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: Its a cool gadget but not worth its price...
Summary: 3 Stars
well for something that requires your laptop, it makes the whole trip bulky, however its a cool gadget if it were cheaper...Digital camera Review: Just because you do everything right it does not mean success
Summary: 1 Stars
As a past satisfied customer, I decided to look for a "bargin" re: my desire to purchase a Garmin GPS 18,I selected a seller that seemed to be a highly regarded provider. I should add at this time I check with our son, who has been involved with computers and software for 27 years, for his thoughts on what I was doing. My unit did not work and after one hour and half hours with Garmin, we were instructed to return the product under the warranty. Upon return, we tried again to install the unit, this occured after spending a half an hour with tech support. It seems we are not able to connect to the approbrite driver. I will again call Garmin this Monday. I'm waiting to help reduce my frustration level.
Our son says, "We did everything right"
Digital camera Review: Just got mine
Summary: 4 Stars
I just tried my GPS18 and here are my thoughts:
1. It locks MUCH faster than the Delorme. The nRoute software looks very 1990s, and the Delorme looks very 1980s.... I wish they could look more '00s.
2. The user interface is vastly superior to the Delorme.
3. So far, navigation is spot-on accurate, and re-routing is simply a dream. There is an option that is not on by default to announce the re-routing so you can tell when you have made a wrong turn.
1. Searching is just not as easy as it should be. You literally must force the software to find your item, and it's not always very coherent. They could benefit from some R&D for searching.
2. I would like the option to announce street names by voice, or to configure it to respond to voice commands from the driver.
3. The voice is pleasant female voice, but is not configurable.
4, Had to buy the GPS gate software to make it compliant with other programs.
Over the two other consumer level products I have seen, M$ and Delorme, the Garmin is far better... That's not to say that I hope things change in the coming versions.
Digital camera Review: Laptop GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
When I travel I must have my laptop along. I use Garmin's Mobil PC and my Garmin GPS 18 to provide location info. I like the large screen over small portable GPS's. Gramin's Mapquest program (free software) helps me plan my trips and easily uploads way-points and routs to Mobil PC. You will need a converter to power the laptop during road operation but I needed one to keep the laptop going anyway. I've had it for over five years and have upgraded software and maps over time to keep it current.Digital camera Review: Muskogee Re-Route
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my first GPS and as yet I've only "tested" the unit but I am impressed. It may not be the best choice for someone who uses a GPS several times, day in and day out and/or is mostly solo as this is designed to hook to ones laptop and will most probably reside on the passengers seat. That said, by virtue of this design one gets quite a view as the map is as big as your laptop screen. My initial use was sitting on my wife's lap and as others point out a "Co-Pilot" can be of benifit in this case. I have found a "mounting system" for my laptop (cop like) for under $40 so in time (I don't have it yet) one will see if this places the screen in a useful position for a solo run. For the price and this time, my search put Amazon as the best, this seems a good bang for the buck. For the most part my wife and I don't "need" a GPS. We both know where our work is (and my wife is not into Gizmos but does get lost easily) but at times we need to "find" an unknown location. We also take a drive (21 hours) to South Padre Island at least one time a year. Sure I know the basic route but as I tend to drive through the night while my wife sleeps the idea of a GPS guide has been on my mind the last two trips as often turns "pop" up at the most inopertune times and this GPS puts a lot of information at ones finger tips. As far as the product itself the receiver is a small puck like unit, maybe 2 1/2 inches. It was pretty much "plug-n-play" after selecting that the unit was USB then loading the software and entering the unlock code a stop at Garmin website and an easy software update . As other's have said entering the street names can be a bit of a puzzle. I wanted "Elm Tree Lane" but even with the proper zip code the only way to get that street was by inputing "Elmtree Ln" not a big deal but I see where it could make look-ups interesting. The unit quickly set up the fastest and most direct route. The voice promps were good but don't use street names, just "turn left in 3/10 of a mile. However, the computer screen gives the street names in a banner which is rather large print and is easy to see at a glance. As I needed gas when I came to my first "right turn" I went left. The program almost immediatly re-routed based on the direction I was going now. The unit then guided us almost flawlessly to our destination (a bit confused at the gas station but later I noted the unit was "locked" on road) so once back on "the" road I got clear verbal directions that were given at least twice allowing me to always get into the proper lane with plenty of time to spare. Being a laptop, on my co-pilot's lap, as the driver, it probably not real safe to do more than just take a quick glance at the screen but one can tap the space bar and it repeats the oral directions. Should I be able to pull off my "cop mount" it could be very cool for our trip. Now the map orientation is either north up or direction of travel up. That makes alot of sense but with a widescreen laptop it would be nice to make the direction of travel "across" the screen should one choose especally while tranversing Texas. On the return from our "test" trip, I thought I would take every backroad turn to see how the unit would work. It has a "take me home" tab that will automatically set ones route home. The unit may be a bit too accurate as it immediatly told me to "continue north one tenth of a mile then turn left" that was all true, however, as I had backed up the driveway on arrivial. I didn't really need directions back down the driveway to the street. The unit was set on "fastest route" and again set up quickly with the fastest most direct course. I took every back street and weird way I could think of and clearly expected the unit to lose it's temper and scream "No, I said RIGHT turn" after 10 or 12 deliberate wrong turns but it would just recalculate (about 10 seconds) and continue to guide us home never requesting a U-turn but based on direction of travel. At home I programed a trip to SPI. Now since I did not have the address I just found the Island itself and clicked on it. I noticed that the ID was on the north of the island and as it's like 100 miles long and there are no roads up north so I looked for a close city to identify. I was easily able to ID Port Isabel which is where the Causway crosses to SPI so I marked that as the end and hit calculate. The route was clearly the most direct and I have driven that way before. I know that this way runs one through several smaller Oklahoma towns where the highway goes literally right through town with speed changes, stop lights, the local police etc. and as I generally am coming through at 3 A.M. well you get my drift, no disrespect to Okie From Muskogee. I prefer going down to Oklahoma City then down I35 as that is all major highway as the scenic route is of little use in the dark. The software did not seem to agree, I guess I could have read the directions but being a guy I just fooled around till I figured it out which really was not too complex. I just identified Oklahoma City as a midway "Waypoint" and then recalculated the route. I have not used the find gas station feature but as often as I push the limits and hope one will show up in the next 10 miles that might reduce anxiety. So my take is at $109 for a person who seems to be a more "casual" GPS user this unit seems pretty groovy and again, should I be able to do the Cop-mount for my laptop it would be all around great with a power inverter. Now for a "sales rep" type who is a bit more demanding a good window mount dedicated GPS unit or a built-in might be more to the peachy keen but the cost can be between $300-$1,500. For my limited requirments it seemed like $250 was as high as I wanted to go so getting on the map for $109 works for me at least as to my introduction to the GPS world.
An up-date; well now I've used it for the before mentioned trip to SPI and it is the way to travel. Yes, there were some quirks. First I was able to mount a "Cop" type stand so I was able to have it where I could use it well on the trip, even used the mouse. My laptop is big, really too big for this with the 17 inch screen but it was nice but again due to size and complexity it was/is great for a big trip but for occasional use (and my motorcycle) I got a Garmin eTrex Cx as I could load the same maps from the GPS 18 as Garmin allows a person to download the maps to 2 Garmin products. The City Select 7 alone would cost you more than this unit which it includes, also I should note, if you got this unit in the past year Garmin will send you a FREE map upgrade to City Navigator 8 free shipping too. The unit was just too good when coming through downtown Dallas I was in the wrong place when the highway did a three way split and I was off course. Within just a few seconds the unit had done it's recalculations, it had me move to a left lane exit then I went down a dark (scary) tunnel and as I came out into the light I was merging back on the right roadway, very cool. It's a bit annoying everytime you pull over for gas or to hit a rest stop as the unit "also" starts to recalculate but one learns to shut it down prior, I rig the laptop to go to "stand by" when the lid is shut so that's easy. I'd also just close the lid when I had a long stretch to drive. By the way I let it route me home through Muskogee, and during the day it's very pretty and them people is right friendly.