I know there are a ton of threads on this and yes I have read most of them over the last few days. Very helpful but I still have a question or 2.

I almost bought a in dash unit the other day, but the price was really holding me back considering I might have to upgrade the rest of the system as well (ie amp, sub woofer, speakers).
So I really started to think why I wanted or needed a gps. It came down to more of a "want" than a "need" unless I am on travel for work. This lead me to start looking at "portable" gps units so I can take it with me when I travel.

I plan to try and hit the best buy today or tomorrow as there are big sales this weekend plus I have a 12% off coupon from them.

I am not sure about the memory capacity of these devices. Some of the MAgellan Explorist have between 8M to 32M, while the Magellan RM series has up to 20G hdd in them?? Just how much memory is needed to store the maps of the US? How useful is it to have one that has download ability from your computer?

I have been leaning towards the Magellan RM700 because it looks more portable than the Garmin series. I read that someone here never figured out how to mount their RM700 and a thread or 2 on GPS reception problems. Does this mean the external antenna is a must? That might make traveling with one a pain.

How hard are these smaller screens to see, especially in the sunlight?

Reliability an issue?

Thanks guys/gals......
added
I did not mean to forget about the TTG versions. I have looked at those as well, but they seem more bulky and the TTG300 only has 32M memoery. I am still trying to figure out why some have so much memory and others do not.

With my Garmin 2610, I can install any size compact flash card. Currently I have a 1 Gig card in it and that has at least half of the US on it, including all points of interest. They say a 2 Gig card will fit the entire US and then some.

A friend gave me his old Compaq/HP Pocket PC with a GPS "sleeve". I used it on a recent cross country trip and around town going on a landscaping tour, and it worked great.

I was going to buy a Dell before his generous gift. Their units cost about $340 up including 802.11b and bluetooth. http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx/pda?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs Then you add the GPS for another $180 pictured on the left. http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/ProductDetail.aspx?TabPage=overview&sku=A0396877&spagenum=&category_id=6071&brandid=&k=&c=us&l=en&cs=19&mnf=&prst=&prEnd=&mnfsku=&orderby=&searchtype=&pageb4search=&page=productlisting.aspx&instock=&refurbished=

The advantage of this GPS system is that you also have a working pocket PC that offers many other functions not available in the dedicated GPS.

My Compaq uses a Navman sleeve that contains a 512mb memory stick and that I load with the states I need. The western US takes about 400mb. Mine is pictured on the right and the sleeve with software sells for about $160 on ebay. You can see it has a built-in antenna which worked fine with the window mount (drivers window is where I put it), but it also has an external antenna jack and I just bought one on ebay for $10 that will allow me to move the GPS to a different location in the Element, like to the left of the radio.

I'm leaning towards the tomtom go 300. It runs about $699 most places, newegg.com has the tomtom go (the one before the 300) for $579

The TTG300 does not use GPS assisted nav according to their website.
Plus I am confused by how it can hold the entire US in 32M, others say they need at least 1-2G for this ability.

I know I want the entire US as I travel from VA to FL, CA, AZ, KY on a semi regular basis. Now I know my way around those areas, but it would be nice to not have to carry paper maps with me every time I go. Plus it would be way easier to find ways around traffic jams, find restuarants for dinner, gas stations, etc......

The 32 mb memory is the internal memory, the maps are stored on the SD card. I think the entire US is pre loaded on a 1GB SD card, canada comes on a CD so that could be loaded onto a 2nd SD card

OK, gotcha. I must have missed that when reading.
So does the TTG also have all the POI (gas stations,etc...)?

I am hoping Genom will jump in here and give me some opinions on his TTG.
He has had it awhile now I believe, plus his install is damn nice. The way he did the power is exactly what I plan to do. I have already hit the local parts stores and picked up a few of the add-a-circuit fuse kits.

The TTG uses an SD card...some have a 1G card that holds the entire US road maps. I have both 256 and 512 cards and load the maps of the regions I need. I generally only travel around the northeast, so that is the region I keep loaded onto the 256 SD card.

No, the TTG isn't something I needed, I can get around just fine, but it does come in handy when travelling out of state as it keeps me from having to buy maps of the state and/or county I will be travelling to.

Edit: Just saw your post MTP...yes, the TTG does have POIs such as gas stations, restaurants and so forth...and you can pick and choose which groups you want to display.

The entire TTG manual can be downloaded in PDF form if you want to see it. If it is no longer available from the TomTom site, email me and I'll send you a copy.

Hey great, just read your PM.
How hard is the screen to see (small size, sunlight wash it out easy?)

So the maps are on the SD card only? How often do you need to update the maps?

I agree, this is more a "want" than a "need", but if I pose the travel option to the wife it makes it more an honest "need".

How fast does the TTG300 help you if you try to avoid traffic? Do you use the traffic and weather download with a phone?

There different levels of map detail. The base map of an inexpensive 'mapping' GPS unit may have federal and and state highways, plus a few others, plus some water ways, all in internal memory. The next increment would all roads down to the county and local level. A further step is topo information and trails.

The 'points of interest' file that came with my IFINDER Express a couple of years ago takes up 32M on a SD card.

Depending on the GPS unit, maps may come with it, or you may require an additional software package from that manufacturer, allowing you to download maps from your computer to the GPS.

Obviously the map information that comes with or can be downloaded to a $200 handheld unit will be different that what comes with a $1000 car unit with voice direction ability.

Another memory use to keep in mind - recording your tracks.

paulj

I have the "classic" model which does not have Blue Tooth, so I can't get the traffic updates via a BT cell phone...plus I'm not even sure that is available here in the states just yet, it is in Europe though.

The screen is rather glossy, and though a number of people say it gets washed out/difficult to see in sunlight, I've never had an issue with it so far (maybe where I have it has something to do with it?)

I have't updated any of my maps yet, just the firmware that operates the unit.

MTP,

I had all the same concerns, but when it came down to it the TTG series seemed the best. It is actually LESS bulky that the Magellan and Garmin series and easier to mount (ie Genom's).

Also I believe the screen size (3.5") is exactly the same as the Magellan series.

I MIGHT order one here today so I just might have it next weekend! Not sure yet, since the TTG300 JUST came out, some of its accesories are not yet being sold (like the external antenna). It will be just like a sat radio antenna, so no big deal, but I just want it so I know I hav a better chance to keep the signal. We shall see what I can find tonight.

Also, in relations to storage size. Some of the newe models have larger internal storage space because they ate MP3 compatible, thus the larger space to store all that.

That said I dont plan to use them for that, so the SD cards should be fine. Whatever size card they said with the preloaded maps is fine by me :)

Damn your killing me Lance. Your like the brother I never had.
As soon as I do something you do it. As soon as you do something I do it.

All is cool, since we are both gonna copy Genom :)

I'll try to price out the TTG with the extras (mem sticks, power stuff, external antenna, etc..) to see if it is possible right now.

Last weekend and this weekend been busted my butt (and wallet) on the house. In the middle of installing wood floors upstairs. 2 rooms down and 2 rooms and hallway to go. Plus we are painting and semi redecorating/refurnishing each room as we go along. Need to finish the interior crap so I can look into my bigger shed and redoing my garage......
aaaahhhhh the joys of home ownership :? :-o (yeah right...)

Damn your killing me Lance. Your like the brother I never had.
As soon as I do something you do it. As soon as you do something I do it.

All is cool, since we are both gonna copy Genom :)

I'll try to price out the TTG with the extras (mem sticks, power stuff, external antenna, etc..) to see if it is possible right now.

Last weekend and this weekend been busted my butt (and wallet) on the house. In the middle of installing wood floors upstairs. 2 rooms down and 2 rooms and hallway to go. Plus we are painting and semi redecorating/refurnishing each room as we go along. Need to finish the interior crap so I can look into my bigger shed and redoing my garage......
aaaahhhhh the joys of home ownership :? :-o (yeah right...)

LOL, I am 27, so I presume you would be my older brother. Actually I have been pinging Genom the last few weeks about the TTG so I might have beaten you to it ;-) I think the TTG is the best all around unit, I just wish we knew when all the accessories would go on sale. The only other unit I am considering is the Magellan 300...its cheaper, but bulkier. But is has the Magellan Reputation behind it as well.

I know what you mean. Im living with my folks until my house is finished in on June 29th. We spent $5300 on dining room and formal lving room furniture yesterday (thank god for memorial day sales). God help me, we are going to IKEA tomorrow morning :roll:

Now I am making arrangments on what colors I am going to paint rooms in the house...gonn atke about 5 days for painting, etc. before we actually move in.

you really think the TTG300 is better than the Megallen RM700? That is the unit I have been interested in. It has a 20G hdd for maps and what not.

I am concerned with getting all the roads not just major ones. When traveling the 101 or 405 in CA and traffic sucks I want to see the little interconnecting roads I can jump on to bypass the traffic.

I hopefully will hit the local circuitcity and bestbuy this weekend to compare screens.

I am also concerned that the screen is too small to see little details clearly.

Hey Genom, have any issues with smaller roads not showing up on yours?
Hey I just spent a few minutes reading the TTG site, can you store locations?
Like can I store addresses for my work, home, etc.....and then just pick where I want to go and it will map it out?

No issues with small roads and we have plenty of them here on Long Island. The TTG maps I have loaded are the "major roads of USA" which you can basically travel across the country with, and then I have the NE region which shows everything down to the smallest insignificant road you can imagine. I have 8 CD ROMs with all the maps...I can pick and choose what I want on an SD card...anything from individual states to blocks of states in a given region.

I have "Lori" for the voice on my TTG...yeah I know, the last thing I wanted to do was take directions from a woman...but I'm certain I would get into an argument if "Tim" was the one telling me where to go.:)

I have 8 CD ROMs with all the maps...I can pick and choose what I want on an SD card...anything from individual states to blocks of states in a given region.
8 cds? Did all of those come with the unit? They do not mention what the max SD mem stick size is that the TTG300 can handle, nor do they mention what size comes with it.

If you are getting away with a 256M and 512M, that will probably be good enough for me, but I wouldn't mind a 1G stick as overkill :)

Hey you didn't mention if you can store routes, destinations, etc....?

Are there service fees?? I notice you can not seem to download any user manuals from the site.

Yes, all 8 cds came with the unit, as did the 256meg SD card. I can store routes, destinations and create POIs if I want. There are no service fees, unless you want to use the new models with the traffic and weather service.

MTP, email me and I'll send you the user's guide for the TTG (UK model, but you'll get the idea...the hardware and menus are the same, just the maps are different)

I was just reading eopinions on the TTG and it seems several people complain that the maps are very inaccurate (wrong directions, leads you downl roads that do not go anywhere, etc..). Ever notice this?

you really think the TTG300 is better than the Megallen RM700? That is the unit I have been interested in. It has a 20G hdd for maps and what not.

I am concerned with getting all the roads not just major ones. When traveling the 101 or 405 in CA and traffic sucks I want to see the little interconnecting roads I can jump on to bypass the traffic.

I hopefully will hit the local circuitcity and bestbuy this weekend to compare screens.

I am also concerned that the screen is too small to see little details clearly.

Hey Genom, have any issues with smaller roads not showing up on yours?
Hey I just spent a few minutes reading the TTG site, can you store locations?
Like can I store addresses for my work, home, etc.....and then just pick where I want to go and it will map it out?

No I was comparing the TTG300 to the Magellan 300.

As genom mentioned you get maps for everything (even small roads), but you may have to use multiple cards if you dont have one big enough.

Concerned with screen size? It's 3.5" inches. Most of these units are about the same size, so I am not sure you are going to find much better, if you do its gonna be a beast.

I haven't experienced any real innacuracies. With the earlier firmware there was one instance that bugged me: If I mapped out a route to my mother's home, it took me on a straight route that I generally take, but when mapping out a return trip, it wanted to take me some 5 miles out of the way in a square shaped route instead of a straight line. Most claim this is because the TTG algorithm prefers right turns over lefts or something to that effect.

I've got Hagstrom maps that are plenty innacurate, especially out in the Hamptons...so map inaccuracies don't entirely surprise or worry me.

I'm still trying to figure things out for myself GPS wise.

I'm currently using a Panasonic Toughbook 72 mounted with GPS MS Streets/Trips & IGuidence. I'm considering upgrading to either a Kenwood or Pioneer N1 flushmount.

Need advice on which is better...kenwood or pioneer n1?

Damn look at this.
The website Genom mentioned Shipdog (http://www.shipdog.com) has the TTG 300 for $550 and it list an external antenna for $97.

I was trying to compare the device to the TomTom website and thats when the confusion sets in. It seems the new TTG 300 has ALL the map data on the included SD card, and the only cd you get has PC software and maps of Cananda, PR, and Guam.

I wish we new someone with a new one to get a straight answer.

But damn Shipdog seems the way to go if that is really the TTG 300. Thats a $150 cheaper than any place near me.

What I've understood is that the TomTom Go has a 256 mb SD card with a CD. The tomtom go 300 has all the maps on a 1GB SD card. So if they can tell you card size I think that settles it. I am kindof in the same boat. I was looking at newegg as compared to crutchfield. Price diff of 579 to 699. although I have the same question. Tried to call shipdog but couldn't get thru. I just emailed newegg and shipdog asking about the SD card size. Will post when I hear back.


I got my info from crutchfield because they currently have 1 of the older and then the newer one also.

John

Thanks John.
I am "sneaking" to the computer in between doing the hardwood floors upstairs.
I hope to try and call Shipdog myself but probably not until tomorrow.

Thats what I figured out too about the SD. Plus I am curious to find out if they really have the external antenna for the TTG300 because no one else does.

I might just order over the phone depending on the answers I get.

i just tried to call shipdog again, they must not man the phone lines at all on the holiday. i looked again at neweggs website and they won't be on the phones either today.

I wouldn't expect a volume online retailer to tell me much about a product. That is the role of the manufacturer's web site
for example
http://www.tomtom.com/products/product.php?ID=76&Language=4#

A GPS specialty store may also be a useful source
http://www.thegpsstore.com/Detail-tomtom-go-700-navigation-system.asp

Yeah, I do not expect them to give me details on the use, but than cancheck their inventory and give me an answer to if the have the materials or not, which unit it really is, etc......

I went to the GPS store but their prices are hundreds more and they do not list the external antenna.

What I've understood is that the TomTom Go has a 256 mb SD card with a CD. The tomtom go 300 has all the maps on a 1GB SD card. So if they can tell you card size I think that settles it. I am kindof in the same boat. I was looking at newegg as compared to crutchfield. Price diff of 579 to 699. although I have the same question. Tried to call shipdog but couldn't get thru. I just emailed newegg and shipdog asking about the SD card size. Will post when I hear back.


I got my info from crutchfield because they currently have 1 of the older and then the newer one also.

John

www.tigergps.com has good prices as well!

Just an FYI, found this today and was posted last Thursday.

http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000907044452/

I read that yesterday. Seems hit or miss with a lot of people. They either love it or can not find anything good to say about it.
Mostly seems poor maps as the complaint.

Also found this on the following website:
"TomTom GO 300 (Includes 1 GB SD Card, All Maps of USA Pre-Loaded (Canada on CD))"

http://www.digitallyunique.com/1d00380.html

So, that seems to answer/confirm that question.

Well, here is another site with the antenna, for $79.

http://www.gps4fun.com/ps_tomtom_go_300.php

I read that yesterday. Seems hit or miss with a lot of people. They either love it or can not find anything good to say about it.
Mostly seems poor maps as the complaint.

And I believe that is mostly from the previous model. I also read that the new firmware version 5.1 fixes alot of the route calculation problems as well.

Most of the reviews you see come from Europe...apparently the road network bites over there.

They have something called a "magic roundabout" that from an aerial view looks like it would be a nightmare to navigate through.

Navman PIN 100 . Love it!