I agree that the devices are high quality and do their job. However, I purchased mine for professional field use, and the accompanying software is hit and miss. For example, it takes one program to extract the waypoint data and another to convert that information to the industry standard (I use ARCGIS). In addition, some software was supposed to be “free” yet navigating the website to find out how to redeem it was nearly impossible. I ended up just torrenting the software I had rightfully purchased.
This is probably true, but having no cell service is so exceedingly rare as to be a non issue. It’s never happened to me, although, to your point, it could.
That said, I don’t have to do map or database updates on my Droid X as one must with a dedicated GPS device; I always have the latest data.
Hey, I understand defending a device or tool you’ve come to rely on. I swore by my Mio GPS before getting the Droid X. It was great. Google Navigation is simply better.
Nah, it’s not defending, it’s my experience. In a lot of downtown areas, you get spotty coverage or dropped calls. (At least with our friends at Sprint.) That’s ok, you can redial. Not quite so convenient when you are raptly listening for the next instruction, only to have it take forever to update. The first time I was in DC, I thought I’d check out the nav on the phone. As soon as I got over the bridge, I didn’t have shit for info-searching for service was the message. Not happy.
Additionally my phone is constantly ringing, and that interrupts the app at some level.
If I really, really, need directions I’m not relying on the phone. And yes, I have a good 'droid, less than 4 months old.
But I make my money having to rely on the phone, email, and GPS. I need to make sure they all perform at top levels. Unfortunately, that often means specialized.
And it’s nothing against Google, I am a huge fan-one of the first to have a gmail acct, the company is run on docs and calendar, wish wave would have worked better.
That and I bought their updated maps, which somehow reduced my ability to see all roads around me unless I zoom in way too far. Many times the road I am on doesn’t even show up except at very high zoom in levels.
I just came back from a camping trip in the Welsh borders. Sat nav essential to find little out-of-the-way spots. Zero coverage for my blackberry, so glad I kept my old TomTom with me.
This is a YMMV point. Several times a month I spend a good deal of time in areas of my state with limited or no cell coverage.
Not against the smart phone. Handy as heck to have so many “tools” available in one device. But when exploring or traveling long distances, I like a little redundancy, and prefer the Garmin or Tomtom.
No, no, believe me, I fully understand. I was once like you, cleaving to the trappings of yesteryear, fearful of new technology, like horseless carriages, toasters and such. Anachronistic tendencies are really nothing to be ashamed of. The future just isn’t for some.*
- I hope you’re aware that I’m just kidding.
Unless you turn on GPS, and then it will work just fine.
Heh. Good point.
Ah, don’t think so. At least not in my iphone experience. I get the last available map view, and I get the turn by turn instructions still. But if I want to zoom in and look at a road intersection detail, or see the map for 30 miles further on. I’m SOL once the cell signal is lost.
Fuck the anachronistic tendencies. Nobody with half a brain is going into the backcountry or remote areas with only a GPS. They’ll have that good old fashioned trapping of yesteryear along, the compass. The smart phone is fine around town, but when I am out in the country I’m just not putting all my eggs in one basket.
Onomatopoeia do you wear a watch? If so, what the fuck for? There’s an app for that. 
Does yours still work if you lose cell coverage? my iPhone doesn’t with the included app anyway, as it relies on online data from google maps. The GPS has it’s whole map set and database onboard, so only needs to hear the birds to work.
“But there is coverage everywhere”…well not in the backcountry there isn’t, and if you travel to foreign lands you may not have access to the cell network there. These are both situations when working GPS is extremely handy to have.
Who doesn’t charge for new maps?
My Garmin is dying (it won’t charge from the cigarette lighter at all) and it barely holds a charge for more than 20 minutes. I need a new GPS. I used to really love this thing, but my last road trip was incredibly frustrating.
Actually, no, I don’t wear a watch. What is this, the 1970s?
Sounds like you need a Droid smartphone. Just sayin’…
Google.
Sorry. Couldn’t resist. 
My cell was $14 and I pay $6/month for service (prepaid). As soon as I see a Droid with those rates, I am so getting one.
We’ve been having trouble with our Garmin since my husband updated the maps. Now it’s been directing us off interstates to take back roads and then to get back on the interstate. There doesn’t seen to be any benefit to doing that. Also the map and navigation seem to lag and we have to wait far too long for instructions. It’s driving us crazy, especially since we’ve on vacation and need good directions.
With more than quite a few people switching to the smartphone application for mapping, you should be able to pick up a really decent unit for a good price.
I have google maps on my iphone and a data plan that wont break me if I use it on full, but I just went and bought a used tomtom, as the google software was lacking. Its fine for me if I just want either a snapshot or an a to b route.
Odd. Do you use Google Maps Navigation or a different app? GMN always works for me regardless of whether I have a signal or not.
I don’t have an iPhone, but a few people at work do and when comparing features and how certain applications function, I noticed that there are differences between it and my Droid X. I don’t know this to be the case, but perhaps Google Maps works differently on an iPhone than on an Android phone.
I love the GPS on my Droid X. I can’t imagine what they could do to make it better. If anything, I have more features in Google Navigation than I did on my standalone GPS unit, although that could be a function of its age as well. My standalone navigation device is 3 years old whereas I purchased my Droid X this past January.