Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 41 Location: Sunnyvale, California
Routing difference between low and high-end models? Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:27 am
Is there any difference between the low and high-end models from the same vendor as far as route selection is concerned? I have used a TomTom XL but decided that I want the TTS feature so I am going to upgrade. However, there are a few times that the TT XL has given me routes and voice directions that I felt are pretty awkward. I really liked its interface and the flexibility on setting the display and choosing the voices, etc.
I have my eyes on the TomTom 720 but am concerned about the bad routes and directions that I have gotten, particularly in the areas around my city, where I care most about. If all models from the same vendor shares the same routing engine, does that mean I will pretty much get the same routes and directions if I stay with TomTom? If that's the case, I will probably have to try other vendors...
Routing will be about the same among models from a manufacturer. Some offer more tools at the high end to MODIFY the initial route. Given the same base map and routing engine, the results will likely be the same.
Re: Routing difference between low and high-end models? Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:04 pm
svlman wrote:
Is there any difference between the low and high-end models from the same vendor as far as route selection is concerned?
As far as route selection goes, yes. There are different devices that present different routing types and styles. But what I think you are really asking about is the routing algorithm which will pretty much be the same from device to device from the same manufacturer.
Keep in mind with any GPS you will find routes you don't agree with from time to time. Just like you and I won't necessarily agree on the best route between two points. I've got several dozen boxes of GPS devices in my office right now from dozens of brands and I've scratched my head at all of them from time to time.
Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 41 Location: Sunnyvale, California
Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:20 am
Thanks for the replies. I meant the routing algorithm. I understand that every vendors would have bad routes from time to time. Unfortunately, Tomtom has some pretty strange route selections around the two places that I care most about (home and work). Whether I am going to or combe back from other places to/from my home or work, I always got nags from my Tomtom about not taking the right route (Take a U-turn when possible, etc.). When I took it on a long trip, it actually did OK. I know I can just ignore the nags but it's pretty annoying. And since I constantly ignore its suggestion, it became a habit for me to ignore it and I actually missed some turns even when Tomtom was really telling me to do the right thing.
My friend loaned me his Magellan and I have test-driven it for about two weeks now. It does pretty well around my neighborhood but I like the user interface and feature-rich of the Tomtom's better. Maybe I should give Garmin a try but it tends to be much more expensive than Tomtom and Magellan.
Prices, especially in webstores, have changed quite a lot in the past couple of months. You can now find a Garmin at a lower price than the cheapest TomTom. Sevral models from several maufacturers are selling well under any retail pricing you see.
It's strange, because it very rarely tells me to U-Turn. Check your routing preferences, also don't use waypoints. I set my routing to prompt, then most of the time I choose 'Fastest' afterward.
'Naglessness' of TomTom is the only reason that I don't jump ship. By the way I find that the passenger's nags are already too much, who need an extra talkative woman !
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