atreis
Yellow Springs, OH
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Joined: 08/29/2005
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Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me that this only makes sense if you already plan to purchase that data plan for other reasons. GPS units are pretty cheap (I paid $120 for mine three years ago from WOOT), and map updates are a lot less than $360 a year (over the last 3 years, I've spent $80 on map updates).
By my reckoning, that's $1080 over those 3 years for the cell phone plan, vs. $200 for my GPS unit over the same period of time.
I plan to keep the unit for several more years (technical obsolescence is much less of an issue with the stand-alone GPS unit) and update the maps every other year (perhaps another $900 in savings!), and have a larger screen to boot.
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Jacksons
columbus,ohio
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Joined: 11/16/2004
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agree, my phone is a phone, I will keep a stand alone gps unit. cheaper and better
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2005 Yukon xl Denali 6.0
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
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Deus Ex Machina
Central New Jersey
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Joined: 09/25/2009
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atreis wrote:Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me that this only makes sense if you already plan to purchase that data plan for other reasons. GPS units are pretty cheap (I paid $120 for mine three years ago from WOOT), and map updates are a lot less than $360 a year (over the last 3 years, I've spent $80 on map updates).
By my reckoning, that's $1080 over those 3 years for the cell phone plan, vs. $200 for my GPS unit over the same period of time.
I plan to keep the unit for several more years (technical obsolescence is much less of an issue with the stand-alone GPS unit) and update the maps every other year (perhaps another $900 in savings!), and have a larger screen to boot.
Trust me, people who buy the $30 data plan for thier smart phones are NOT doing it just for GPS. GPS might be a 5% of it's use. I could start listing all the Apps in my iPhone that make use of the data plan that I use on a daily basis, but I would probably exceed the length limitation of this post. 
In fact, the GPS capability was not what I bought my iPhone for at all. It was just an extra "gimme" that I got with it. So for me, it is not an extra $360 a year, it is a freebie.
Plus, it is a backup to my Delorme GPS (which BTW has a screen HALF the size of my iPhone, not twice the size). I'll use my iPhone to quickly scan around an area without disturbing the routing setting on my Delorme unit or removing it from it's mount. The iPhone is a BUNCH less clunk to scroll around in than the GPS unit.
So your savings comparison doesn't really wash (at least for the vast majority of smart phone owners).
Paul
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emmmw
Virginia
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A couple weekends ago we were traveling in the mountains of WV. No Verizon or AT&T service... but my Garmin still worked, even if it wanted to route me over a small, very rough, single-lane road over one of WV's wilderness areas. All I had to do was select a different route (used a via point) to ensure a safe & easier route. If I relied on Verizon or AT&T at that point I'd have been guessing or using a paper map. Far from perfect, but Garmin still works very well and I have tons of memory for all my POIs and saved data.
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Gdlow
Meridian Idaho
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Bumpyroad wrote:so when you are using your cell phone for all of this wonderfulness, are you using up your minutes or is usage free?
bumpy
We pay $10/mo. for it..
One other thing we found out...If it is on a route working, then even tho you are going thru a dead spot it continues to work..not sure how or why...just that it does/did
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revump
Las Vegas
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Will they have wilderness charts?
Bob
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miltvill
Ft. Lauderdale FL
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I have a Blackberry Curve from ATT. I pay $30 a month for my data plan. You can use Telenav for an extera $10 per month. With Telenav you can enter the address or call and they will download the address to your phone. Telenav will also give you voice directions.
Or you can download Google Maps for your Blackberry for free. It will not talk to you. You can use the map features and satallite view just like you can on your computer. You can also use Google Maps to find places of intrest. You must have the data plan and if you lose your internet connection your maping will not work. The maps are downloaded and updated as you drive. Both systems are good if your on foot in a big city and want to get around.
I also tether by Blackberry to my laptop for my internet connection when I camp. It is EDGE not G3 so it is as fast as dialup but works for RV.NET and streaming radio stations just fine. It does not cost me anything extra to use my phone as an air card. I have the $30 data plan.
A GPS is better then any cell phone GPS system.
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Techie
Pahrump, NV, USA
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We've had several GPS systems over the years and now use MS S&T on a laptop when in the rig and a verizon phone when in the toad.
Part of what we did this year was to upgrade one of our cell phones to the LG Env Touch which has a very nice, large screen for navigating.
We made this choice based upon the cost of replacing a GPS unit + map update fees vs. paying VZ for the monthly Navigator. Using VZ was cheaper and since we generally upgrade at least one phone every 2 years can take advantage of changes (bigger, better displays) as time goes on.
You do not need to purchase a data plan to use Navigator as it is $9.99/month.
The only downsides are that unless you want to pay for it on each phone, only one phone can be used and of course you don't want to take a voice call while navigating. Also, you need to have the phone connected via the cig adapter as it will drain the batteries very quickly.
Performance wise we found it faster (inital start-up to accurate directions while in motion) and more accurate than any of the prior GPS units we've had.
Once of the best features is that since we use it in a toad that in cities if there is an accident or traffic problem it will notify you and allow you to re-route. I believe that the stand-alone GPS systems charge an additional $/month and need an additional antennae to receive this info.
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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miltvill wrote:A GPS is better then any cell phone GPS system.
I refer my iPhone GPS with Co-Pilot to our Garmin GPS for several reasons.
1. When you look up a POI, it asks if you want directions or do you want to call it. Single button decision.
2. It integrates my iPod function into the GPS screen, so when I am listening to music and getting directions, the GPS directions are heard over the car stereo and are easy to hear.
3. I never have a GPS in the car when I leave it; its in my pocket.
4. It acquires, locates and tracks faster than the Garmin as it uses GPS sat signals and/or cell signals to locate.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.
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MrWizard
Van Nuys, Ca
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the Droid has true sat GPS, so do several other 'smart phones'
the avg 'feature/dumb' phone uses aGPS ( assisted ) cell tower triangulation
so experiences vary with the phone involved
you could certainly load maps & perhaps streets&tips or another program, onto a 16gig memory card on a WinMo smart phone
* This post was
edited 11/12/09 07:05pm by MrWizard *
Options, always have options, and the journey goes much smoother
....
Connected via Verizon Via Motorola Droid with Android2 OS
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