GPS

[natvtxn]

Thinking about getting dh a gps (portable) for Christmas. Ideas on what to look for?

[Candleman]

It really depends on what he will use it for. Garmin is a good brand. It is important to get one with enough memory, so he can add maps to it. If he is going to use it for hiking and backpacking for example, TOPO maps are a life saver when out in the wilderness. With most electronic gadgets it depends on how much you want to spend.

[Wilson]

What kind of cell phone does he have? I'm this close to ordering one of these - it's a keychain GPS with Bluetooth so it sends the GPS info to your phone and works well with the map applications already in use:

http://www.freedominput.com/site/index.php?Itemid=81&id=96&option=com_content&task=view

If you want one of the traditional car units, I like Garmin (we have 3 Garmin GPS units and never a problem) and TomTom.

[rusti]

Wilson - that is too cool. I know B's Christmas present and am ordering it now!

[Realtorchick]

i got a garmin from hubby last xmas. I love it, can't be with out. It's really helped when i'm showing properties in areas i'm not familiar with.

[natvtxn]

Wilson - he has a Blackberry. It is a company phone, so I would rather not be tied to that. I guess what he would want it for is basic traveling. I would want to have software options. I need help. And W, why the heck do you have so many?

[natvtxn]

And another thing, what the heck does that thing (in the link from W) do? Do I need (want) that?

[Wilson]

We have 3 Garmin Rino's which are Walkie-Talkies with the GPS built-in. I bought them before we went to Disney last year and tied one to each of the kids and dh or I carried the 3rd. The kids had specific instructions if they were to get lost - push the button on the GPS (to update their location) and then find a Mom with kids or an employee and tell them they were lost. Just in case ;).

[Wilson]

The link is to the Freedom GPS - it's a tiny GPS with Bluetooth - so it "talks" to your bluetooth device (in your case, your dh's Blackberry, probably) and sends the GPS info to the mapping software installed on the phone. It's *very* cool :).

[herself]

Are you kidding? You can never have too many gadgets.:D

I have the freedom gps, I love it. It's super tiny and light. I have M$Live mapping software on my cell. The gps tells it where I am, I say 'find coffee' and it tells me the nearest coffee shops and how to get to them or call them.

The other gps have built in maps. I have one of those I use on my bike to keep from having to make very long trips home after I get myself lost. Some times I just don't want to use up the cell phone battery and I can hook the other one on my handlebars. It'll also tell me how far I've gone and how fast.

So both have their uses.

Depends on what you want the gps for? Quick searches while you're traveling? Then just get a blue tooth add on for your smart phone. One to go hiking and biking with then Garmin has some nice pocket sized ones with maps built in to them. Or are you looking for one for the car? I don't know anything about those but some one will.