Garmin GPS update $119 WTF?!

[abaez]

Mapdroyd downloads maps to your phone for local storage. It's free. It doesn't do navigation, but if you just need maps it works well.

 

[Zargon]

I guess I just forget that most people are too stupid to know how to drive without a little box telling their tiny little minds where to go.

sure.

I definately should just memorize the route from IL to Boston before I leave wednesday morning.

or have done the same thing last year when I drove to New Mexico.

especially when I have no idea what interstate construction could be going on in any of the big cities I have to pass through.

thats where GPS's are king. Sure, I used to just pull over for a few minutes and figure it out, now I dont have to.

 

[Glitchny]

What I mean is I'll have it centered on My Location following the route on the map driving for miles at 55+ mph, and when I get a weak signal, the screen will scroll but it will just be empty grey. While live streaming maps is nice and resolves the problem of having to update all the time or having incorrect data, it can be problematic too on the fringes of your wireless signal. Wish you could just preload a medium street view of a city.

I thought there was an option somewhere in the GMaps app that let you set it to cache map/navigation data up to a certain limit. That way you kept your directions even if you lose cell signal for a brief time.

 

[jjmIII]

Tom Tom has lifetime map updates free doesn't it?

 

[Pliablemoose]

I guess I just forget that most people are too stupid to know how to drive without a little box telling their tiny little minds where to go.

I'm freshly moved to LA, my GPS has been invaluable in finding my way around.

But I guess I have a weak mind to need to find stuff.

Bottom line is that GPS units enhance the quality of life by making it easier to find your way around, if you choose to attempt to memorize all the roads/streets in the US, feel free. I have a hell of a lot better things to do with my time.

 

[QueBert]

I'm freshly moved to LA, my GPS has been invaluable in finding my way around.

But I guess I have a weak mind to need to find stuff.

Bottom line is that GPS units enhance the quality of life by making it easier to find your way around, if you choose to attempt to memorize all the roads/streets in the US, feel free. I have a hell of a lot better things to do with my time.

He's the Rainman of navigation, he can get anywhere in SF when he visits simple because he knows the area. apparently if somebody says "meet me on [such-n-such] street, he climbs in his car and just drives there. Even if he's never heard of the street finding it isn't a problem because he knows the area. Which I guess means he's memorized every street in the entire city. Which is a god damn impressive feat.

 

[foghorn67]

So you're saying the dude who needed a GPS is dumb because he should have been able to figure out where a street was based off having an idea of where and how the main roads are? That makes total sense to me. I'd agree with you if we were talking about people who live there are drive around. But somebody visiting who's never been there is going to need a map or a GPS.

GPS has a way of dumbing (numbing) our senses. First time in SF, I didn't have a GPS and did fine. Most was point to point navigation. GPS's are handy for finding what's nearby. But any friendly local or hotel desk clerk can tell you the same.

 

[FallenHero]

GPS has a way of dumbing (numbing) our senses. First time in SF, I didn't have a GPS and did fine. Most was point to point navigation. GPS's are handy for finding what's nearby. But any friendly local or hotel desk clerk can tell you the same.

Or you could use a GPS, not waste your time asking all those people, and just get to the location you want to go to.

Seriously dude, you are sounding like an arrogant prick, whether you mean to or not.

numbing senses my ass.

 

[exdeath]

GPS is no different from using maps or asking for directions... except that you only have to buy it once and it fits in your pocket.

 

[nace186]

"Never memorize something that you can look up."
- Albert Einstein http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/9810.Albert_Einstein

 

[JD50]

I guess I just forget that most people are too stupid to know how to drive without a little box telling their tiny little minds where to go.

Why are you even on a computer, are you too stupid to perform math in your head?

GPS has a way of dumbing (numbing) our senses. First time in SF, I didn't have a GPS and did fine. Most was point to point navigation. GPS's are handy for finding what's nearby. But any friendly local or hotel desk clerk can tell you the same.

You could make the exact same argument about any piece of technology ever invented.

"The wheel has a way of dumbing (numbing) our senses. First time in Sumer, I didn't have a wheel and did fine. I just carried shit around on my head."

 

[disappoint]

I'm freshly moved to LA, my GPS has been invaluable in finding my way around.

But I guess I have a weak mind to need to find stuff.

Bottom line is that GPS units enhance the quality of life by making it easier to find your way around, if you choose to attempt to memorize all the roads/streets in the US, feel free. I have a hell of a lot better things to do with my time.

Like what? Feeding trolls?

 

[foghorn67]

Or you could use a GPS, not waste your time asking all those people, and just get to the location you want to go to.

Seriously dude, you are sounding like an arrogant prick, whether you mean to or not.

numbing senses my ass.

You got sand in your mangina. Afraid to talk to people? Sorry, I would rather talk to locals who know what they are talking about.

 

[foghorn67]

Why are you even on a computer, are you too stupid to perform math in your head?




You could make the exact same argument about any piece of technology ever invented.

"The wheel has a way of dumbing (numbing) our senses. First time in Sumer, I didn't have a wheel and did fine. I just carried shit around on my head."

WTF is wrong with you people? I don't need a GPS. Some people are direction-less like Quebert. Do I have a GPS? Yes. Do I have a GPS enabled smartphone yes? Do I use it? Yes.
I'm I friggin lost and useless without it like quebert is? Hell no.
Plus I am sure locals are better at pointing out places to eat.

 

[JD50]

WTF is wrong with you people? I don't need a GPS. Some people are direction-less like Quebert. Do I have a GPS? Yes. Do I have a GPS enabled smartphone yes? Do I use it? Yes.
I'm I friggin lost and useless without it like quebert is? Hell no.
Plus I am sure locals are better at pointing out places to eat.

Yelp app

 

[foghorn67]

Yelp app

I love Yelp, use Yelp, hugs Yelp. But I used both locals' advice and Yelp when traveling. It opens up great conversations if you are in a friendly area. I don't think I would have had the same experience in New Orleans if I just depended on Yelp. I got to a ton of people by just striking up a friendly question.
Scored a hunting trip with some great folks by doing just that.

 

[Synomenon]

Plus I am sure locals are better at pointing out places to eat.

You'd think so. First time I went to Colorado Springs, I asked some locals (people working at stores there) if they could recommend a good barbecue place. They pointed me to the nearest Golden Corral.

 

[Fox5]

I think TomTom (at least some of the models) have life time map updates now. They seem pretty competitive with the google maps offerings of android phones.

 

[foghorn67]

You'd think so. First time I went to Colorado Springs, I asked some locals (people working at stores there) if they could recommend a good barbecue place. They pointed me to the nearest Golden Corral.

Who do you think contributes to Yelp? They must be all road warriors like you.
Maybe you fail at the basic skills of getting the info you need.

local: "nice day, isn't it?"
traveler: "Yeah it is, it's great out here. Nice town you got. BTW, where is a great BBQ place? Any local gems that I can't find anywhere else?"
Local: chimes in with a few non-chain restaurants.

You: WTFBBQ?
local: Scratches head, ponders why the tourist sucks at talking. Does the fastest thing to get you out of sight.

Common sense really.

 

[alkemyst]

yes, at low level consumer gear is better replaced.

Most of these map packages scale to all their devices though so $117 for your $149 GPS is quite a bit, but even if you bought another unit you'd eventually need a new map.

At the higher end that $117 isn't so bad, but at the high end usually features and performance warrants an upgrade of the hardware anyway.

In the end, it's the cost of doing business. You never really have to update esp now with not much construction going on. I have an old magellan for my Visor PDA. It's missing a ton of neighborhoods, but I can navigate between major routes no problem.

 

[Zargon]

I think TomTom (at least some of the models) have life time map updates now. They seem pretty competitive with the google maps offerings of android phones.

I got my parents a Tom Tom, and I hate it compared to my garmin. I almost feel bad for giving it to them as a gift...

 

[pontifex]

Tom Tom has lifetime map updates free doesn't it?

not unless they changed it within the last few months

 

[pontifex]

Who do you think contributes to Yelp? They must be all road warriors like you.
Maybe you fail at the basic skills of getting the info you need.

local: "nice day, isn't it?"
traveler: "Yeah it is, it's great out here. Nice town you got. BTW, where is a great BBQ place? Any local gems that I can't find anywhere else?"
Local: chimes in with a few non-chain restaurants.

You: WTFBBQ?
local: Scratches head, ponders why the tourist sucks at talking. Does the fastest thing to get you out of sight.

Common sense really.

 

[QueBert]

WTF is wrong with you people? I don't need a GPS. Some people are direction-less like Quebert. Do I have a GPS? Yes. Do I have a GPS enabled smartphone yes? Do I use it? Yes.
I'm I friggin lost and useless without it like quebert is? Hell no.
Plus I am sure locals are better at pointing out places to eat.

I never said I own a GPS, because I don't. I said if a person's in a town they've never been to, they're not going to magically find their way around. I suppose stopping to ask for directions is somehow better than using a GPS? Either way it's a person who doesn't know how to get somewhere using assistance to get there. As for me being direction-less, I would imagine everyone is direction-less when they're in an area they're not familiar with. Would I use a GPS to get the local market if I had one? Nope, but I would use one if I went to Philly or any other city I've never been too. Asking for directions is only good if the place is in the immediate area. Good luck finding a place to eat the local brought up that's 10 miles from where you've from and requires 20 turns to get there. I dunno about you, but I can't memorize 20 turns/streets on the spot.

 

[wirednuts]

any windows phone can run bing maps.. and i tell you what, the new bing mobile is so damn good it makes my carpc's iguidance software seem crappy. bing gives you free tts now, its pretty much incredible. its one area where microsoft is still handily beating google.