"Tim" wrote in message
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On Dec 21, 10:15 am, "Steve B" wrote:
"Tim" wrote in message

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OK, I dont' know what the model is but the wife bought a Garmen. The
cheaper one that was on sale for $89.00, and it might be OK, but I'm
not really sure if I like it or not. We thought we'd test it out and
use it to find a good route to take us from our house to our daughters
college with is about 130 mi. away. I have the trusted and true route
that I always take and it's served me well for several years, but we
thought we'd let the Garmen plan it out this time. It took us down
about every county road that I didn't even know existed, with a lot of
stop and turn stuff. Granted, the 'robot lady' gave us ample signals
on which road to take and early enough warning so we wouldn't miss a
turn, but it took us "over the river and through the woods" including
gravel and potholed blacktops. The trip may have been shorter but I
can't say it saved us any time, nor wear and tear on the car. Coming
back we ignored the Garmen and took the proven route and it was a lot
smoother.

I can see how people can run off into lakes, canyons and other unknown
hazards that the Garmen doesn't recognize. She bought it to navigate
around in cities and find seemingly uncharted address's, and that's
fine. But I don't think I'll be using it to navigate trips for myself.
I suppose what I'm saying is that at this moment in time, I can't see
much of a reason for a Garmen in my future. Maybe I'm too much of a
Luddite.

Included in the directions are ways to set it so that it takes you the
fastest way, the way with the most freeways, etc. Yeah, that little white
book that came with the unit.

Read those. Lots of good stuff in it.

Steve- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sure thing. it's hers so I'll let her read it.

We were given that basic Tom Tom. I programmed it on a flight to Kauai. We
landed on a moonless night, plugged it in, popped it on the windshield, and
it took us right to our condo through a maze of roads. Turn right, turn
left, stay in the left lane. It was easy to use.

We have used it lots and lots since. We have found that it will try to take
you on nonexistent roads, but many times it will take us ways we would have
never thought, and we end up getting there faster and avoiding traffic.
Now, there are alerts beamed to the units that tell of traffic blockages so
they navigate you around them.

They do have limitations, but they are handy. Particularly if you learn how
to use them. We regularly use it to find the closest gas station,
restaurant, etc. That helps out when you are in unfamiliar cities.

Steve