[94SilverCab]

I am about to take the plunge into the great digital age and order a GPS for my upcoming travel. I think the garmin 760 has everything I'm looking for; reliability, ease of use, voice command, etc.

Question...can I use this same device on hiking trails?

Does anyone have any experience with this, or a better suggestion?

TIA,

Jay

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-760-Widescree...boutThisProduct

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[DaveN]

I looked at the Garmin 760 very seriously last year. I thought I was sold on the Garmin name and features so I bought one for my son's x-mas present. I played with it a bit after x-mas and decided to buy one for myself. Long story short, every time I tried to get one it was sold out or discontinued. I ended up getting a TomTom 730 as it had all the same features, FM, BT, etc. After I played with it a while I realized it was much better than the Garmin IMO. You can make your own screens, voices and car icons. Easier to navigate and backup as it's Linux underneath. Plus it has an emulation mode where you have the TomTom software run on your PC, pretty cool.
You can not use either for hiking out of the box. You have to purchase sepate maps for the Garmin to do that. Not sure about the TomTom. Neither will to tracks so you can't "create" your own routes and follow yourself home - off road that is. You really need a proper GPS that is for hiking to do that.

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[rhudeboye]

I've had a Navigon, a tom tom one and now a Tom Tom 7XX. Cant remember what that thing is called but it has a 4.3 screen, BT, traffic etc. I agree that TOM TOMs are easy to use on the fly. However the older ones were easier. Once you entered the zip code it auto filled city and state. The newer ones don't do that. I asked the salesman about it and he said it was do to the newer style of maps that they're all sharing now. TT Garman and magellan.

I'm currently looking into the Navigon brand again. Their screen sets them apart from the competition. IMO they are way ahead of the comp. Their "Reality view" along with lane assist leaves little room for errors when turning in a strange city. But these units are hard to find.

http://navi7210.live.kmf-port.de/index_fla...ity-view-pro-us

http://www.navigonusa.com/

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[cosimo]

Jay, I have the Nuvi 350. I do like the Garmin but have not tried any others. You can pick what ever type of vehicle you want. I have a "green" looking car. It does have a pedestrian mode. I have used it in Italy and it was invaluable. The Italian
pronunciation by Miss Garmin was not very good but it's directions were relatively accurate. I don't know about hiking as I am not outdoorsy type. I have now found out that you can download speed and red camera information to Garmin and others from a firm called Phantom Alert. This is important for the DC area as there seems to be a proliferation of them here. You can download updated maps from there web site.

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[rxter]

I just got a nuvi 285. BT included. Using it to haul my kid and friend to a couple of universities. Works great. I especially like the auto zoom feature as you approach intersections, and the auto dimming feature as you go from day to night. BT works fine. I have not figured out how to detour though, which has been a pain. Going from Santa Cruz to San Diego it wanted to take me down the 101 and I wanted to take the 5. I put in a way point on the 5 which worked, but in my mazda factory unit I just hit "detour" and it figures out other routes.

BTW I took the 1 North in the SOs van. Jeez I needed to take a break after concentrating to keep that pig out of the ocean. I can't wait to take the 968 on that run though... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

The 285 was about $350 plus tax at Best Buys.

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[flash]

i just gave away a 350 - absolutely hated the way it worked - having to type in the city SUCKS - i guess i'm just spoiled with the pioneer - it's smarter and after you punch in the address, it reads the database and lists the cities that have that address, and you just tap the one that you want

unfortunately the nav in the 968 is the same operation as the garmin, so i'm back to that problem - at least it comes through the stereo though

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[cosimo]

On my 360 as you type in the city or town, Garmin lists the palces that start with those letters. I don't see that as a problem.

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[flash]

let me see if i can explain this right - on the pioneer, you type in the address (number then street) - then it lists what cities have that address - you tap the one you want - done

on the garmin, first you have to type the city (and you had better be right, which around here is a royal pain as all the cities bleed one into the other and mailing address is not always the same as gps address) - then finally you get to type in the address

too many steps for "on the fly" nav - it's not so bad if you are in your garage and building an address book, but since i have bypassed the security protocols on all my navs, i can program as i drive - with the garmin steps though it is too hard to do on the fly

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[cosimo]

It must be a Left Coast thing!

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[rxter]

<!--quoteo(post=70126:date=Apr 9 2009, 08:44 AM:name=flash)-->QUOTE (flash @ Apr 9 2009, 08:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->on the garmin, first you have to type the city (and you had better be right, which around here is a royal pain as all the cities bleed one into the other and mailing address is not always the same as gps address) - then finally you get to type in the address

too many steps for "on the fly" nav - it's not so bad if you are in your garage and building an address book, but since i have bypassed the security protocols on all my navs, i can program as i drive - with the garmin steps though it is too hard to do on the fly<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I agree that the city step is a PITA, and very tough whilst moving. The factory unit in the RX8 shows a list of recently entered cities when going the "address" path through the SW - very convenient.

One interesting feature on the 285 is the average mph. Not necessarily a good thing for those of us with a touch of OCD, as we might work a bit too hard on the interstate to get that average over 70, or 75, or ...

I had a TOMTOM for a about a week and had a lot of fun with the voices - downloaded Karl.

"yur comin up on the next turn uh huh"

   

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[DaveN]

<!--quoteo(post=70124:date=Apr 9 2009, 08:13 AM:name=cosimo)-->QUOTE (cosimo @ Apr 9 2009, 08:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->On my 360 as you type in the city or town, Garmin lists the palces that start with those letters. I don't see that as a problem.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


The Tomtom 730 has speach input so you can just say the name of the city/street and num. Also I took a picture of my car from the rear and made my own icon, pretty neat.
Detours on the TomTom seem to be automatic, as soon as I vary off its intended course it recalculates a new route so I can drive anywhere I feel comfortable and it's always waiting with an updated route.

PS I have John Cleese as a voice and he's always a good for a laugh!

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[rhudeboye]

I have found that the Tom Toms map share works very well. In the DC metro area, neighborhoods and contruction is constantly changing things. Map share is a very smart way to keep up with all of the changes. Not sure if its exclusive to Tom tom or not.

PS. I have Austin powers. "Groovey driving, yeaaaah

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[kodomokid]

I have the previous model Nuvi 660. Basically the same features. Love the Bluetooth and traffic. No matter which brand, make sure you have traffic and text-to-speech so that it tells you the name of the street to turn on rather than just telling you to turn in 500ft. I have stuck with Garmin. The Nuvi is the easiest to use of the Garmins I have had in the past. I have tried using a Magellan and it is not as intuitive to use IMHO. Good luck with your purchase. Can't tell you how many times this unit helped me on business trips. I have used the pedestrian feature to get to a bar in a city after parking and to locate the lake in a new-to-me series of urban parks with success. Not sure about hiking though. I assume you would have to get a different map set. The 660 makes a great city tool though.

Just saw an ad for Costco.com. Nuvi 780 $249.99

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[flash]

anybody tried one in a cab with the top down? that's exactly why i gave away my 350 - couldn't hear it at all

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[rhudeboye]

<!--quoteo(post=70342:date=Apr 13 2009, 07:12 AM:name=flash)-->QUOTE (flash @ Apr 13 2009, 07:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->anybody tried one in a cab with the top down? that's exactly why i gave away my 350 - couldn't hear it at all<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

They're convertible taxis in CA?


Ok, that was weak.

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[94SilverCab]

OK, pulled the trigger on the Garmin Nuvi 760 today. Should be receiving it this week and then can begin the learning process.

Seems that all brands/models have advantages and drawbacks, I'll just hope for the best. I have an on-going love/hate relationship with technology, so it will be interesting to see how this fits into the scheme of things in my life that either; 1- get used every day and make my life better, or 2- I hate them and rue the money I threw down the drain because they sit in a drawer unused. Very little middle ground.

Thanks for all of the input,

Jay

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[kodomokid]

<!--quoteo(post=70353:date=Apr 13 2009, 07:53 AM:name=94SilverCab)-->QUOTE (94SilverCab @ Apr 13 2009, 07:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->OK, pulled the trigger on the Garmin Nuvi 760 today. Should be receiving it this week and then can begin the learning process.

Seems that all brands/models have advantages and drawbacks, I'll just hope for the best. I have an on-going love/hate relationship with technology, so it will be interesting to see how this fits into the scheme of things in my life that either; 1- get used every day and make my life better, or 2- I hate them and rue the money I threw down the drain because they sit in a drawer unused. Very little middle ground.

Thanks for all of the input,

Jay<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

How is the Nuvi working out for you?

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[rxter]

<!--quoteo(post=70342:date=Apr 13 2009, 06:12 AM:name=flash)-->QUOTE (flash @ Apr 13 2009, 06:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->anybody tried one in a cab with the top down? that's exactly why i gave away my 350 - couldn't hear it at all<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Oh sheit. Never thought of that. I guess I'll get to try it out in a few weeks.

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[flash]

lol - i didn't either - really bummed me out too - i thought i had it nailed - i spent $500 on that puppy too - no easy and clean way to wire it into the system either - oh well

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[94SilverCab]

We have been practicing with it and it is surprisingly easy to use.

We used it to get to Hershey last weekend and it took us on an unpredictable, but beautiful route...shaved time and enjoyed the road.

The Garmin works through the speakers of the stereo, that eliminates the not being able to hear problem. Of course, you can't listen to it and the stereo at the same time. If you were to rely on just the garmin speakers you would be lost.

Forget about seeing the screen in a convertible. Had to go back to the porch and program the thing before taking off.

All in all, I would say very satisfied. I wish it would talk through an active FM station and allow you to listen in between messages. There does seem to be a screen brightness thingy, but I haven't sorted it out yet.

Jay

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