There have probably been some threads on the subject of picking out GPS’s for the general public, but I’m not so sure if I would say that’s exactly the same as what this is about–and I really do need some help here!
Really, I have no business going out the front door without a GPS. It’s just not going to work to wait until technology has advanced enough so that it can be permanently implanted in my brain. That really would be the best option, because essentially, the reason why I need one is from long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury. I’ve learned to compensate for so many things, but spatial abilities are pretty much gone and they always will be. I can’t find anything, once I’ve found it, I can’t remember where it was, it’s a miracle I’m ever able to get anywhere, it takes so much time and energy to go through this all the time, and I’m tired of pretending to myself that nothing’s wrong… maybe that’s why I don’t have a GPS yet…
But the process of sorting out which one to choose seems to range from daunting to downright impossible. The less stress, the better. It must be, MUST BE, as simple and as easy to use as possible. I need some ADVICE!!
I’d suggest you look into any of the newer bunch of smartphones. They all have GPS, and each tries very hard to be easy to use. If you can try them out hands-on, you can find out which attempt at user-friendship works best for you.
I am trapped in a horrible cell phone contract with no way out for almost two years and I can’t switch to a better provider. I think I’d be better with a standalone GPS system.
First of all, you’re looking for a GPS navigation device. The whole thing is a bit of a Ford v Chevy type of debate but for what it’s worth…
I recommend the Garmin Nuvi series. I’d further go on to make the following hints:
-Select one with a 4.3 or 5 inch display screen.
-Look for one with text-to-speech features. This says “Turn left on Higgins Avenue” rather than “Turn left in 200 feet”. They probably almost all have that now, tho.
-Carefully consider which features you want from there. Things like Bluetooth and traffic navigation are strictly optional and, IMO, probably unnecessary.
I purchased Garmin software for my BlackBerry Storm. One time price of I think $100.
Didn’t not have to buy the vzNavigator subscription for the phone. Though I do have to have the data package, which I had to have anyway.
Very easy to use.
I also have a Garmin GPSMaps 60. Not as easy to use by a long shot, but it can trace your steps and create routes off road. I have to retrain myself everytime I use it.
What I like about having GPS on my phone, is that I don’t have another device to carry around. Sure, nobody carries around a car GPS, not made for it. But if I am traveling, or even at work, I can search for the closest, err, say Pizza place, and place and order right then and there on the phone. Very handy if you are away from your car. I pretty much always carry my phone (but rarely use it as one). It’s nice to always have a GPS (as well as other features) too.
I figure TomTom is the most popular because it is the easiest to use; my over-80 tech-fearing parents can use theirs. Unless you need or want some specific function, and it doesn’t sound like you do, any of the basic models should be just fine so long as it has full TTS (Text To Speech) so it announces street names … forget about live traffic and weather and all those extras … and forget cell phones and laptops; go for the dedicated device that sits on your dash for ease of use.
The trick to becoming proficient in using one is to use it when you know where you’re going. Get used to looking quickly at the screen to find the information you need; it is very easy to get fixated on the GPS and forget about the road. By using it for the quick trip to the corner store that you’ve made a thousand times you learn where to look for the info … much better learning close to home at low speeds on familiar roads than trying to figure out a new and somewhat complicated device at 70 miles per hour in heavy traffic in a strange city.
I could get lost on my home from work but with my GPS I just get in the car and go anywhere without maps or planning. Just go get one.
Some GPSs are designed for hiking, right? They probably include info that the OP would not need (like about steep hills and dense forests) but my guess is that they’d be a convenient size for walking.
As far as I know – I’d love to be corrected on this – your typical standalone GPS devices are really tailored to one specific usage, i.e. automotive, hiking, marine, etc. While they get their signals from the same set of satellites, they’re built differently (size, shape, waterproofness, portability, etc.). Likewise, the maps and software available for any one particular device are often limited to its designed use. A hiking GPS, for example, might have detailed topographical maps but lack turn-by-turn voice navigation; in some cases, it might not even have street maps of populated areas (or it’d require a separate purchase) and its points of interest database may be outdated and/or lacking in quality.
As a side note, this is where smartphones really shine. They combine adaptability with internet connectivity to deliver, often, a more convenient experience. Not only do they have a wide array of navigational/map applications to choose from, those applications are often linked directly to the Internet so you can get the latest data. On a smartphone, you can look up a restaurant, read reviews of it from Yelp or Google, call them and ask about their hours, and then navigate directly to it. A similar process on a GPS will usually take longer (their processors suck), be more outdated (their databases are updated maybe once a year and are usually less complete to begin with), and more reliant on GPS signals (whereas smartphones can combine GPS with WiFi and cellular trilateration).