Yup, you are in trouble now, I might actually FIND your house again without following someone

 

Ellen, most GPSs need to be updated from time to time. Not critical, but it's kind of funny when the little car icon shows you driving over water or on no road, because it does not recognize a new road or bridge. Or if you need gas or a rest stop during your trip, if the info is not updated, you could have a problem.

I figure we'll update ours every other year. I just did ours last week. It was a CD that you load into the computer, then load into the Nuvi by a USB. It took quite a while. I'm guessing the only free upgrades will be very minor ones, not new maps.

The cost of the upgrade was $70.00, and it can't be "shared" with others either......not sure how the Tom Tom handles map upgrades.

 

with tomtom you get one free upgrade when you buy the gps and then after that they charge you - this way you are buying the most up to date product

i use thomas' old alpine unit and they want 300 for the updated dvd - i said screw that - the roads don't change all that much

 

They charge THAT much for an upgrade? Thats nuts. Id hold out for a couple years and buy new technology... maybe thats more nuts. Maybe Ill hold off on the Nuvi. I just saw how much oil I used in March.

Ellen, did you order it on the website or over the phone? The coupon code is supposed to be be valid in store or over the phone. Call Staples and tell them you know that the coupon you have has been honored over the phone and in the store on non HP stuff. They should update your order and credit you.
Have your oder info available. 1-800-378-2753

 

I might pay $70 once a year but otherwise I have a US atlas in the car at all times so I am not TOO worried. I try to always have a phone # for the place I am going and a print out of local area just in case.

Anything more than $70 a year for $150 purchase and I'd just say screw it and buy a new one in 2 years Maybe by then I can afford the fancy kind.

Thanks for info on the $20 coupon - I have my order info and will call and see if they will honor the discount -- it DOES say only on HP products though.

 

See Hotdealsclub.com

Others have had success using it in store and by phone. No need to tell them it says HP only.

 

I like the feature that announces the street name, you don't have to glance over at the GPS so often, but many folks are quite content with the GPSs that don't announce the street names. As far as volume at top down, it's adequate, but it's best if you keep an eye on it so that you know a turn is coming, and pay attention for the instructions, as you can miss it if you have the stereo blasting.

 

Lainey and Rick like to blast their music

I would NOT mind having the street name announced but the units that do that seem to run about $100-200 more than the ones that just say turn.

My volume seems sufficient. It has an option to increase volume with speed. I had the radio on yesterday but not super loud. It was fine on the interstate at speed when it told me to take the next exit.

Usually it seems like you will NOT be going that fast when you are getting instructions. And you really should have some idea what exit # you are going to be getting off anyway and not rely 100% on the GPS.

 

I picked up a Nuvi 250W back in Sept. When looking at all the bells and whistles, I decided that since I had a bluetooth earpiece (and don't intend to use bluetooth through the stereo) I didn't need bluetooth compatibility in the GPS.

And since I ride with the top down as much as I can, I have the volume turned all the way down - so even if it had the tech to announce street names, I wouldn't be able to hear it. Nor do I care to hear it when I'm listening to my music, or engaged in conversation, etc... And if I really needed to hear the directions, I'd rather hear them from an attractive woman sitting next to me than from some computer voice

Besides, nothing (well, besides a 32yo with a 5yo mentality) is more annoying than that voice when you're off it's path (which actually happens all the time for me now since my apt complex is so new that no maps have my street. To get home, I generally pick an old location that I'd visited in the local area and then as soon as I'm close enough to know where I am, head home via my own route...)

 

I'm sure there is a DELIGHTFUL story to go along with that

I downloaded a new voice... there are usually a number of options if you don't like the standard installs. I like my British man