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Thread ID: 137087	2014-05-21 18:50:00	Best GPS brand ?	Digby (677)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1375456	2014-05-21 18:50:00	After thinking about a smartphone GPS app, I haüe decided to buy a dedicated GPS next week. Which of the 3 major brands do you think would be the best long term (eg for keeping maps up to date) Garmin, Navman or Tom Tom. Eg I dont want to buy a brand that may disappear in 5 years.	Digby (677)
1375457	2014-05-21 19:42:00	Garmin has been around for ever and I use there handheld devices in the backcountry a lot so that would be my choice	gary67 (56)
1375458	2014-05-21 22:20:00	Some models have free updates for life, life being what they decide is the usefull life of the device There is honestly no way of telling what brands of anything may disappear in 5 years :-) I would be more interested in how well the thing works, the major brands will be pumping out updates for a while . My Tom Tom : not so good. Sometimes wont turn on. Overheats in the sun, to the point where it gets too hot to touch & a message pops up " to hot to charge" . Even in Winter sun. It also didnt work that well the further out of the city you get. Was useless in semi-rural roads (1/2 hour from the city). I wouldn't buy another Tom Tom Cheapy .	1101 (13337)
1375459	2014-05-21 22:23:00	After thinking about a smartphone GPS app, I haüe decided to buy a dedicated GPS next week. Which of the 3 major brands do you think would be the best long term (eg for keeping maps up to date) Garmin, Navman or Tom Tom. Eg I dont want to buy a brand that may disappear in 5 years. At the current rate that smartphones are developing I wouldn't be surprised if the various brands of GPS device become irrelevant soon. Considering that smartphone UIs are much easier to navigate than GPS UIs. Digby, what is it about the idea of using a smartphone GPS that you are unsure of?	Webdevguy (17166)
1375460	2014-05-21 22:44:00	Isnt the screen a bit small on many smartphones. The theres the cost of a device to hold it on the dashboard & charge it. Easier to just pay $130ish for a GPS . But I see your point, it may be just a matter of time that car GPS's become a market thats too small for those companies to survive Just like the wristwatch, camera & portable mp3 player was pretty much killed by smartphones.	1101 (13337)
1375461	2014-05-21 23:00:00	Not sure about the wristwatch, I still have one (for some reason).	pcuser42 (130)
1375462	2014-05-21 23:31:00	Dedicated GPS? Dunno really. My 2009 Navman isn't supported anymore, cannot even buy maps with a credit card. You then have Tom Tom or Garmin and others. But the thing for me is that for NZ or OZ it may be OK but if you venture more overseas the maps you have to buy anyway, some just bought a new GPS than the maps, haha. In terms of being supported my bro's HTC Willdfire still can get Google Map updates and he can still buy commercial offline maps at hte Play Store. Dedicated does work without cellphone towers but to most people that isn't a factor. If you must have it all the time highway driving between towns/cities and remote rural ... farm areas yeah ... Hiking, tramping etc... Dirt bike tracks. Well longer battery too. You don't wanna carry additional batteries or find a charger every day with a cellphone when you are away from civilisation.	Nomad (952)
1375463	2014-05-22 04:58:00	Grabone had ex-Demo Galaxy S3 for $295 with a 3 month warranty today..... www.grabonestore.co.nz	dugimodo (138)
1375464	2014-05-22 09:59:00	As one guy said, the cost of all the bits and pieces you need. The use of the phone battery A bigger purpose built screen And no need to have a smartphone internet connection - I am on 3g prepay about $20 every 3 months for txts only.	Digby (677)
1375465	2014-05-22 10:59:00	Have had a TomTom for a while now and very happy with it. No problems rural and all GPS should work almost anywhere. There may be some shadow effect near tall buildings etc. I suspect 1101's GPS has been "cooked" and that would happen to any unit same as leaving dogs or kids in a hot car. I have tried one lower price Navman and did not like the menu system on it. Have not tried Garmin. I suggest get the one that is easiest to operate	Ofthesea (14129)
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