Have you guys checked this out?

http://www.garmin.com/products/quest/

Li-Ion battery, 115 megs of memory, color display, USB, and voice prompts...

Has the Garmin V that I've been using been made completely obsolete? What's the skinny?

If this has already been discussed, please ignore... I didn't find it after doing some searches...

- Jon

There was a recent NYT article comparing three of these things. Unfortunately, they want money to see the article now, so I can't bring it up easily.

In addition to the Garmin, there's also the Magellan, also having all of the U.S. and Canada in a device you can carry with you when you travel. A friend of mine has one and says he loves it. I'm personally not sure whether I'd rather have a portable GPS unit like these, or whether I'd rather have something built into the car. I imagine the portable is more useful, particularly if you fly places and need help navigating unfamiliar neighborhoods.

The only thing like this I've ever actually tried to use is Hertz's Neverlost system (an older generation Magellan system). When it really mattered (trying to find a friend's apartment in Hoboken), it steered me the wrong way on the Turnpike and nearly took me through the Holland tunnel into Manhattan. Once I realized I was screwed, I was able to get on some local roads and make a phone call, getting normal, traditional directions. I can only hope the newer nav systems work better.

I have the GPS V and it works very well.

There's this also, it's getting rave reviews: http://www.tomtom.com/

- Jon

The real question is what does that model offer over the GPSMAP 60CS that i've been lusting after for months?! heheh. Other than twice the data storage that is...

It looks impressive, and a possible replacement for V users who mostly only use the V for navigation. However, it lacks the V's ability to be flipped to the handheld position, something I use frequently when going geocaching.

Looking at the design, it does seem intended to replace the V though, even with the similar layout of the buttons and screen look.

It looks like the Quest is geared towards address to address and auto/motorcycle kind of travel, while the 60CS is more of an all purpose GPS. Looks like it would be a good geocaching toy...

I'm trying to figure out if getting the built in nav would be worthwhile in my future Mini (if I can get one!). People have said lots of negative things about the one that comes in that car, but I can't find many specific comments about WHY people don't like it, other than the price...

- Jon

Wonder if that business model is working for them.

HA! I gotta remember that. I wonder how many other sites have been twisted that way. (foobar123)

Many. I've found that plain old "foobar/foobar" works as a password in a lot of places where I'd otherwise prefer not to have to create an account. If not, then often a variant of it (such as the 123 I discovered on NYT).

too bad bugmenot.com got shut down. the bookmarklet still seems to work however.

Well, if you add in the $100 or so for City Select maps on top of the base 60CS price, it's pretty comparably priced. I have the 60CS and love it. The 60CS may be better suited for long hike trips as the batteries are replacable/2xAA's.

I use it on car power with my old Garmin III cable and it does a decent job routing when driving. It'll get you there, but may do strange things (like route you from Queens to norhtern NJ by going through Manhattan).

-Zeke

bugmenot works fine for me

see here

Everytime i hit their site i get a directory listing:

Index of /

Name Last modified Size Description

[DIR] Parent Directory 17-Aug-2004 06:33 -
[DIR] _private/ 17-Aug-2004 06:23 -
[DIR] cgi-bin/ 17-Aug-2004 06:23 -
[DIR] images/ 17-Aug-2004 06:23 -
[TXT] postinfo.html 17-Aug-2004 06:23 2k

Apache/1.3.31 Server at www.bugmenot.com Port 80

that is very strange. still having this issue?

Nope ... working now. Must've been work cache server or something.