Until one of these GPS companies starts droppign the prics of their updated maps they will all lose. People will buy one TomTom or Garmin unit, then realize 6 months later that their maps are sadly outdated and then that the new supposedly updated maps are 75 bucks and barely updated. Microsoft and Google have the right idea with the maps being updated daily for construction and the like, but the Microsoft mapping program sucks for giving viable routes, and Google has it's own issues. Anyway, the hardware for Garmin and TomTom are very nice, just not very customizable, and definitly way to expensive on the maintenace updates. If one of these companies don't figure out it's the ease of use and updateablility that will get them the customers, before the intgernet catches up and it's cheap to have wi-fi in your car, then you will see these GPS units become bricks. I have a Garmin right now I use but only on my motorcycle becasue I can't use a laptop with a GPS receiver attached to my bike. In the truck however, the maps I pull down on my laptop prior to heading out on a trip are much more accurate, and on a 15" screen to boot. It costs almost the same to get started this way as a Garmin or TomTom as well, If you have a laptop, the GPS receiver costs less than 100 bucks and a Ram mount for a laptop is under 100 as well. Anyway, it wont fit in your pocket like one of these others, but the UMPC is coming as well. So I imagine we can say so long ot Garmin unless your an avid biker or hiker.
just my 2 cents as I was very disappointed in needed to pay Garmin for maps the one time each year I really want updated maps, when driving cross country for vacation.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Gegier @ Jan 2nd 2007 11:15AM
Until one of these GPS companies starts droppign the prics of their updated maps they will all lose. People will buy one TomTom or Garmin unit, then realize 6 months later that their maps are sadly outdated and then that the new supposedly updated maps are 75 bucks and barely updated. Microsoft and Google have the right idea with the maps being updated daily for construction and the like, but the Microsoft mapping program sucks for giving viable routes, and Google has it's own issues. Anyway, the hardware for Garmin and TomTom are very nice, just not very customizable, and definitly way to expensive on the maintenace updates. If one of these companies don't figure out it's the ease of use and updateablility that will get them the customers, before the intgernet catches up and it's cheap to have wi-fi in your car, then you will see these GPS units become bricks. I have a Garmin right now I use but only on my motorcycle becasue I can't use a laptop with a GPS receiver attached to my bike. In the truck however, the maps I pull down on my laptop prior to heading out on a trip are much more accurate, and on a 15" screen to boot. It costs almost the same to get started this way as a Garmin or TomTom as well, If you have a laptop, the GPS receiver costs less than 100 bucks and a Ram mount for a laptop is under 100 as well. Anyway, it wont fit in your pocket like one of these others, but the UMPC is coming as well. So I imagine we can say so long ot Garmin unless your an avid biker or hiker.
just my 2 cents as I was very disappointed in needed to pay Garmin for maps the one time each year I really want updated maps, when driving cross country for vacation.