Please recommend a portable GPS system

[smoak]

My wife has started a new job for a commercial developer (boo, hiss for the evil developers). Anyway, her new career path is taking wrong turns, literally. She is driving area mapping out areas of exisiting development to update this company's system (you gotta start somewhere). She really is in need of a portable GPS system to take from one car to another (she travels out of town too). Any recommendations, price, place to buy, experience with these suckers?

[island911]

I use a small Garmin Etrex linked to my notebook cmptr . . . run with "street&trips 2005".

A GPS which can link to a notbook cmptr gives a great display, and lot of flexability with the data.

[RickM]

Does she have a Palm Pilot or IPAQ? They make add on GPS units for them.

If you want the best (IMO) self contained system then you may want to consider the Garmin StreetPilot 2610. A consideration is a standard, removable memory form factor. This uses Compact Flash.

[smoak]

Any others???

[Stanley]

I have a buddy that just got a Dell Axim with GPS on it. The Axim in basically just Dells version on a Palm Pilot. If you search around and keep on top of the deal websites for coupons and sales you can get them pretty cheap.

[osidak]

Next one I am going to buy is the TOMTOM Go.

www.tomtomgo.com

I currently use the Garmin GPSV.

[LeeH]

My wife got me a Garmin GPS V for Christmas - $300 from Target. Works as a handheld and comes with automotive mount, power cord, and software. Does turn by turn navigation that my e-Map did not.

The only downside I've found is that the non-color screen can be hard to read with sunglasses on. Also, the memory is not expandable, so you if you're travelling you'll have to load the city where you're going for the details. I was able to load the high detail maps for all of Arizona. The basemap includes all major highways in the US.

http://www.garmin.com/products/gps5/

[Adam]

I use the Navman GPS & mapping software on my HP iPaq.

Works great, but highlights how lame the factory iPaq battery is.

[motion]

I have the Garmin 2610... it is absolutely amazing. I can't believe I've been driving to the grocery store and back all these years without it.

[cantdrv55]

I read somewhere that you shouldn't attach your GPS to the dash as it tends to become a projectile in a collision.

[LeRoux Strydom]

Look into Garmin's iQue 3600 (which I have) or 3200. They are Palm devices with integrated Garmin GPS and simply the best mapping & routing software there is. Having the Palm works well for office work (diary, address book etc.), and the address book works seamlessly with the GPS. Simply find a address, and route to it!

Garmin's Quest is also pretty neat.

LeRoux

[osidak]

check out www.gpspassion.com

[RickM]

Originally posted by Adam Chaplin
Works great, but highlights how lame the factory iPaq battery is.

Aint that the truth!

[Joeaksa]

I have had a Garmin Street Pilot 3 for years and love it. Tried the Magellan and it was not as user friendly IMHO. You can find used SP-3's on Ebay for $250-$350 or so, and refurbed 2610's for just over $500

The newer 2610 and 2620 are different types of units, with some good things and some not so good.

Personally I would go to www.yahoo.com and look in to some of the GPS groups and ask there. There are lots of guys who like the 2610 over the 2620 as evidently the -20 has a hard drive inside and the like the memory chip on the -10 better.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Garmin_GPS/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/streetpilot

http://www.tvnav.com/
http://www.tvnav.com/spfamily.htm
Joe A

[304065]

I have an Etrex Vista and the new 296 with Terrain (mini-GPWS).

Garmin etrex, all the way

[RickM]

Many of the new cell phones have GPS navigation capability. However, it costs approx $9.95 a month extra.

[smoak]

As usual, I am impressed with all of the suggestions. I am starting my quest to find the Garmin model that best suits her needs.

[RickM]

Here's a New (please verify) Garmin 2610 w/ $100 rebate. Comes to $539 which is cheaper than most refurbed units. Good till Monday.

http://www.mall24-7.com/item--Garmin-Streetpilot-2610-GPS-$100-Rebate!--010-00273-03

[kellzey]

Besides that website, where do you see the rebate?

Garmin doesn't list it on their official website.

[RickM]

Karl, I saw that as well. It looks like Garmin's rebate ended 1/15. But these people advertise one so it's at least worth checking out. The price is unbeatable.

(Other sites have rebates as well....but only redeemable when buying from them...???)