GPS

[Tas0577]

actually writing after this, i called up e@stge@r on 205W.

 

they only left a unit, going at $299, they admit that they are not going to bring in anymore 205w.

 

Anyway, i'm not in rush, rather wait until pc show then buy. better deal.

 

205W for me!!

 

For those who want a ease of removing from the windscreen mounting after driving, 760 will be a better choice as you do not have to remove the charging cable every time you remove the Nuvi from the cradle compared to 205 or 255.

 

Just my sharing.

 

[Picanto]

thanks, but correct me if i am wrong.

 

205W does not come with voice navigation, which i would prefer. at least my eyes would be focus on the road.

 

Saw the shinco model @ $199, totally cannot make it. a flop

 

the one selling at 199 is a very old model........looks bulky. i am using the shinco 3510 gps too. works well even though gps is not shinco's forte.

 

[Davidcks]

For GPS, go for Garmin!!!!

[Redstorm]

For first time buyer of a GPS devise, especially those who knows little or nothing about it and has not done any research into it, it is daunting having to select from so many brands in the market. A newbie is probably very ignorant about it and will very likely get mislead or go for a cheap set with alot of bell and whistles not knowing that the most important consideration, when buying a GPSr, is the map support. There are many reputable brands in the market and depending on your budget and where you are going to use your devise, each will have its own strong point. In this region, nothing beats a Garmin. Why? Garmin maps are the most comprehensive among all the brands. They have map of practically every country in the world albeit at a price. Other popular and reliable brands like Magellan, Lowland, and Tom Tom are well know in the States and across the Atlantic and they have made very limited inroad into our local market or this region primarily due to the fact that they do not maps of Asia, let alone South east Asia. Even those with maps of this region, they are not detailed enough and don't get updated as frequently as Garmin.

 

Garmin have a very strong support among GPS enthusiasts and its market share is huge in Asia. This is partly due to the fact that it allows for the use of third-party map. In this respect, beside Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei where we have Malsingmaps.com constantly updating and releasing new maps of these 3 countries, you can also find similar communities in places like Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines where they compiled maps of their respective countries on Garmin platform. I believe there are also other such similar web communities in other Asian countries. One main advantage Garmin has over its rivals is the use of Mapsource. Mapsource download with mapsource installer allows one to view Garmin installer maps of any countries and other third party maps on the PC. With mapsource, you can plan your routes, submit new POIs, etc. No other brands has anything similar to Garmin's mapsource.

 

In Malaysia and Singapore alone, you have malsingmaps which have been here since the early days of GPS and today its map is so detailed that it is even better than Garmin's official map of these two countries. Garmin have recently entered into a partnership with malsingmaps to supply map of Sg, My and Brunei under its Garmin name. The cooperation speaks volume of malsingmaps' progress and widespread acceptance as the most used and recognised map. Besides, maps for Garmin platform, malsingmaps also released maps for mapking. Of course, sometimes in 08, a fraction of MSM broke away and started their own map (malfreemaps) and it is getting better by the days. I would see their maps coming on par with malsingmaps in the near future and it benefits Garmin users. So, for those who are unsure of which brand to buy, chew on this. Thanks.

[Ender]

Now within garmin also got competition locally. This complicates the newbie further when he got his mind set on Garmin. Coz Easttgear enter partnership with MalfreeMap, with their SLA postal codes. Take note EastGear one is export set and not the offical local set. The local set from Navicom is in partnership wiith Malsingmap, and support junction view.. Very confusing, which to get?

[Byond]

local set, 255W comes with junction view function

if wanna buy locally, best to go for local set,

else, self import is always cheaper.

As for maps support...

pay a licence fee, approx. 30$ to get that J.....'s maps...

still not too bad...

 

[Rliewky]

205w do comes with voice to tell you to turn in the next 600m.

 

The only diff between the 255W and 205W is the street name to voice feature. However, as the set is make for overseas. it will not be able to pronounce all the "Malay & Chinese" street names correctly/properly, eg.. Tanjong, Ulu, Chai Chee...etc..

 

It's been discuss widely in MalSing forums, that's why I go for the 205w, which will still tell you to turn left, turn right at XXXm.

 

 

so the local sets will prounce the local street names correctly?

[Ladykillerz]

Heardsay, in Singapore with many tall buildings -> Shinco is better..

As for Garmin, it is better to use in big countries..

 

One more pointer..

Does not mean cheaper is better deal.

Cheap = Slow reaction. Thus, you might miss your turning with slow reply from your GPS..

 

Ladykillerz

 

[Ahgongwolve]

Heardsay, in Singapore with many tall buildings -> Shinco is better..

As for Garmin, it is better to use in big countries..

 

One more pointer..

Does not mean cheaper is better deal.

Cheap = Slow reaction. Thus, you might miss your turning with slow reply from your GPS..

 

Ladykillerz

 

How's your father's BMW?

[Watwheels]

so the local sets will prounce the local street names correctly?

 

Haha... the computer speech program is pretty much the same. I use the MapKing with SLA (Sg Land Authority) map, it can pronounce funny road names like for Redhill Rd, the computer pronounce it as "Rer-dell" bcos the Red-hill is being put as one word instead of 2 separate words.

[Picanto]

there is a foreign accent when the voice pronounces local street names. the compasso series even got hokkien speaking voices. one weakness of mapking is that it will not tell you there is erp gantry in advance.

[Supra]

One thing to take note when buying GPS. Bear in mind that there is NO live traffic information in Singapore. That means, u can have a good map that leads u to anywhere but it cannot tell u where is the traffic jam. The info has to get from local radio station. I have already got problems with GPS because of this. Like our EMAS. It is only when u get into the jam, then u can EMAS saying there is a jam. EMAS does not inform drivers early. It is normally one exit before the jam, then they tell u there is a jam.

[Watwheels]

I think ppl have too high of expectation on GPS navigation system. For what we are paying, its capability is still limited. Cos if the GPS system have AI and can analyze situations, we drivers dun even have to drive, just key-in coordinates and the car will be guided by GPS to our destination.

 

Right now it's still the driver in control. Bcos GPS navigation cannot have a built-in clock(not cannot lah but too ex to built one in it). Whether the maps have ERP gantry or not makes little difference cos it cannot tell you which gantry is in operation. It still requires the driver to analyze and make the decision. GPS navigation is just a guilde. How drivers interpret the information given by GPS navi is another issue.

 

For me I still rely on my in-built navi more cos in sg it's not that difficult to use the roads & expressway, everywhere have road signs. The GPS navi helps me pin-point the exact location so that I dun have to waste time go round & round searching.

[Supra]

I think ppl have too high of expectation on GPS navigation system. For what we are paying, its capability is still limited. Cos if the GPS system have AI and can analyze situations, we drivers dun even have to drive, just key-in coordinates and the car will be guided by GPS to our destination.

 

Right now it's still the driver in control. Bcos GPS navigation cannot have a built-in clock(not cannot lah but too ex to built one in it). Whether the maps have ERP gantry or not makes little difference cos it cannot tell you which gantry is in operation. It still requires the driver to analyze and make the decision. GPS navigation is just a guilde. How drivers interpret the information given by GPS navi is another issue.

 

For me I still rely on my in-built navi more cos in sg it's not that difficult to use the roads & expressway, everywhere have road signs. The GPS navi helps me pin-point the exact location so that I dun have to waste time go round & round searching.

 

Yes, agreed with u. That is why I already abandoned GPS long long ago. Lucky is in my phone. Not the normal GPS system. My friend bought for a month before she ditch GPS. Reason, the map took her one big round to reach destination.

[inlinesix]

Right now it's still the driver in control. Bcos GPS navigation cannot have a built-in clock(not cannot lah but too ex to built one in it)

GPS navigator wif built in clock is juz a software issue. Nothing hardware about it. My Garmin Forerunner 405 will syncronise its clock wif GPS satelite as when there is a link to GPS satelite. No user input is required.

 

[Picanto]

Yes, agreed with u. That is why I already abandoned GPS long long ago. Lucky is in my phone. Not the normal GPS system. My friend bought for a month before she ditch GPS. Reason, the map took her one big round to reach destination.

 

maybe she does not understand the directions the gps voice gave her? i have been using it for a year plus.........not 100% accurate but it still brings me to my destination.

 

[Supra]

No idea for her.. In fact, I encountered it before once on my Mapking. What it does is, the GPS will lead u to the destination via main road and not small road.

[Picanto]

No idea for her.. In fact, I encountered it before once on my Mapking. What it does is, the GPS will lead u to the destination via main road and not small road.

 

hmm.....there are some options in the GPS which enable you to avoid main road if you set it properly.