Garmin GPS 18 Deluxe USB Sensor for Laptops by Garmin
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List Price: Category: GPS or Navigation System See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin GPS 18 Deluxe USB Sensor for Laptops
Digital camera Review: Great product for the price
Summary: 3 Stars
The most frustrating part of using the nRoute software is trying to enter a destination. Of course you have to enter your destination while you are stopped, not a problem. The frustrating part is that it makes you choose from a list of streets based on what you type. Furthermore, it does not seem to limit the selection of street names by the city and state you enter, instead offering all similar street names in the United States. Several times, I was not able to find the street at all in the drop down menu, even though I could find it on the nRoute map. I ended up marking it as a waypoint on the map, and it calculated the route from there. If this single feature could be made as easy as say MapQuest, or Yahoo Maps, I would give it 5 stars.
The next annoyance is that nRoute seems to pick the shortest driving distance instead of shortest drive time, often taking you off the beaten path. This annoyance, however, turned out to be a blessing on a recent trip. From the Bay Area to Minden Nevada, Yahoo Maps had me drive almost to Sacramento then up Hwy 50 to Tahoe, then down the Kingston grade. I took this route to my destination and ran into horrible traffic, with the roads clogged with SUVs. Coming back, I decided to simply follow the nRoute instructions, and it took me on a spectacular scenic route down Nevada State 395 to Highway 88. Lots of twists and turns, but I got to see parts of the state I had never seen before, and it ended up taking less time.
Finally, some things I learned in setting it up. I installed the product on an old IBM Thinkpad 600. I did not read the part where the software came on DVD. After a day trying to figure out why my CD drive would not read the disk, I realized my mistake. I ordered a used DVD drive for the laptop off of eBay, and all was well. The product comes with a bracket to hold the GPS "puck" to the windshield, but I believe this is not legal in California, so I put it on the dash, where it slides around a lot. I fixed this with a small square of rubber shelving liner, like some people use to store glassware on. With the puck on top of the rubber square there is no more sliding. The same liner can be used under the laptop if you have vinyl seats. Just plop the laptop on the passenger seat with the screen facing the driver, and you can take a quick look to see how many miles until your next turn. Works great.
Digital camera Review: Great product from Garmin with reasonable price
Summary: 5 Stars
The best navigation ever. At the end Garmin tried to price one
of their product so reasonable to compete against the current products in the market. After installing the software and unlocking
try to download the latest version of the nRoute and City select
software. The navigation is so accurate in the high ways and crowded cities as well. If you make a mistake, the navigation software
quickly will adjust and find the new route from where you are.
The voice promt is ok. It is best used when two people are in the
trip where one will be driving and the other using the laptop for
quidance.
I did not encounter any of the problems mentioned by the other
reviewers.
Digital camera Review: Great product with a few annoyances
Summary: 4 Stars
For the money, this is a great value. If you already have a laptop, then for $129 you have most of the functionality of a $1500 built-in navigator. For basic functionality, it's a 5 star item. I have used around New England for about two months, and have navigated back roads and highways. Resolution, maps, screen displays, ETA, position, etc, are all superb. Once you have selected a route and are on the way it's better than the built-in units, because it has a bigger screen (your laptop) with more information.
But without a touch screen, it's a little clumsy to use, and you have to plan on putting in destinations while stopped somewhere. It's not a bad process, takes only a few minutes, but it's slower and not as smooth as a Honda Navigator (point of reference).
You can save any waypoints or routes and recall them easily. You can show gas stations, atms, etc. It talks to you, and anticipates turns, etc very well.
Overall, a fantastic value for the price. Any defects are forgiven. When they produce a pda or tablet version, so that you could use a touch-screen, it will be a huge hit.
Digital camera Review: Great product! I wish I could give it 4.5 stars.
Summary: 4 Stars
Great product! Easy to install (no issues from my DVD ROM). Plesant voice commands (does not name the roads, however). Great mapping software! Automatically adjusts the contrast variant on the time of day. Super fast aquisition of satelites...even from the middle of my living room (cant figure that one out!) Tracks my position perfectly on the maps (unlike the Delorme LT20). Its the best one for this price range.Digital camera Review: It works
Summary: 4 Stars
All around I haven't any serious problems with this product, the only problem is that if you need to use it while driving you need a co-pilot. I was hesitant in getting a GPS unit and I found this one to the best for me. I travel around California regularly and it was nice to have an information bank on the seat next to me. I would suggest this to anyone that doesn't want to spend too much on a GPS unit and has a laptop that they don't mind traveling with.