen:





But I'm not entirely happy with the arm, as it makes the PC sit too high. So I'm modifying the arm by making up a new one from a flat bar moulded to the shape of the dash, which will bring the PC level with the top of the dash.

Cheers

Ray

[4X4]

That would obscure a fair bit of view from the passenger side wouldn't it?

[ray2008]

Originally Posted by 4X4

That would obscure a fair bit of view from the passenger side wouldn't it?

It obscures plenty, which is why I haven't used it with the bracket and need to modify the arm. Otherwise the screen size and location is ideal.

Cheers

Ray