Re: OT: GPS Systems - Expert opinions wanted

On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 03:27:44 -0400, Steve Hansen
<spambucket312@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

J. Hugh Sullivan wrote:
What essential features should I be looking for? Would a price of
$400-$500 be close? Is Best Buy a good source? Can a GPS be used to
mark locations where you caught bass so you can return to the exact
spot?

There is an article on portable GPS units in the July 07 edition of
Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports is well worth the subscription
price. Unlike some other product rating services, CR doesn't take
money or freebies from manufacturers, so their ratings can be trusted.

In the recent article, the Garmin Nuvi got top honors for best unit.
The Garmin StreetPilot 2730 came in second. Both of those are
expensive. The Garmin StreetPilot i5 is rated "Best Buy", and only
cost $350. The Magellan RoadMate and both TomTom units are rated
higher than the i5, but cost more. (CR pays retail for the things
they test. You can often find them cheaper if you do the shopping.)

For walking to that fishing spot, be aware that the 2730 does not
run on internal batteries. The i5 unit does have internal AA
batteries, but does not come with an AC adapter. The Nuvi is
compact, easy to use, full featured, and can run on batteries.

Disclaimer: I have not used any of these units myself. I do not
work for or have any business relationship with Consumer Reports,
other than as a subscriber.

Steve

I subscribed to CR for years but I've let a few subscriptions drop. I
sub to 2 fishing mags, 3 computer mags, RD, NG, Time and USN&WR, 4 or
5 veteran orgs and a few hobby mags. I leave home for two months and
it takes a dolly to move them to my den.

I think you told me what I wanted to know to approach a salesman. I'll
probably visit the library and read the article.

One of my grandsons has built a computer in his truck and he has the
GPS software. As I understand he just needs the USB adapter and a link
to the satellites. He works and goes to school so he watches what he
spends.

AC adapters are fine but I can't charge two cell phones and run a
radar detector at the same time much less add a GPS and computer. And
I'm handicapped by not understanding very much of it.

As for the fishing that was just humor. I fish private lakes, not big
reservoirs so I fish the entire lake - usually several times.

Thank you, Steve - big help.

Hugh
.

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