What is the best Inexpensive Portable Navigation System with voice?

Question

I would like to get an inexpensive portable navigation system with voice, but I am very leary about it. I heard some people commented that some are not accurate because they wound up taking a longer route, and some people wound up driving by the water, while some people commented that the navigator is great. Someone told me that a brand name Garmin is supposed to be very good. Would someone kindly tell me a brand and model number of a recommendable one. Please recommend only if you have experience using a particular brand and model. Thank you.

Answer 1

I have a Garmin nuvi 200.  It cost me about $160.  Its map data is pretty recent.  However, if you find a map that is out of date, it is not the fault of the GPS receiver's manufacturer.  It is the fault of NAVTEQ, the company that collects road data.  They are overwhelmed by all the new roads that had been built in recent years.  About the comment of the GPS receiver producing an inaccurate route - it calculates a route based on the shortest travel time or shortest distance - your choice.  It may not pick a route that you are aware of as being faster.  You know it's faster because of local knowledge and experience traveling that road.  The GPS receiver has no way of learning that stuff.  Also, I find it stupid when people complain about routes being bad when being guided home from work.  Don't you know how to get home from work?  Why would you use the GPS receiver?  If you are totally lost and in the middle of nowhere, any route the GPS receiver gives you will be better than what you would come up with yourself.

Generally, the more you spend, the more features you get.  You need to decide if you want to be able to receive traffic data (monthly cost, plus cost of a separate data receiver).  Do you want the GPS receiver to say the street name (text to speech) or are you OK with it just saying "turn right?"

In response to the additional info - you will want "text-to-speech" functionality.  Those cost a little more.  The Garmin nuvi 260 will speak a street name to you.  The lowest prices I have found for it are $210-220.  The TomTom One 130S has text-to-speech and costs $170-200.  That particular model is brand new.  I only have limited experience with TomTom (had to program a co-worker's unit once).  You may want to go to a store and handle the Garmin nuvi 260 and the TomTom One 130S to see if you like one better than the other.

Answer 2

Talk to your cell phone provider the have Verizon, Sprint, At&T have GPS svce. for low monthly cost or go www.pcconnections.com I bought a Portable System for $100 dollars plus shipping.  It talks came with pre-load map, mount. I think the brand is Clybrex?