GPS Units As Gifts

[Correction]

I'm not going to be very hard to be talked out of this, but I'm pondering such a purchase for my aging parents, as lately they've grown to like gadgets like ipods, laptop computers and blu ray players. However, I'm growing a list of serious concerns about taking the leap, which I'll list now to save y'all the trouble:

1) Only Garmin models look 'hackable' to activate things like maps of Mexico and install torrented map updates, much of which would absoultely be used to visit relatives down there

2) Updates are expensive as fuck for other models with better screens (Magellan), from 50-80 bucks for some pretty basic Thomas Bros. maps shit.

3) The sales guy says they hold a charge for 2-3 hours, which probably means 1-2 hours of actual use where it has to re-acquire satellite positions as you drive through cities where you're frequently underground (i.e. Los Angeles). Do these things keep their charge if you turn them off and keep them in a purse for your work commute?

Any assistance with one or more of my concerns is deeply appreciated. Anybody have a completely worry-free GPS experience? Other models I should look at? I'm looking more for portable than in-dash and I don't really want to spend more than 225 bucks.

[FNH]

I'm not going to be very hard to be talked out of this, but I'm pondering such a purchase for my aging parents, as lately they've grown to like gadgets like ipods, laptop computers and blu ray players. However, I'm growing a list of serious concerns about taking the leap, which I'll list now to save y'all the trouble:

1) Only Garmin models look 'hackable' to activate things like maps of Mexico and install torrented map updates, much of which would absoultely be used to visit relatives down there

2) Updates are expensive as fuck for other models with better screens (Magellan), from 50-80 bucks for some pretty basic Thomas Bros. maps shit.

3) The sales guy says they hold a charge for 2-3 hours, which probably means 1-2 hours of actual use where it has to re-acquire satellite positions as you drive through cities where you're frequently underground (i.e. Los Angeles). Do these things keep their charge if you turn them off and keep them in a purse for your work commute?

Any assistance with one or more of my concerns is deeply appreciated. Anybody have a completely worry-free GPS experience? Other models I should look at? I'm looking more for portable than in-dash and I don't really want to spend more than 225 bucks.

I have a garmin 255. I love it, use it a lot. Had it about a year or so, haven't come across a need for a map update yet.

Was more accurate in Atlanta than my friends TomTom. Has a better interface than my other friends magellan from the same year. Holds a good charge not plugged in, but I've never had a problem driving with it plugged in, so not sure why you are interested in that aspect.

My dad got my 70 y/o grandparents a Garmin 1490 last week to get them from AL to OK then to AZ and they love it and find it easy to use after I showed them the basics that took 5 minutes with adding addresses.

[Furtwangler]

Any of the gps's will hold whatever charge they're left with when turned off. They all also will have plugs that should go into your cig lighter when in use. I have a tom-tom and for maps you already own, they have MapShare which constantly will update maps for you for free.
Just a quick look shows me that most of the tomtoms come with mexico/canada/us maps preloaded, and you can keep them fairly current via the mapshare feature

[Celeras]

This will be no help to you at all, but standalone GPS devices are completely obsolete and will see a substantial price drop sometime in the next year or so.

[Correction]

This will be no help to you at all, but standalone GPS devices are completely obsolete and will see a substantial price drop sometime in the next year or so.

They'll be obsolesced by what?

[SephYuyX]

TomToms are more 'hackable' than Garmin, but I suggest getting a Garmin anyway.

I recommend the 265WT, this is the one im considering getting myself http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-265WT-W...1067194&sr=1-2 Best offering for the price. Can torrent maps for it, and it comes with a FM reciever with lifetime traffic updates.

[Furtwangler]

I know tom-tom just released an iPhone app, which seems kinda counterproductive on their part, but all the more power to them. Probably competing with the droids google app

[Senoska]

Own a tom-tom and love it. Map updates are free, etc. Works in Canada and Mexico.

[Cesaria]

I've got a TomTom (because I'm a sub teacher life would be much harder finding obscure schools at the last minute without one) and it's got some issues that do annoy the shit outta me. It doesn't hold charge well when switched off, to the point where I need to leave it perma plugged into my laptop to keep on charge unless I'm using it or run the risk of the battery being completely dead when I get to needing it (it's got that delightful issue of not even switching on with the charger plugged in if the battery's low enough). Sometimes it can be a right royal PITA getting it to find a signal, to the extent I have to keep a paperclip on my keyring for pushing the reset button on the go if it really decides not to play ball one morning.

I very much view it as a necessary evil - while it's helped out life a heck of a lot compared to what I used to have to do (trying to find schools with a knackered A-Z and no sense of direction), it's still a pain in the arse in terms of smooth operation.

It's also got somewhat "quirky" ways of navigating you though certain junctions - refuses to see a couple of the big ones around here as roundabouts and takes you through them as if they're mini traffic systems... a minor gripe but "bear left then stay on the right lane" isn't as logical as "at the roundabout, go right, third exit"... means I end up looking at the onscreen display a lot more than I should do.

Oh and don't leave ANYTHING to do with it on-show in your car... mine's been broken into twice because I left the holder cup on the windscreen. Seems to be a massive "this one plz" sign to the thieving chav scum element of my beloved city.

I have long arguments with mine when it tries to send me ways I don't want to go (it's obsessed with the M1 motorway) - it gets more and more irrate trying to get me to turn around and go its way before finally taking the hint that I know a quicker way to the side of town I need to be in and I keep answering its directions back with insults. Yes, I'm sad.

[Celeras]

They'll be obsolesced by what?

"They will" implies it hasn't already happened. They've already been made obsolete by Google Navigation, which will soon be available to every mobile platform on the market(legitimately I mean, as you can already port it to whatever you want). And its 100% free.

Like I said this is going to be of no help to you now, but if you could think of another holiday gift it would save you money down the road.

[ShinseiRyu]

"They will" implies it hasn't already happened. They've already been made obsolete by Google Navigation, which will soon be available to every mobile platform on the market(legitimately I mean, as you can already port it to whatever you want). And its 100% free.

Like I said this is going to be of no help to you now, but if you could think of another holiday gift it would save you money down the road.

I'm sure there are plenty of people that still prefer to not have their cellphone taken up by navigation and not everyone has a smart phone. Google navigation also requires a data connection which arent always cheap and sometimes signals are hard to get in certain areas. Stand alone units don't need data connections since they have all their maps stored on the device.

[*Shinzon*]

I'm sure there are plenty of people that still prefer to not have their cellphone taken up by navigation and not everyone has a smart phone. Google navigation also requires a data connection which arent always cheap and sometimes signals are hard to get in certain areas. Stand alone units don't need data connections since they have all their maps stored on the device.

Yeah, something like that requires an unlimited Data plan, and if people A. Dont have smart phones or B. don't use data enough to have an unlimited plan, then the Units are better.

[Kazen]

I recommend the 265WT, this is the one im considering getting myself http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-265WT-W...1067194&sr=1-2 Best offering for the price. Can torrent maps for it, and it comes with a FM reciever with lifetime traffic updates.

I have this exact model and I love it. I let my parents borrow it for a trip and they loved it also, as soon as they got home they went and bought the exact same model for themselves.

[Takedown3]

i have the same model also, only complaint i have is that sometimes when i independently turn the unit off and then back on for whatever reason it no longer recognizes that when i turn off the vehicle i want the unit to power down as well.