O/T: GPS for Vehicle

[N722SH]

I use my Lowrance 1000 when I fly and also have a card with roads & streets loaded on it that I can put in and use in the car, but there are no turn-by-turn directions and its a little big to haul around.

Last Xmas I got a Palm TX, which is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatable. I started carring it around on trips instead of my laptop - just find a hotspot and surf away. Palm runs regular specials for their customers and I picked up a Tom-Tom setup with bluetooth GPS and winshield mount for $199. Works pretty good! I haven't had any problems with it crashing. It may not always pick the shortest/most direct route, but it will get you where you want. Recently I upgraded my cell phone to a Palm Treo 700P. The Tom-Tom software loaded rightup and now I travel everywhere with my Treo and bluetooth GPS - The car charger that came with the GPS charges both phone and GPS.

Now I just let "Bonnie" (the voice I chose) tell me where to go - Almost like being married again!

[lucky333]

I got a Magellan Roadmate 700 for my perpetually lost spouse and it works great. Not always the fully optimum route and the points of interest database could use some work but its super-easy to use and does what its for - guide on roads. It has a 10mb HDD for storage, touch screen and it talks you through the routes.

I've seen the 800 (replaced the 700) for under 500.00 at Costco. More storage, internal battery (so it doesn't die when you start the car and the cigarette lighter power dies - grrr..). I think it plays MP3s and probably warms coffee too

epinions.com has lots of reviews on these and others, including some negative ones. I've used several other add-on and built in navigators, including my old G-196 in road mode. For my .02 worth, nothing comes close to the Magellans for getting you there when you are stuck at AGL 000

John