Taxi Driver Online

I'm considering buying a portable satnav unit and have read good things about the Navman ICN510 (just being updated to 520) and the TomTom GO - probably the GO300.

Anyone got any pearls of wisdom to help make a more informed decision??

I have Tom Tom which I occasionally use in conjunction with a PDA. Apart from the relatively small screen it 's excellent, and the PDA itself is useful for storing information and can be synchronised with a PC to transfer contacts etc from MS Outlook. If you purchase one make sure it comes with facility for either CF or SD memory cards ,you can load that with additional maps - I have the complete Greater London A-Z loaded on an SD card, which is a great asset when trying find some obscure location.

I have Tom Tom which I occasionally use in conjunction with a PDA. Apart from the relatively small screen it 's excellent, and the PDA itself is useful for storing information and can be synchronised with a PC to transfer contacts etc from MS Outlook. If you purchase one make sure it comes with facility for either CF or SD memory cards ,you can load that with additional maps - I have the complete Greater London A-Z loaded on an SD card, which is a great asset when trying find some obscure location.

Go for the tom tom there are no confusing buttons to press its all touch screen, if you go for the tomtom500 and you have a blue chip phone you can answere your phone using the screen and just talk away and you can take it anywhere and from car to car

Thanks guys.

This was something I looked into a while back, and at that time I fancied the Tomtom PDA setup - that was before the Tomtom GO was out.

The Navman got a few good reviews and is also a little more pocket shaped than the GO, might be better for taking out the motor to avoid theft risk.

Who knows?

Been there, done it, And now have the Tomtom Go. Which I bought when they first came out so the maps are a bit out of date.
I also have used an Ipaq PDA that with a GPS jacket and TT nav installed. Not bad in its day but too many wires.
I also have a bluetooth GPS reciever that matches the Ipaq. Better.
The Tomtom Go can easily be taken with you when you leave the car and put in pocket.
Good support for this unit with free updates and other utillities. (speed camera database)
With any Garmin product you will find expensive updates and accessores.

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I'm 'satnavless' at the moment.

Is the TomTom worth buying for outer London / Suburbs Mack?

When you say its portable, what fixings do I need on the dash?

My old one had a CD holder mounted on the partition restricting my seat even more.

Yes. In town it is almost usless as it does not have the 'Knowledge' that WE have. It is great for the sticks jobs.
The TomTom Go comes with a windscreen mount that can be removed and placed into another vehicle. It also has a powerlead that plugs into the lighter socket in cab. This lead is normaly plugged into the rear of the mount. But can also be plugged into the TomTom. (Not normaly needed to do so)
The Tomtom 'Head' unclips from the mount and will go into a pocket when leaving the cab.
All maps and other 'bits' are stored in a Mulitmidia card that slots into the Tomtom.
'Bits' = Speed camera database, Geocaches, (Whats that? Don't ask)

_________________
Make trafic wardens redundant. PARK LEGALLY.
Congestion charge! Before it was free.

i would say that the Tom Tom 700 is the best they cost a bit but are worth it and you can use the bluetooth bit for your mobile so u can make calls through you tom tom hands free a must i would say and u can do updates from your PC

have a look at this link

http://www.tomtom.com/products/product.php?ID=74

I have been using TomTom Mobile 5 on my Nokia 3230 for over a month (for sale now if anyone is interested).

Does an excellent job, although there are occasional Mapping errors (which happens with all TomTom devices)

I have just upgraded to TomTom Go 500 - doubles as a bluetooth handfree system too - plus with the Speed Camera Database downloaded and installed it alerts you to accident blackspots.

I recommend it - maybe not for experiand city drivers, but for jobs into unknown territory it's a god send!

i was driving my friends PHC today and he has the TOM TOM 300 i have the 700 and i found the 300 did a pritty good job as well.

so if you are setting out and cash is tight after buying the motor etc etc the TOM TOM 300 would do you yo start with.

but i would upgrade to the 700 as when u need to update anything all you do is plug it in 2 your PC and off u go and u dont need 2 fart about with SD cards

Hold up Chipper.... All the maps and other updates (Speed cameras) are stored in the SD card. And to update all the Tomtoms have to be plugged into the PC for the upgrade downloads.

_________________
Make trafic wardens redundant. PARK LEGALLY.
Congestion charge! Before it was free.