Lowrance iWAY 350C GPS

We've been using Streets and Trips with GPS for our mapping and travel stuff
for years. I've always liked the program, and like it more every year as
they improve it, and add more stuff, like voice command, and the direction
pane.

Only problem was strange areas, and strange cities where we're sight seeing,
shopping, finding various services. What we've been doing, is planning the
routes in S&T, printing out the important parts of the routes, then doing
the best we could with traffic, etc. We've got turned around, kind of lost,
like the time trying to find our way back from Reagan International, in DC
to the RV Park we were staying in out in Maryland.

One of the turning points for us was while we were in Nashville. We had gone
downtown to do a little sight seeing, and had a couple of places in mind,
but only put one on the map. Goof. We were at the Bicentennial park, and
asked directions to the Centennial park from a family who told us they lived
in Nashville. It went something like, "OK, lets see, go up to this corner
and turn left, and go, no, wait, turn right. Right isn't it honey? Ya, I
think it's right. Ya, go to the corner and turn right, then go to the second
light, no maybe the third, I'm not sure, but it's about 2 blocks before the
xx bank building......." Aaaarrrrgggg. We gave up.

While we were in Louisville, Mary suggested we look at getting a small GPS
for the car. Research time. Did a lot of looking, pricing, talking to people
who had the self contained units, and finally decided on the Lowrance. In
addition to the GPS, I've been wanting an MP3 player, and the Lowrance
served both functions. It has a built in FM Modulator, so it will do voice
directions, and MP3, over the vehicle radio. Kind of nice. It has a 4 gig
internal drive, plus a SD card slot.

Now, Lowrance also has the 550C, it has a bigger screen, and a 20 gig hard
drive, and a much bigger price. The low price on the 350C, was in the $370
to $380 range, and the 550 ran in the mid to high $650 up to $999. I didn't
need that much for car travel, so it was the 350C for me. Interesting thing.
I just checked the price on the 350C at buydig.com and it's now $499.00. I
guess I was just in time. <VBG>

I've now had a couple of days to play with the new toy. It's easy to use,
accurate, has the entire US, and Canada pre-loaded, lots and lots of POI's,
and does some neat tricks. It does auto re-route if you miss a turn, and
auto zooms when you get close to a turn, or way point. Has a really good
address book with room for about 1000 custom locations. Does finds of major
things, like Restaurants, then you can search for categories, like Pizza,
Asian, BBQ, etc.

I went out to Wal-Mart today, yes the stores are in the data base, and
bought a 1 gig SD card, and moved 2 albums to the iWay. Set it up for
broadcast to FM, turned on the stereo in the MH, and there the songs were,
and they sound good.

It's a nice toy, and I would recommend it. If you want more goodies, buy the
550C, but as far as I can tell, the maps are the same.

--
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog
will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right!
I never would've thought of that!'"
--Dave Barry
http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com


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