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Thread ID: 99172	2009-04-22 12:58:00	GPS's	robbyp (2751)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
767569	2009-04-22 12:58:00	I am currently looking for a GPS, for when I travel around the UK. Can anyone recommend a good affordable one? I will need a UK map on it, so I guess that is extra. The other option is to buy one in the UK, which may work out cheaper. What are the best brands, Tom Tom, Navman, Uniden? TIA	robbyp (2751)
767570	2009-04-22 15:59:00	I think you would be better buying it in the U.K.,more shops,better deals,cheaper price,latest gear/models.:thumbs: If you buy it in the U.K. it should all ready have the U.K. map on it.:) If not then get them to throw it in for you and you will buy from their shop and not the other shops!!!:D If that doesn't work ask for a cash discount!!!:D Check out Garmin as well they make very good GPS's as well,it's what the New Zealand Army use.:thumbs: If it's for the city etc,make sure you get one that will go in the car and you can use in the street as well for a city map etc. And DO NOT leave it in the car!!! CRIME IS VERY BAD IN THE U.K.!!!	memphis (2869)
767571	2009-04-22 16:41:00	I have a Garmin GPS60CSx for the bush and it has a micro sd card slot in it that you can buy maps for.I currently have the N.Z. map on micro sd card for it and can buy other country's maps on micro sd card as well for it. I checked out the Garmin range and they do sell the U.K. map on micro sd card and sd card.:clap I bought my garmin from www.mapworld.co.nz very knowledgeable and helpful as well.:thumbs: However I still think you would get a better deal in the U.K.:thumbs: PS. Just checked out www.mapworld.co.nz they have some good deals as well,now I am undecided if you should buy it here or in the U.K.!!!	memphis (2869)
767572	2009-04-22 22:50:00	I took a Tom Tom to Europe last year - GREAT. Would recommend to anyone to take a GPS with them!!! The better (more detailed, down to post codes) you have the address the easier it is to navigate to the right place. To be honest I didn’t drive in UK (or use Tom Tom much, if at all from memory) but if it was the same as Holland, Germany, France etc it was without a doubt the best investment you can make for your trip (apart form Business class upgrade but Tom Tom is cheaper!!) As for brands as I said I took Tom Tom but I have had exposure to several and to be honest there is not really much between them. I like the Tom Tom home (which is where you update/download maps etc) but have not seen the other units’ home pages. Just a note: when you update the map you need to update the device, not download the map!! Sounds simple but just keep it in mind, you will understand if you go through the Tom Tom home!!! I would go with the bigger screen (we got the 4.3 over the 3.1). More screen is just a bit easier to read when there is spaghetti on the screen! Just watch out for the features. NZ does not have the traffic broadcast service etc so don’t bother getting that!! If you don’t have or wont use Bluetooth etc then don’t pay extra for the features you wont/cant use. I looked at getting mine Duty free etc and there was not a lot of difference in prices. Some factors I took into account were: NZ purchased meant I had someone to take it back to if it broke (try doing that when you bought it in UK!) NZ purchased meant NZ map preinstalled NZ purchased meant I could get it and have a play and get used to it before having to rely in it 100% (don’t under estimate this bit!!) Europe purchased meant Europe map was preinstalled - BUT once you buy the unit you need to update the map (consider where you are and what internet connection is available - can you access USB ports, is it wireless/slow, costly etc). They do work straight out of the box but most time you need to do the map update. NZ map was actually dearer than Western Europe (Which covers UK, Holland, France, Germany, etc, etc and was about NZ $180 I think). So to buy in Europe then have to buy NZ map (if you want to use in NZ, I do quite often, just so much easier when on holiday!) it worked out dearer then buying in NZ and adding Europe map. So all in all I decided to by in NZ (very patriotic huh!! :)) Just one thing I found was you can only rely on it about 95%. Sometimes it takes you the long way (but when on holiday you are never really lost, just exploring!! and if you know its the long way then why are you using the Tom Tom!!) but the most important bit is it always gets you there!! It never failed us and the few times it messed up was our fault with spellings or bum addresses etc. It does not like high buildings, got a bit lost in Wellington but you just keep going and when it gets back the satellite connection it will recalculate the new route and get you back on track! Sorry for the long winded post but I really do like these things, the sooner they are built into cars the better!!	dzina (6860)
767573	2009-04-23 02:53:00	The brands are pretty similar, what's important are the maps. And in New Zealand there is a community based effort producing probably the best maps (free) for the country and are they are updated weekly - compare that to the commercial updates you must pay for, updated annually. http://nzopengps.org/ The NZ Open GPS Projectonly produces maps only for Garmin units and in addition Garmin's Mapsource software is needed for map installation. So consider getting a Garmin nuvi with UK maps, and install the NZOGPS maps when back in NZ	seltsam (13470)
767574	2009-04-23 12:02:00	I bought a tomtom xl for my parents a year ago before their trip in uk/europe. Parents returned still married thanks to tomtom allowing stress free navigation in europe. Turned it on at heathrow selected the europe map (as nz in default), Entered the addresses and away they went. (The postcode feature didnt seem to work in nz model with europe maps but they just entered the addresses the old fashioned way) Couple of point. - Bought tomtom because at the time new maps were bought over the internet rather than the dvd that garmin had so assumed they would be more upto date. - buy in nz get to play with it before you go but it will be more expensive than buying a UK one and later buying the nz maps. - in you get nz one and want to install the european maps buy at least a 2gb sd card. After much hassle I found out that the all the data must be on either the internal memory or on the card. Cant select nz map from internal memory and then select the europe one from the sd. If you have an sd in it will bootup from that and not see nz data on the internal memory. All you have to do is backup the tomtom onto the pc then copy accross to an sd card then insert the sd card into the tomtom, turn on the tomtom and install the europe maps via the pc onto the sd. - are you going to have a pc/internet connection to allow updates while you are over there and to trouble shoot? - get at least a 4.3" screen. - check that you have a car lighter to charge it or a wall socket connector. Faster than using the USB port. - read the manual that comes with it. Idiot proof if my parents can use it but read it. - as above decide if you really need blurtooth and live radio updates as the later wont work in nz. I'd go for buying one in uk with western europe already installed. It will be much cheaper due to competition. I found shop prices for camera lenses cheaper than duty free in nz. Adding nz maps can be done later. A.	afe66 (13778)
767575	2009-04-23 12:19:00	Version two...cant edit after 15 minutes I bought a tomtom xl for my parents a year ago before their trip in uk/europe. Parents returned still married thanks to tomtom allowing stress free navigation in europe. Turned it on at heathrow selected the europe map (as nz in default), Entered the addresses and away they went. (The postcode feature didnt seem to work in nz model with europe maps but they just entered the addresses the old fashioned way) Couple of point. - Bought tomtom because at the time new maps were bought over the internet rather than the dvd that garmin had so assumed they would be more upto date. - buy in nz get to play with it before you go but it will be more expensive than buying a UK one and later buying the nz maps. - in you get nz one and want to install the european maps buy at least a 2gb sd card. After much hassle I found out that the all the data must be on either the internal memory or on the card. Cant select nz map from internal memory and then select the europe one from the sd. If you have an sd in it will bootup from that and not see nz data on the internal memory. All you have to do is backup the tomtom onto the pc then copy accross to an sd card then insert the sd card into the tomtom, turn on the tomtom and install the europe maps via the pc onto the sd. - are you going to have a pc/internet connection to allow updates while you are over there and to trouble shoot? - get at least a 4.3" screen. - check that you have a car lighter to charge it or a wall socket connector. Faster than using the USB port. - read the manual that comes with it. Idiot proof if my parents can use it but read it. - as above decide if you really need blurtooth and live radio updates as the later wont work in nz. I'd go for buying one in uk with western europe already installed, especially if I am going over for a long period of time. Prefer to be uk bought if breaks down. Rather than an nz bought one which breaks down in uk. Holiday in europe is expensive without getting lost because your nz tomtom not work for some reason. It will be much cheaper due to competition. I found shop prices for camera lenses cheaper than duty free in nz. ?Adding nz maps can be done later. Tomtom xlv2 with europe maps on amazon less vat is duty free is $320 Tomtom XL nz from dse is $500 A.	afe66 (13778)
767576	2009-04-25 10:45:00	Thanks for your help. I am just wondering why this topic was moved, as a GPS is actually a computer, so it should really be in the computer section.	robbyp (2751)
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