zumo 500, is it slower having the maps on an sd card?

[mr_magicfingers]

Been looking at getting a zumo 550, which I can find for £335, but have also found some refurbished (white box) 500's for £250. I know I can't get europe mapping on the internal memory, but they come with the europe dvd which can be installed on an extra sd card. Given that the cards are a tenner, that makes a substantially cheaper unit. I don't need the car mount that the 550 comes with as we have an older tomtom in the car which does us fine.

So, question is, is there a downside to having the maps on the sd card, is it slower to access them. Can you have both maps and music on the sd card with no problems?

Thanks for the help, it seems that I could save myself £70 getting the 500.

J.

 

[Womble]

I've got a 500 and I use a 16G Class 6 SDHC card and it's never been a problem with the maps (although it takes a while to sort all the music on boot).

 

[mr_magicfingers]

Thanks for that, sounds good. On the turn by turn instructions, does it tell you the name of the road you're turning in to?

 

[Womble]

You need the 550 for road name announcements, but TBH I think that it's more hassle than it's worth as you're never sure whether you're going to get the road name or the road number.

I think you're better off setting the Zumo on 3D view and glancing at the screen to confirm navigation insctructions, rather than trying to scan around looking for signs.

 

[swissrob]

Been looking at getting a zumo 550, which I can find for £335, but have also found some refurbished (white box) 500's for £250. I know I can't get europe mapping on the internal memory, but they come with the europe dvd which can be installed on an extra sd card. Given that the cards are a tenner, that makes a substantially cheaper unit. I don't need the car mount that the 550 comes with as we have an older tomtom in the car which does us fine.

So, question is, is there a downside to having the maps on the sd card, is it slower to access them. Can you have both maps and music on the sd card with no problems?

Thanks for the help, it seems that I could save myself £70 getting the 500.

J.

i have european mapping on the zumo - i had to leave out the canary islands and delete the unused voices though. I have not noticed any real difference in start up speed between maps on the SD card and the unit, and no problem to have maps and Mp3 on the card.

 

[itchywheels]

Magic fingers where do you get 500 at £250 ? If you don't mind me asking

 

[mr_magicfingers]

Magic fingers where do you get 500 at £250 ? If you don't mind me asking

http://www.pentagongps.co.uk/garmin...n-i9426.html?gclid=CJb3xYrfyqICFSMulAodOxQyxg

 

[itchywheels]

Thanks for that

 

[mr_magicfingers]

ended up ordering a 550 with the car mount, being able to plan and upload routes might be handy for holidays in the car as well as on the bike. £330 shipped from pixmania.