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Old 03-12-2008, 08:39 AM
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acropolite (Phil)
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 9,021
I have a 2006 Garmin Streetpilot C320, the interface is simple and easy to use, so easy in fact that you could throw away the manual without ever reading it and still easily operate the unit.

I have also used a Mio which I found frustrating in comparison to the Garmin, the interface simply wasn't as easy to use. The Mio also had no capability to switch on and off with the ingnition whereas the Garmin does.
The Garmin displays a splash screen when you turn off the ignition giving you the option to keep running on batteries.

For me the fact that the Mio didn't follow the cars ignition status was a major annoyance, having to turn the unit on and off manually each time in the car was annoying (if you leave it on the inrternal battery goes flat.

The Mio did have speed zone alerts for school zones etc, but I found it to be inaccurate, often alerting when there were no speed zones nearby.

I don't know anything much about the TomTom units, however I've read that some have a user updateable map option, depending on how well it works that could be a real bonus, (my Garmin had some glaring inaccuracies and omissions in the supplied and subsequent update maps) as would be the traffic report update. (if it's available as a service in Oz).

It would also be worth asking the cost of map updates, for my unit the map updates are around US$140, basically unaffordable, so the user map update facility on the TomTom may be a bonus depending on what it actually allows you to do.

Readability is also an issue, check to see that the screen is useable in direct sunlight or at least partly shaded when sunlight is coming through the window.

I think that pretty well all the units are available with bluetooth at a premium price, personally if you are using the same car all the time I'd buy a cheaper GPS and buy a CD/Radio with bluetooth, I recently put a Sony CD/Radio with bluetooth in my work van for $270.
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