Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:08:55 -0800
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: What are my best PC GPS options?
In-Reply-To: <d1ea9acf0801161223x4cc80d5fif72e6f29891ee929@mail.gmail.com>
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Cool thanks.
It seems that the 60CS is still some available from various resellers.
I appreciate the input re: "trail" type GPS.
I'll keep researching!
Neil.
On 1/16/08, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
> The screen size isnt really a problem at all. Since you suction cup it to
> the windshield it's pretty my in your line of sight and the screens really
> not much smaller than some of the TomTom style newer units. It works
> smashingly. (The only advantage to the CSx is the expandable memory option)
> -Craig
> '85GL
>
>
> On Jan 16, 2008 3:18 PM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Interesting. I'm such a newbie to this stuff. Didn't even think to
> > look at handhelds. The newer CSx looks cool. (CS discontinued) Except
> > for a smaller screen, these look da bomb for both worlds.
> >
> > Any issues with screen being too small when used while driving?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Neil.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 1/16/08, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > We have a Garmin 60CS which is perfect for us. Its a handheld unit not
> > > "designed" with automobiles in mind, but with the addition of the
> upgraded
> > > Garmin Streets software, it is very easy to use (though, no touch
> screen)
> > > with accurate, fast, turn by turn directions. Where it really shines is
> the
> > > fact that we also have it loaded with TOPO software for backpacking, and
> its
> > > always accurate with good trail information. Most recently, i used it in
> > > Vermont to give me altitude readings while climbing Mt. Mansfield, and
> it
> > > operated well even in the cold and wet conditions we were presented
> with.
> > >
> > > With the suction cup mount, it mounts to the windshield and works as a
> good
> > > "best of both worlds". We even have the bluecharts software that lets us
> use
> > > it while sailing/boating (also works well for this).
> > >
> > > -Craig
> > > '85GL
> > >
> > >
> > > On Jan 16, 2008 1:42 PM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com > wrote:
> > > > Hi all.
> > > >
> > > > Was curious about GPS myself. Did some searching/reading on the
> > > > TomTom's and the Garmins.
> > > >
> > > > Found this on the Garmin 660
> > > >
> > > > http://www.garminnuvi660.net/
> > > >
> > > > (it's like 6-8 min long)
> > > >
> > > > Not knocking the TT or touting the Garmins, but this video basically
> > > > shows a user going through the features of the Garmin 660. I found it
> > > > useful as a newbie to see a decent GPS in action.
> > > >
> > > > Any Garmin users out there know if there are big diffs between the
> > > > Garmin 650 and 660?
> > > >
> > > > Cheers,
> > > >
> > > > Neil.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Jan 16, 2008 7:58 AM, Doug Alcock < doug.alcock@gmail.com > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > I had a Garmin handheld GPS (which was stolen) --- it would work
> with a
> > > > > laptop but I didn't like the cumbersomeness (if that is indeed a
> word)
> > > of
> > > > > the arrangement. And the display on the GPS unit itself was way too
> > > small
> > > > > for my aging eyes.
> > > > >
> > > > > My stepson recently bought a TomTom One for his car --- I've
> borrowed it
> > > a
> > > > > number of times and I'm sold. They're about $250 Cdn --- nice big
> screen
> > > > > that I can read while driving and a really good touchscreen
> interface
> > > that
> > > > > is also usable while driving. Coverage and accuracy is good --- I
> have
> > > both
> > > > > found and been navigated to some pretty obscure addresses and
> locations.
> > > And
> > > > > it is sooo much more convenient than messing around with a laptop.
> > > > >
> > > > > Don't know for sure about the backroads coverage but my experience
> with
> > > the
> > > > > TomTom is that if you can find the road on a map it's going to be in
> the
> > > > > TomTom. May not apply to the backroads of BC --- but worth checking
> > > into. My
> > > > > experience with the logging/backroads of BC when I lived there is
> that I
> > > > > could find them on a map and they had names/designations --- which
> > > suggests
> > > > > to me that they'd be in the TomTom. YMMV of course...........
> > > > >
> > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > Doug
> > > > > Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On 1/15/08, Loren Busch < starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I'm glad to hear that Delorme has improved the coverage in Canada.
> > > The
> > > > > > issue Dave was trying to address is coverage in more remote areas,
> > > > > > specifically he was asking about the interior of BC. Here in the
> > > States I
> > > > > > didn't have any complaints about the coverage on the Delorme. But
> on
> > > a
> > > > > > trip
> > > > > > two years ago I ran the laptop most every day for three weeks. I
> > > > > > alternated
> > > > > > between Streets & Trips and Delorme software. And I'll stick to
> my
> > > > > > opinion
> > > > > > that the Delorme software sucks, a really bad user interface for
> any
> > > > > > searching or planning. I found it very frustrating and ended up
> using
> > > > > > only
> > > > > > Streets & Trips for the last week of the trip. But, given that, I
> > > found
> > > > > > both
> > > > > > very poor for use in town. Both got lost and gave wrong
> directions
> > > when
> > > > > > driving in traffic if the signal was lost for a few seconds. If
> you
> > > > > > pulled
> > > > > > up to a stop light neither could figure out what direction you
> were
> > > going
> > > > > > when standing still and started providing directions that were all
> > > wrong.
> > > > > > In a severe test, getting to a friends place in Kennsington, Ca.
> (next
> > > to
> > > > > > Berkley) I'd still be driving in circles if I hadn't known where I
> was
> > > > > > going. Summing up so far, unless you have a second person on
> board to
> > > act
> > > > > > as navigator the laptop based systems fall far short. Dedicated
> units
> > > > > > meant
> > > > > > for use in vehicles seem to be a much better solution. BUT, those
> > > tend to
> > > > > > lack the detailed coverage in the boonies, are set up for urban
> > > > > > navigation.
> > > > > > BTW, to any reading this, I'm all ears for any better solutions
> that
> > > have
> > > > > > been found. My experience is limited at this point.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Jan 15, 2008 11:48 AM, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > I don't know what year the DeLorme software you tried was from
> but
> > > the
> > > > > > > 2008 version has greatly increased Canadian coverage. I used
> the
> > > 2008
> > > > > > > Street Atlas Plus and even the small streets (and phone numbers)
> in
> > > > > > > Almonte as well as Head of St. Margaret's Bay and Halifax were
> > > shown.
> > > > > > > Apparently, all of Canada is shown that way but those places are
> > > where I
> > > > > > > really used it. The version I had before that only showed
> "most" of
> > > > > > > Canada's main highways.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > http://www.dougalcock.com
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
> > > > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> > > >
> > > > Engine swap beginings:
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> >
> > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
> > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> >
> > Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> >
>
>
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