Traditionalist here....not Mr. Gadget

I like poring over real maps, DeLorme state-by-state books, and include mapquest.com printouts in this category.

On several drives, it seems as if there's always a 'wait' while someone is 're-programming their GPS'....

Life is too short... occasionally getting a little lost sometimes takes me to the best places Most of us have childhood memories of 'Dad getting lost...'

The chatter on Patty's 'Am I crazy?' thread led me to post this query.

 

Hi Jerry,

Rick uses real maps and we use map quest when we have a particular destination/address. He has a really good sense of direction so it works for us.

I on the other hand probably should get a GPS someday. I had trouble finding an exit from a cemetery the other day. And I've been there many times. I thought I was going to have to "move in."

 

I've got a GPS and it's great for pre-planned trips (usually have a print-out handy as well) -- and for finding your way home when you get lost. And when you are in unfamiliar territory and are looking for a specific place (like that one church in Santa Fe that I just did not have the slightest clue where it was and how to get there).

I don't use it for my daily trips or in my neighborhood, though. And I have never "reprogrammed" it while on a drive.

 

[QUOTE=Lainey8484,Jun 4 2005, 08:48 PM] .......I had trouble finding an exit from a cemetery the other day.

 

I'm in the "Have one, don't use it" category, but that's not entirely accurate. It's more like "rarely use it" than "never use it".

Mine is a cheap little hand held, not a fancy navigation unit. I use it when I'm offroading to store an electronic trail of breadcrumbs. Always nice to know precisely how far up Shit Creek you are.

 

Well, you know my answer. They are pretty expensive though. I thought they were cheaper. I do like maps and figuring out where I am and how to get to the next place, but it gets really annoying going somewhere totally new and getting lost, but not finding out until you've wasted time and gas. I never gave getting one any thought until Rob planted the seed, and it grew in my mind. Then Valentine fertilized it. I know if I don't get one, I'll probably get lost a few times on my way to Ohio in July (assuming I drive back there).

 

I have a Garmin iQue3600 PDA with built in GPS. I use the PDA functions on a daily basis. I use the GPS on trips to unfamiliar places. The voice prompt turn by turn instructions are great. I also use it to look up points of interest in the data base (restaurants, hotels, etc.). However just because something is in the data base doesn't mean it is still there. At the Southwest S2Ks in the Sun meet in Phoenix I looked up places to eat, found a Black Angus, and it was closed as in out of business .... DOH!

 

That's one thing I want to be able to do easily... update maps. I know, especially in California, where building it going crazy, that roads change all the time.

 

That's why I prefer the PDA route. Software is easiest to update. This may have changed with the latest generation of GPS units, though.

Also, for a cross-country trip, do these standalone units store street-level maps of the entire US? Or are you limited to major highways? (I don't know the answer to these questions - just adding some points for you to consider).

JonasM

 

I don't have GPS, but I stopped using Mapquest, because I found Yahoo maps to be much more accurate, especially once you get down to street level.