Garmin or I-phone for gps unit

[nicholas]

I have been thinking about getting a Garmin Nuvi 750 (Costco.com $199 after $100 off coupon). But as I was doing my search I read that many people think the stand alone GPS units will go the way of the dodo bird since the Iphone and the google android phone both have mapping and gps capabilities.


One thing I don't like about having a GPS uniti in my car is the windshield suction cup that is a signal for theives and having to take the unit with me when I enter a store. (I almost had my last gps unit stolen while I was taking a nap in the back of the cruiser)

Does anyone have the Iphone or know if you can download topo maps ect?

 

[nicholas]

BTW, I remember when entry level gps units were 5-600$ just a couple years ago, so I hate to spend $220 on something that is going to be outdated in 6 months and then have to spend $100 each year updating maps etc.

My cell phone is on it's last leg and is being held together by a rubber band, so I was thinking I might be able to kill two birds with one stone and get an Iphone or something similar.

 

[davegonz]

The only downside I see with using a phone with GPS capabilities is it's screen size and if it's daylight readable or not. The screen on the Nuvi is beautiful, easy to see in daylight and is designed to be used while driving (for the most part). Using a cell phone touchscreen while on the road would seem to be a big pain in the ass.

 

[chet]

do cell phones really have built in GPS receivers or do they use cell towers and just show a gps map on them.? My friend has a iphone I will ask him to try it in the bush where there is no cell reception.

 

[nicholas]

do cell phones really have built in GPS receivers or do they use cell towers and just show a gps map on them.? My friend has a iphone I will ask him to try it in the bush where there is no cell reception.

I think it uses cell towers. But my primary use is for on established roads and highways. FWIW, I used to have AT&T and I could get service literally everywhere with my old school nokia phone, even in the boonies of Utah while deer hunting. It wasn't cheap to roam, but I had service. I would imagine their service is even better now, I havn't had AT&T since 2002.

 

[96r50]

The new iPhone has a built in GPS unit. It will also use cell towers to triangulate if the satellite signal is too weak. The GPS application uses Google maps, and as such needs a data connection (3G, Edge, WiFi) to work. I didn't get the cell phone data plan (it was an extra $30 a month at the time and its more now) so I only have GPS capabilities when I'm around a WiFi network I can get on. I don't think I would enjoy using it in the car as a main GPS unit.

 

[alia176]

I have both the Iphone and a Nuvi. For GPS purposes, I naturally reach for the NUVI and here's why:

- love the turn by turn, auto re-routing map of Nuvi
- love the 3D graphics of the NUVI
- love the text to speech on Nuvi
- hate the Iphone's manual zoom in/out
- hate to hold my Iphone for navigating
- you can choose NOT to mount the GPS on the windshield. Darting your eyes away from the road to look at the GPS is not safe.
- love the built in POI's (restaurants, gas, etc) that's built into the NUVI vs having the IPHONE go on the 'net and look for everything.
- love the Iphone's instant yellowpage addresses (nearest NAPA for ex) based on your GPS location
- the NUVI battery will outlast the Iphone battery since it isn't doing double duty.
- hate the Nuvi's expensive annual CD Updates from Garmin (I'm still behind two years 'cause I'm cheap).
- if the Iphone will be used as a GPS, then buy the Power Jolt USB Cig lighter power adapter. It's good for 2amps. The Iphone battery will go dead quickly if it's not plugged in to a 2amp power source. If you're using a 1amp power source, then the battery depletion rate will outpace the charging rate.

I love both devices for what they are intended for. HTH.

 

[nicholas]

I have both the Iphone and a Nuvi. For GPS purposes, I naturally reach for the NUVI and here's why:

- love the turn by turn, auto re-routing map of Nuvi
- love the 3D graphics of the NUVI
- love the text to speech on Nuvi
- hate the Iphone's manual zoom in/out
- hate to hold my Iphone for navigating
- you can choose NOT to mount the GPS on the windshield. Darting your eyes away from the road to look at the GPS is not safe.
- love the built in POI's (restaurants, gas, etc) that's built into the NUVI vs having the IPHONE go on the 'net and look for everything.
- love the Iphone's instant yellowpage addresses (nearest NAPA for ex) based on your GPS location
- the NUVI battery will outlast the Iphone battery since it isn't doing double duty.
- hate the Nuvi's expensive annual CD Updates from Garmin (I'm still behind two years 'cause I'm cheap).
- if the Iphone will be used as a GPS, then buy the Power Jolt USB Cig lighter power adapter. It's good for 2amps. The Iphone battery will go dead quickly if it's not plugged in to a 2amp power source. If you're using a 1amp power source, then the battery depletion rate will outpace the charging rate.

I love both devices for what they are intended for. HTH.

Excellent info, thanks! I figured having a data plan would push the iphone over the cost of the nuvi, but I wasn't sure how the phone actually recieved it's gps signals. Sure the nuvi "needs" updates every year, but the $30+ for data adds up quick.

I may just wait until next summer to get a new phone and see what is out then and go with the GPS now. I am on a family plan with verizon with the , so if I switch carriers we will definitely be paying more than our current $80/month.

Any word on how well the GPS units work in winter storms?

One of the reasons I would like a nuvi is so that if I-80 gets shut down this Dec on my trip out west I could navigate back roads easier than with an atlas.

 

[alia176]

Both units have good GPS capabilites IMO. I haven't had any issues with cloudy days that I can recall. Iphone does have a built in GPS satellite receiver along with cell tower triangulation and it works fantastic. I'll find out tonight how the Iphone does with winter storms.

I recommend getting a Nuvi as a good all around GPS unit. I bought a used one from Ebay for $100 so there are plenty of deals floating. A friend just picked up a refurbed 760 Nuvi (or some such model) with the full warranty for a very competitive price.

 

[nicholas]

I think I am going to buy the nuvi 750 from costco today. It appears that the only feature is is missing from the 760 is bluetooth which I don't think I would use.

I found some on ebay for around 180 but I might as well get it from costco since they have an excellent return policy if there ends up being an issue with it. So 200 seems like a fair price from costco.

 

[2000UZJ]

sold my garmin and now use my iphone.


oh that word regrets. I miss every turn, and the iphone can usually never locate me properly. it will show me going through a forest doing about 80mph, and im actually about a half mile east on the interstate. otherwise its good. If you travel contantly. I GPS will out-do the iphone, if you dont travel alot and dont want to have the risk of a break-in or having to mount and unmount it everytime you get out. get the Iphone. My opinion is this: If money isnt the #1 issue, get a GPS, and an iphone. Use them both for what they do.

Hope it helped

 

[nicholas]

Well I think I will wait on the iphone or similar until next summer. I ordered the 750 from Costco this evening. I plan on using it mainly on vacations etc.

I am thinking about making some sort of clip on mount that could slide into the defrost vent and would be easy to remove and hide in the console instead of the suction cup.

Or maybe I'll be one of those bean bags since you could toss that in the console easily.

 

[BinaryDude]

If you have a jailbroken iPhone you can run xgps (xgps.xwaves.net). It downloads the maps to you iphone and stores them. U can also add an external gps to it for better positioning. But I would buy the nuvi.