THINQon : Confused about GPS units--can anyone help?

Garage Garage Confused about GPS units--can anyone help?

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Anne L. Watson, I'm the author of four published books: two...

Confused about GPS units--can anyone help?

Latest Post: February 25, 2011 at 1:40 AM

2 followers

I need to buy a GPS to help me get around, since I've recently moved to a rural area where places are very hard to find. I need one that gives spoken instructions--the roads here have no shoulder where I can pull off and study a map. I knew someone a few years ago who had one of these, but I've lost touch with her, so I'm at a bit of a loss about how to research what I need. I've checked the listings at Amazon but I'm not sure I even understand the descriptions properly.
I want to get something portable, not have it installed in the car. Where I live, it's so out-of-the-way, I doubt I could get anything installed within a day's drive.

Can anyone point me in the right direction (no pun intended)?

Thanks,
Anne

Reply to:

Mike Strong

June 12, 2010 at 7:40 PM

15 followers

Hi Anne,
Any GPS would work for you. Some have traffic information, but this seems less important in your case.
A simple example would be TomTom XL340, which I've linked to below, and a dashboard mount.
I personally like TomTom, but really any such portable gps unit will fit your needs.

I see you studied in Berkeley. It's a nice place.

Products Discussed

TomTom XL 340-S 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

TomTom GPS Dashboard Mount for TomTom GPS Navigators

Reply to: or

Anne L. Watson, I'm the author of four published books: two...

June 12, 2010 at 9:47 PM

2 followers

Thanks, Mike. Yes, I liked Berkeley a lot. I'm on San Juan Island now--it's beautiful, but very hard to find my way around except right in town. Thanks again!

Reply to: or

Lee Kazanas

June 13, 2010 at 3:47 PM

3 followers

Anne,
You are in luck. GPS units are getting better and cheaper every year. Go to a store where you can test one out and see if the interface is intuitive to you. A computer luddite friend of mine will now not take a long trip without hers. Fewer wrong turns and greater confidence for those without a great innate sense of direction.

A small pet peeve, I see people with them on during their commute to work. What's up with that?

Good luck at your new location.