[Kool_ZX3]

NefCanuck,Oct 12 2005, 05:36 PM Wrote:Okay I finally went and bought this after thinking long and hard about whether a $600GPS beats a $20 Perly's mapbook :P

The package contained the following items:

Quickstart Guide
Startup software
Mapquest version 6 & the version 7 update DVD
Mounting bracket to mount the GPS to the front window and speaker for verbal directions
USB cable
AC charging cradle
...and of course the Quest GPS, smaller than a pack of cards it is yes </Yoda>

As per the instructions I left the unit in the AC charger for three hours.  Initally it was tricky to get the Quest to mate with the charger properly, got that solved and then when it was time to take it out of the charger had to struggle again :rolleyes:

Installed the startup software, which then asked me for the version 6 Mapquest disks and my registration number.  About ten minutes to intall everything and then as per the instructions I threw in the version 7 disk and installed that. 

Tried to use my registration number and was told that I had already registered.  No biggie I figure and I opened Mapquest looking to download some maps into the Quest.  No good as it says that the maps are still locked. WTF?  So I try to register again and get told "already registered" 

Re-install the version 7 software, no change.  Getting pissed now and go to the Garmin site looking for answers, turns out that you have to register the version 7 software on their website  Nowehere does it say this in the provided instructions, but it is however mentioned on the version 7 install disc... which is in the DVD drive <_<

Anyways that problem solved I download all of S. Ontario and Western NY state into the Garmin, takes only 35MB of the units 115MB internal memory and I start playing around.  Thing can't find satillites worth a damn while its in my condo (Has no problems at work though :blink: ) but finds sats after about 2 minutes outside.

Set my home location, so now no matter where I am, I can always get home :ph34r: and then take the Quest to the car along with teh mount for the acid test.  Therein is the next quirk... getting the goddamn windshield mount to stick, took a good 10 minutes but I got the sucker mounted and with the Focus cig. lighter being so close only needed to unspool the cable slightly minimizing the tangle in the car.

Set the thing to plot me a route to work (Typing in addresses is a real pain using the direction pad and on screen keyboard, but there is a price to be paid for the units portability I suppose) found the shortest route but not the best one as it can't account for traffic, but it got me there with nice and loud verbal directions (multiple as you get closer to the turn you need to take) in addition to the on screen prompts, which also includes the speed you are travelling and a graphical representation of where you are.

Real test comes Saturday :P

NefCanuck
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I like the speed thing, gps rocks the hizzo for that B)

Sounds like a nice unit but 600 bucks holy fack buddy :lol: Well it should be better then thecrappy tire one :D

So what do you rate it out of 10??