Best GPS for appraising

[V. Nightshade]

I'm looking for a portable GPS. I've been using the built in one in my car (which broke), and a Tom Tom basic (which I like well enough.) However, I'd like it to be able to

1. Download multiple destinations from the PC and have it do routing without too much trouble.
2. Easy map zoom in an out. (My auto navi had one, but the Tom Tom's is pretty useless). THis is good when you have a hunch it's sending you the wrong way.
3. Are there any that are actually smart enough to tell you to turn around, rather than routing you straight and turning right twice when you've overshot your turn? They all do it sometimes, but I'm on to the Tom Tom's tricks. I also have learned when to ignore it.

 

[GCJim]

V,
If you check out the websites of the major players, you should be able to come up with one that meets all or most of the features you listed. I have not paying much attention since I bought a Magellan 2 years ago. The one feature I absolutely INSIST upon is the abilty to enter multiple destinations and have them sorted by distance from present location (Magellan calls it the 'trip planner'). I had originally returned a Tom-Tom that did NOT have this feature. Good luck with the search.

 

[Riick]

I have a MIO that does all this, and has choice of allowing it to call for U -turns or not.
(( Does everything except the download from PC -- you find GPS with that feature, I'll buy one )).
However, the optimization routine sucks, I've started to tell GPS what order to route me from a map
---maybe too many stops get it confused?

<< shrug >>

 

[Mountain Man]

I bought the cheapest Garmin when on sale because if it's sitting on the shelf... it's already outdated. Most will let you put in 2 to 3 waypoints. To get more than that, you have to pay much more than a couple hundred $$.

 

[Roscoeman]

My Garmin allows me to route to Comps. Don't know if you can download to a PC though.

Costco has the latest Garmin with a $100 coupon off.

 

[Riick]

I bought the cheapest Garmin when on sale because if it's sitting on the shelf... it's already outdated. Most will let you put in 2 to 3 waypoints. To get more than that, you have to pay much more than a couple hundred $$.

Heck.. my MIO that went for under $100 on Sale @ Staples will do 10+ waypoints
((though, I can't trust it to put them in right order))
and my Magellan 3225 ($150 @ Costco) will handle just as many.
The MIO can be software_hacked to also be a PDA.
All of the GPS I've seen in last two years can take new maps --
however, since new construction down so much,
I doubt this will be important for next year or three.

.

 

[V. Nightshade]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! V.

 

[Riick]

V..
Try to find a vent mount for the GPS - ebay will have 'em..
Leaving the GPS visible in the car, or even the suction cup on the windshield is a
virtual guarantee that you will get a broken window and the GPS will be stolen.
Effectively, no one can see a vent mount.

 

[OSU Beavers]

I have been using a Mio DigiWalker C230 for the past 19 months. It is already outdated, but lets me put in at least 30 waypoints and "optimize" a route plus you can go in a edit the order of your stops moving them up or down, adding or deleting as you go. It recalculates and reroutes fast if you miss a turn.

Cons are limited POIs, small 3.5" screen, no exterior volume control and about once a week Windows CE restarts itself in the middle of a turn (but your route is still there).

 

[RSW]

You Street Atlas USA or Microsoft Streets & Trips with their GPS devices on your lap top. That is, if you have a lap top.