Garmin's Website

[crokett]

The boss got 'lost' the other day when her GPS did not have a new road on it. So it was decreed that the maps needed to be updated, the fact that it was local driving notwithstanding. First, you have to install a browser plugin so the website can detect your GPS and decide what maps it needs and if they are free. That took a couple tries to install. Next it took a reboot for the detection to work properly. Next, before you can download maps you have to register your device, which requires an account ID+address, phone, etc. Next it has to detect your device (again) then you have to login to the site (again) despite having just registered and logged in a few minutes before. Next it asks manual entry of the SN, despite identifying it during the detection. Next it identifies the maps to purchase for download when you purchase it, it wants you to login (again) and enter your address (again) for sales tax purposes.

I am finally downloading the maps. Oh, and the Garmin download SW uses Java. I don't like Java. If there is a more inefficient way to do all this, I am not sure what it is.

[cabinetman]

LOML has a Garmin (I don't know which model). She said she had no problems. She said there was one free download (I don't know the period of time). When that happens, Garmin knows what maps she has. The next download, she is informed of any upgrades, and then she pays, and downloads right from the computer (plug-in).
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[crokett]

Well since it has been over a year that we've had this, I am not surprised we are paying for maps. As to the rest of it, I dunno, could be FF, could be piss-poor programming, any of the above. I am also not a big fan of Java, which is what their download manager is written in. I see too many issues with it at work.

[jussi]

You should try to convince her that you all need Ford Syncs installed in your vehicles to make absolute sure you don't get lost and thereby lose productivity

Btw, Garmins to me are the best of the top 3 GPS manufacturers. Tom Tom and Magellan, being the other 2. Of the ones I've owned or borrowed, it had the best voice pronunciation, fastest course correction, and fastest satellite acquisition. I currently have a Tom Tom and definitely miss my 265WT. #$$@$#% car thieves

[crokett]

I have no complaints with the Garmin being in the car. I used a Tom Tom on my last business trip and like the Garmin better. Their website sucks though. I think next time I will manually find the map file and manually download it.

Oh and for lack of anything better to do, read the map install instructions. They say to start the install program but strongly recommend closing all other apps. Then 3 sentences later it says something about displaying other features you can get, or you can just do your other work on the PC while you wait....

[jackellis]

I have a Garmin GPS in my airplane, but the maps are updated through a different supplier. Took those folks a long time to develop an easy-to-use system that prevented sharing...I mean theft.

[os1kne]

I have a Garmin and like it a lot. I've used a Tom Tom - which I liked, but not as well. I agree about the Garmin updates. I updated mine about 6 weeks ago, the process is more cumbersome (and expensive!) than it should be. Definitely get the lifetime updates, it doesn't cost much more than the 1 time update, but gets you 3 updates/year for life.

[cgallery]

I've got a Magellan but lately I've been using the GPS on the phone (CrackBerry w/ Sprint GPS) and like it. I think the maps are downloaded via the network in real time, so they should always be up to date (in theory anyways).

BUT I still keep the Magellan in the car in case I lose signal (as I would expect the maps to vanish).

Oh, the GPS eats batteries on the phone like mad, but I just keep it plugged in while driving.

[Tom Hintz]

I also have been using a Garmin for a few years now and like it a bunch. I have gone places I never would have found before with that thing!

I have also updated the maps (bought the lifetime update subscription) and while it does take some time, I do all that on one of the office computers so I can get it going and leave it while I do other stuff.

You can also buy the maps on a flash card for most of the models and skip the download stuff, but thehn you have to buy the flash card though. I just plan ahead a little for when I want to update the Garmin so I can leave it run on it's own.

[RayintheUK]

I've got to agree about the quality and poor design of the Garmin sites. I've had Garmins for years and I've got a lifetime update deal (four times a year in the UK), but it's annoying that it's not really an update but a total replacement after a very lengthy download. That said, I wouldn't have any other make even as a gift.

Ray

[JimD]

I will agree with both Ray and Crockett. The dowload process is a pain but Garmins are the way to go. I have a 760 in my SUV and a 885t in my convertible. Both are semi-permanently mounted so the wires are not all over the place. Both are used for MP3 playback and bluetooth phone in addition to navigation. The 885t also has MSN which is nice - in addition to traffic information you get weather reports, radar images, stock market reports, gas price reports for nearby gas stations, flight arrival information etc.. I am going to be said when it goes away Jan 1, 2012.

My 760 is about a year old and the 885t about a month old. I got my one free map update on the 885t and checked to see if the map had the same speed limit errors as the one in the 760 and it does. Maybe it has more streets on it around here but I kind of doubt it. I think updates are worth getting and lifetime is probably the way to go but my history is I seem to keep finding reasons to buy a new nuvi so I don't know how many map updates I would really use (I bought a 350 a year before buying the 760 - my daughter uses it). Several a year does not seem like it would be worth the time investment. Once a year seems like enough and if you only keep the nuvi for a couple years.....

Jim

[crokett]

Well between the issues getting the plug-in installed, the issues getting the unit detected by the PC, the issues getting logged in, the issues getting the download done and finally getting the maps transferred, it took about 3.5hrs and no shop time last night. I was expecting it to take an hour at most. Next time I will find the download manually and do the update manually.

[WoodTherapist]

Fortunately, my travel needs don’t require annual updating of maps, so my strategy is to buy a new Garmin with updated features and updated maps, every two to three years or so. It doesn’t cost a lot more than purchasing annual or lifetime map updates (I don’t need a GPS with all the bells and whistles) and I don't have to hassle with updating it.

[JimD]

Even if you buy it new it may have hung around 6 months or more. That is why Garmin give you one free update. They also update the version of the software during the process which is part of why it always takes so long. The alternative is to just use it with the outdated version of the software and outdated map. That has never seemed like a real appealing alternative to me, so I do the free update.

It's never taken me less than about 3.5hours to do the update, regardless of how I've done it. The only thing that keeps me sane while doing it is I know it does not need my attention for major stretches of time while it is in progress so I just ignore it and go do something else. But it ties up your computer for this time.

Jim

[crokett]

This one did need my attention and frequently, at least until it got to the part about actually putting the map files down on the GPS. By then I'd more or less resigned myself to not going to the shop, since I was expecting it to hang just like every other step in the process had.