Sat-Nav recommendations - TomTom anyone?
 

Looking for a sat-nav system for my mum, who daren't drive outside of Norfolk in case she gets lost... ;)

I'm thinking of the TomTom GO system (here) as its small, portable and reasonably priced. Can anyone here recommend this one? Or anything similarly easy-to-use and easy to swap between cars..?

Cheers

I use a Garmin 2610. Brilliant. Use it on the bikes and in the car.

TomTom Go is pretty much ideal for what you want.

I've got the PDA version, but it's pretty much the same interface, and my technically incompetent parents can manage it :)

A mate has the Tom Tom Go and loves it. Spot on for what you want, works perfectly and a good price. If I was after something like that, I'd get the Tom Tom Go.

I know several people with Tom Tom`s and there all pleased with them.

I`m on my 5th topof the range Garmin, all singing and dancing unit, and there complete and utter rubbish!...............IMHO

If you've got a fairly modern mobile phone, TomTom are about to launch a version of Navigator 3 called Mobile 5 - gets good writeups. See their web site (www.tomtom.com).

Andrew

Tom-Tom go get it fantastic easy to use don't leave home without it, you can also get speed camera detec add on.

TomTom GO it is then!!! Gonna phone ahead to Dixons and see if i can get one duty free at the airport next weekend (off to spain...).

And might have to get their mobile phone version for myself when it comes out...

Mate I'm looking at the mobile one myself, but you'll need a different phone if you want to use it ;)

:frog:

yep - TomTom Go is probably the best compromise out there between price, ease of use and funtionality. I've been using my go for a few months now and wouldn't be without it.

Garmin must have taken notice of how popular it is because they have just launched a rival product (Streetpilot c320 and c330) - even down to the changeable front plates. The c330 has the added benefit of including all European detailed maps (although don't know what extra you have to pay).

If you do get the Go, make sure to download the speed camera database (it's free).

A personal peeve is that I hate the Dixons group and will go to great lengths to avoid giving them any business. Their website shows the Go for £430 in-store but there's a whole load of websites that will do it for less than £400 - try Comets (even Dixons do it for £396 if you buy online) - I doubt the duty-free shop will be able to match them.

As with all new technology, there's always something better and cheaper around the corner. But it's not going to be a phone-based one.

UMTS (3G) has the ability to track your location through triangulation but it's not really fast enough if you are driving. There are mobile phones out there that have gps chips embedded but it is harder to locate a signal and drains battery power. They also do not generally have a touch-screen, and if they do it will be a smaller screen than a dedicated unit...........so save your pennies boys!

You can get a bluetooth GPS receiver unit and if your phone supports bluetooth, or you have a PDa like an iPaq you can run the Tom Tom mobile software. In fact you can do this now, I've seen the iPaq one in action and it was fine.

wise word young paduan (yes, it is now confirmed I am older than you!)

I was referring to the phones that have built-in gps. You can go down the route of a bluetooth gps unit and it will be cheaper but you will still end up with 2 pieces of kit that are reliant on each other to not run out of juice.

Battery technology being what it is, I would rather have two separate devices.

and the bike-specific ones won't be too far behind...

http://personaltechpipeline.com/news/60403218

I have a Medion Navigator PDA based system, but researched and recommended TomTom Go for my sister-speed camera database is a must, but doesn't help with mobile units unfortunately-which is what got me 2 years ago:(

John

cheeky frogger... :frog:

:D

:lol:

Amazon are knocking them out at £399.98.

I just got TomTom for my iPaq and it works really well, especially for the money. Trouble is I'm not sure how I'm going to mount it on my bike now. I was thinking of something like the little Givi day bag (very small magnetic tank bag), modified with a clear top.

Anyone got any ideas?

That would be the best bet rjc. I've seen special map reading tank covers that have the clear top to them. An iPaq and a GPS receiver should easily slip inside, giving a nice clear view but with all the weather protection you'll need.

Never used mine on the bike but my iPaq/TomTom combo has become invaluable on recent journeys :)

Oh I should have mentioned that I've already got a clear map holder but I wanted something a bit smaller and neater than that.

The Givi I mentioned actually has a black top to it, and would neet modifying.

http://www.givi.it/prodotti/img/130_84_imgprinc.jpg

Ah right. Not sure how easy it would be to make a clear top for something like that. How about getting a proper weatherproof case and adapting it to strap to the bike? Might be easier.

http://www.sailgb.com/p/waterproof_pouch_pda/
http://www.memory-map.co.uk/acatalog...oof_cases.html

Picked up the TomTom GO duty free at the weekend... £260. Sorted.