[chapni]

Salam.
I got my license less than a month ago, and I've moved to a new state. I was terrible with directions in my home city, and it's been only 10 days, so I'm even more clueless with directions here in my new state.
I was thinking of getting a portable navigation system. Garmin is pretty cheap and has good reviews from customers (around $300).
So whaddaya guys think of navigation systems, especially portable ones? Are the ipod and mp3 features important?
thanks much.
wassalam

[PhDGirl]

I have a Garmin Nuvi. It has text to speech and an MP3 player, which I really like. Good luck on your decision!

[Jamroll]

Get a TomTom. Do you have those in America?

[chapni]

Originally Posted by PhDGirl

I have a Garmin Nuvi. It has text to speech and an MP3 player, which I really like. Good luck on your decision!

I recently found out my cousin's got the Nuvi too. He says it's never wrong.
But since it was kinda expensive, I decided to get the Garmin c340...hopefully it'll work just as well. It's being shipped though, so I still haven't got it.

[chapni]

Originally Posted by Jamroll

Get a TomTom. Do you have those in America?

Yes, you could get a TomTom here. But I guess everyone knows where they're going cuz I haven't seen many people with portable systems, except for the pizza delivery guys though!

[wheelworks]

I usually go onto Gmaps and memorize the way before hand.

I heard Garmins are typically good...

[Arabatman]

Asalaamualaikum,

I just bought a Garmin StreetPilot C340 2 days ago. It's pretty handy. Found a Kabob place near my campus i didnt know how to get to by entering in kabob in the search thingy for restaraunts. I also advise against gettin MP3 player with the GPS as its a useless addition that increases the cost. Knowing most people they already have MP3 players anyway. I got the C340 cause it anounced the street names and all that good stuff and it wasnt as expensive as the others.

Asalaamualaikum,

-Zahid

[IbnMardhiyah]

I have mobile GoogleMaps on my Blackberry, and thats very decent.

[Caramel_Candy]

Chapni, Garmins are a life saver...I just bought one too before I moved.. It's small, compact, handy, and very accurate. Although it did lose signal in Chicago with all the big buildings temporarily but after a few mins it was fine. A good buy.

[ChotooMotoo]

I have a map. I tried using one of those systems when we rented a car, and found it more distracting than anything else. I ended up turning it off and using my map. I think you learn the city faster with a map too, since you actually have to pay attention to your surroundings. Sometimes you just need to get yourself lost, and find your way back. You learn the city very fast when you do that.

[chapni]

Originally Posted by ChotooMotoo

I have a map. I tried using one of those systems when we rented a car, and found it more distracting than anything else. I ended up turning it off and using my map. I think you learn the city faster with a map too, since you actually have to pay attention to your surroundings. Sometimes you just need to get yourself lost, and find your way back. You learn the city very fast when you do that.

lol, my brother gave me loads of maps when i got here, i can't follow them at all. I'm probably the most oblivious person on the planet.
But I guess i'll still try.

[chapni]

Originally Posted by Caramel_Candy

Chapni, Garmins are a life saver...I just bought one too before I moved.. It's small, compact, handy, and very accurate. Although it did lose signal in Chicago with all the big buildings temporarily but after a few mins it was fine. A good buy.

i got the garmin c340 about two weeks ago. I'm a brand new driver, so I probably don't like anything to do with driving, so the following is probably a biased review :-P

- the map is a bit out dated/inaccurate. i tried driving to Target, but after following the directions, there was not a Target anywhere in sight. Maybe they demolished it The shell gas station is listed as a super pump gas station...i guess that's minor though.

- most of the time it announces the turns too suddenly. If i was more familiar in the area, perhaps it would be ample time for me to lane change and turn, but since i'm a newbie in the area and with driving, it feels like i'm making sudden lane changes and turns.

- i've noticed that it works best for me when i first look up the directions on google/yahoo map, and make myself very familiar with them. Then the garmin pretty much serves as a reminder to turn right or left on whatever street.

- one thing i really like about it is that you can sample the directions before you begin driving. For instance, once you choose your destination, with a little button pressing you can read the directions in advance. That way you've got an idea of where you're going.

So all in all, i do like the c340...although it feels like a much older model...again, once i'm more familiar with this area and am less nervous about driving, perhaps i'd like it much more than I do now.

[ShahRukh]

Originally Posted by Arabatman

Asalaamualaikum,

I just bought a Garmin StreetPilot C340 2 days ago. It's pretty handy. Found a Kabob place near my campus i didnt know how to get to ............

HAHAHAHAHAHA


Hows the bot-belly coming along bro?

Originally Posted by chapni

i got the garmin c340 about two weeks ago. I'm a brand new driver, so I probably don't like anything to do with driving, so the following is probably a biased review :-P

- the map is a bit out dated/inaccurate. i tried driving to Target, but after following the directions, there was not a Target anywhere in sight. Maybe they demolished it The shell gas station is listed as a super pump gas station...i guess that's minor though.

- most of the time it announces the turns too suddenly. If i was more familiar in the area, perhaps it would be ample time for me to lane change and turn, but since i'm a newbie in the area and with driving, it feels like i'm making sudden lane changes and turns.

- i've noticed that it works best for me when i first look up the directions on google/yahoo map, and make myself very familiar with them. Then the garmin pretty much serves as a reminder to turn right or left on whatever street.

- one thing i really like about it is that you can sample the directions before you begin driving. For instance, once you choose your destination, with a little button pressing you can read the directions in advance. That way you've got an idea of where you're going.

So all in all, i do like the c340...although it feels like a much older model...again, once i'm more familiar with this area and am less nervous about driving, perhaps i'd like it much more than I do now.

Garmins are the easiest to use and expected to give you trouble if you're an inexperienced user. Also I suggest you try updating the software, that might fix the reception and problems you're encountering in your area.

I have the Nuvi 250 and I can tell you quality wise its the best one for the price.

[wheelworks]

Navigation systems are only for the mentally handicapped...

[shsh]

Originally Posted by chapni

Salam.
I got my license less than a month ago

and you are 24? i was about to cry when my parents didnt sign the thing that lemme have my license (i am minor)...but i got my license almost a year ago....interesting...

Originally Posted by wheelworks

Navigation systems are only for the mentally handicapped...

um no its not. navigation systems are a lot of help. we were going to canada, and we were just taking the 90, but there was some construction stuff going on. if we didnt have my bro's handy nav system, we would have prolly ended up in the middle of nowhere and not know where we were...