ECN Forum
Posted By: shortcircuit I'm Lost... - 04/15/05 09:29 AM
I hate asking for directions...and pulling over to the side of the road to look at the map book [Linked Image]

Do any of you use a GPS device to direct you to where you are going? If so, what brand of device do you use and where do you buy these gadgets?

shortcircuit
Posted By: Spaceman Re: I'm Lost... - 04/15/05 10:02 AM
Magellin, Froogle http://www.magellangps.com/en/products/product.asp?PRODID=1038 http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=Magellan%20RoadMate%20300&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wf
Posted By: Joey D Re: I'm Lost... - 04/15/05 10:05 PM
I use one and it's great. They are not cheap though about $1300
Posted By: Active 1 Re: I'm Lost... - 04/15/05 10:32 PM
If I know where I going the night before I will look it up on MSN Maps and print it out.

If I'm responding to a phone call it does not hurt to ask the customer what the main street is near by and closest cross street.

Tom
Posted By: LK Re: I'm Lost... - 04/15/05 11:14 PM
Called in for a mark-out on a job last week, they asked if i had a GPS location, it appears a lot of contractors are using the GPS to mark dig locations.
There is one that comes with the cell phone, I think it is $290 for the cell with GPS.
Posted By: ToHo Re: I'm Lost... - 04/15/05 11:55 PM
Short circuit..
I use a garmin street Pilot. I honestly think it was the best purchase I made. It takes all the guess work out of finding address's.I think I spent around $500.00. It is definitly not cheap but it pays for itself in the amount of time & gas you save not getting lost traveling from job to job. ToHo
Posted By: e57 Re: I'm Lost... - 04/16/05 12:05 AM
Thomas Bros map books.... Best $15 you can spend.
Posted By: Spaceman Re: I'm Lost... - 04/16/05 01:08 AM
If cost is a problem, I recommend www.maps.google.com
the maps scroll on the screen so you can find other possible routes, and if you have an address it can provide good directions to the site.
Posted By: caselec Re: I'm Lost... - 04/16/05 01:30 AM
There are several options available for PDA’s which will save you some money if you already have a PDA. Even if you don’t have a PDA purchasing one along with a GPS receiver and software will give you a nice package that can be used for other things. TomTom has a very well rated Bluetooth GPS device and software package for Palm and Pocket PC’s. http://www.tomtom.com


[This message has been edited by caselec (edited 04-15-2005).]
Posted By: bentruler Re: I'm Lost... - 04/16/05 03:10 AM
http://www.microsoft.com/PRODUCTS/i...b4a5-4a5d-9fcb-b82c5107aa1a&type=ovr

Pretty close. But it will drain your laptop's battery quickly, so you'll want a car adapter.
Posted By: Dave55 Re: I'm Lost... - 04/16/05 03:57 AM
It's good to be in residential service...I ask the homeowner for directions.

Dave
Posted By: Edward Re: I'm Lost... - 04/16/05 04:01 AM
I am with e57, thomas bros map.

I have one with all of the pages laminated.
very good investement.

I always use the map.

Ed
Posted By: iwire Re: I'm Lost... - 04/16/05 10:13 AM
I have an inexpensive (about $200) Magellan unit mounted on my dash.

It is similar in size and appearance to this one.

[img]http://www.magellangps.com/en/products/getProdImage.asp?PRODID=1016&ATTR=ProductImage[/img]

The biggest benefit I receive from it is that it will display the street name I am on along with the street name I am coming up to. In the Boston area many streets are missing signs so I find this a big help.


So with this GPS and a map book or Internet directions I get anywhere easy.

I have also used a very nice $1,200 unit with a large touch screen display that also 'talks' to you telling you when to turn if you punch in your destination.

[img]http://www.magellangps.com/en/products/getProdImage.asp?PRODID=955&ATTR=ProductImage[/img]

It was excellent, I really liked it. It worked almost flawlessly on a 3 week work trip through a few states and many destinations.

It's data base included small dirt private roads, restaurant and hotel chains etc.

I could punch in the words Dunkin Donuts and it would list the nearest 100 locations. How can you beat that? [Linked Image]

All that said IMO it is not worth the extra $1000 over the one I own. I can get to the same place. I just have to read instead of listen.

If you have the $ and like gadgets the $1,200 one is a great toy...er I mean tool. [Linked Image]

Bob
Posted By: PCBelarge Re: I'm Lost... - 04/17/05 07:12 PM
have also used a very nice $1,200 unit with a large touch screen display that also 'talks' to you telling you when to turn if you punch in your destination.



It was excellent, I really liked it. It worked almost flawlessly on a 3 week work trip through a few states and many destinations

The picture did not print, but I have purchased this unit myself.
It has very good features without any extra download costs.
The paper maps are good, but are too hard to follow while driving. I usually travel to 10 - 15 locations a day I have no idea how to get to, so I will venture to say this has saved me hours aweek and probably my life from not looking at the map while driving.
Posted By: Theelectrikid Re: I'm Lost... - 04/24/05 02:22 AM
I just use my iBook G4 w/ Mac OS X and maps off of map.yahoo.com. I figure out where my mom or dad's taking me ahead of time. I can get a good six hours of battery life out of it.
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