Sat. Nav.....which type?

[irishpan]

Hi y'all,


For the past two years, I've been using a Garmin Streetpilot 111 de luxe for my European journies. The technology has now moved on and I am wondering if it is now time to upgrade. I have heard good reports of the Garmin 2610 and the new Tom Tom Rider. If any of you have experience of either of these two units - or any other for that matter - can you let me know what you think? Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[dave1100]

The 2610 with a 1GB card is a spot on bit of kit

 

[John Armstrong]

Ask Nick Marshall, if he hasn't bought / sold / bought again it isn't worth buying in the world of GPS.

 

[The Machine Cat]

It is not fashionable to say so, but I think that the rider kicks ass.
Excellent product.

 

[ebbo]

Try this thread Irishpan http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61364

 

[irishpan]

Hi y'all,

Thanks for all the help and advice. However, as a comparative GPS novice, I am still a bit confused and uncertain. I think I will continue with the Streetpilot 111 for a little longer to see which system emerges as the most popular.

 

[Taff]

It is not fashionable to say so, but I think that the rider kicks ass. Excellent product.

I will be upgrading in the next week or two, and as I had nothing but good experiences with my SPIII and Garmin as a company, my gut feeling tells me to go for a 2610 - but nothing is decided yet.

Not knocking your opinion in any way, but I would be genuinely interested to know what makes you think the Rider is better than say a Garmin 2610. I personally like using the PC to plot waypoints, routes, work out distances, approximate times etc then downloading what I want to the unit - but don't know if you can do this with the Rider.

 

[ebbo]

Sorry, no PC mapping with the Tomtom Rider, pity, otherwise it wound have been a winner

Maybe sometime in the future?

 

[HMR]

Not knocking your opinion in any way, but I would be genuinely interested to know what makes you think the Rider is better than say a Garmin 2610. I personally like using the PC to plot waypoints, routes, work out distances, approximate times etc then downloading what I want to the unit - but don't know if you can do this with the Rider.

The lack of PC-mapping/routing/download kills the Rider entirely. Due to this any Garmin model is more useful than the Rider. Even an old SP3!

 

[The Machine Cat]

The lack of PC-mapping/routing/download kills the Rider entirely. Due to this any Garmin model is more useful than the Rider. Even an old SP3!

I outlined the winning points compared to a 2610 :

TomTom RIDER - Features

Just plug in, switch on & RIDE
Simple touch screen operation: Drive mode tailored for use with gloves on
Clear and accurate: turn-by-turn spoken instructions
Crystal-clear 3D and 2D graphics
Compact and portable design (ed. it includes a 5 hours battery)
Door-to-door planning in your region
View route: review and test the calculated route before you actually start driving
Dynamic status bar: improve readability by customizing status bar
Tip feature: discover everything RIDER has to offer through useful onscreen tips
Extensive guided tour: pick up the features even quicker and get the maximum out of your TomTom RIDER

SMART


Water resistant and rugged
Fits both bikes and scooters: with a mounting kit of four pieces to adapt to your 2wheels.
In helmet spoken instructions: bluetoothTM headset included
Bike speed linked volume: volume of voice instructions will increase/decrease depending on speed of your bike
Anti-glare screen: always an optimal view, even in direct sunlight
A choice of routes: quickest, shortest or avoiding toll roads
Itinerary planning: plan your trip by defining multiple waypoints and destinations
Integrated GPS antenna
You can use RIDER also in a car: Just fit the optional car mounting kit on the windscreen of the car, switch on and you’re on your way.
RIDER recognizes if you are in a car or on a motorbike: There’s no need to adjust RIDER for use in the car – it automatically switches from glove-friendly to in-car mode for driving, and it allows you to make and take calls any time on the move too.
Multi lingual: speaks more than 30 languages in over 50 voices
User interface: now including 18 languages
Postcode Navigation: for simple and accurate selection of your destination (UK & NL only)
Thousands of points of interest available
Call a POI: directly call a point of interest through the RIDER
Make it your own: save personal favorite addresses for quick route planning
Compass mode available: displays compass on screen to have even more orientation while driving
Get free scenic routes: offered by TomTom PLUS
CONNECTED

Ready for TomTom PLUS Services: get scenic routes for free and try out traffic service for free for a month
USB 2.0: for faster data transfers
Hands-Free Calling via Bluetooth™: connection with a compatible* mobile phone
(For safety reasons it blocks outgoing calls while the bike is moving, but if you choose to accept an incoming call it is automatically routed to your helmet. When the bike isn’t moving or you have stopped for a break you can make and receive calls normally).


How long do you think it will take to Tomtom to fix "The lack of PC-mapping/routing/download" ? It is only software...

 

[HMR]

How long do you think it will take to Tomtom to fix "The lack of PC-mapping/routing/download" ? It is only software...

It will probably take several years.

When this software is available, and if it can exchange data with Garmin MapSource the Rider will be a real killer.

I'm indeed looking forward to this. Not that I find the Rider to be better than the Garmin 276C but it would be great with some serious competition to Garmin - leading to better prices and better products.