GPS
 

Looking to buy a GPS, but I don't know which ones to buy and cheap. Some of them give pretty bad directions, so anyone have suggestions?

Stick with the major ones like TomTom or Garmin and look for ones that have the Lifetime maps.

Just remember... it's just calculating a route based on software and data. Its most efficient route may not be the same route that you would think of.

Stick with Garmin. Best all around GPS.

London Drugs is selling these and I don't know if the second is worth an extra $50

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=30937&ra=true $90

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=36082 $140

I've been a Garmin user for the last 5 years. (I've owned a Nuvi 360 as well as a Nuvi 1390T) I've stayed with them mainly because of the easy to use interface. My dad has a Tom Tom and to be honest, it's not quite as user friendly as Garmin's interface.

The one annoyance I will say with the past Garmin GPS's I've used (although it may not be just the Garmins that have this problem) - they seem to skimp on the internal memory - 2GB for the GPS operating files as well as the maps isn't enough for the newer North America map updates. I've had to either go in and manually delete unused files (like foreign voice files, help files, etc) to make room to fit all the maps in. (or alternately, you could throw them on an external SD card and disable the in device maps but that will limit your ability to install another secondary map for your GPS)
The latest GPS I bought (Garmin 3790) has 4GB internal memory which is enough for the 2012.1 map updates and possibly also Europe maps if I wanted.
.

Go with a Garmin. I've had two Tom Toms and they're not as good.

My TomTom works fine lol. The maps look better on the TomTom IMHO. Although I hardly use it anymore except for road trips.

It's little things here and there. Like screen size and extra graphics for the lane assist. Although I'd suggest you get one with lifetime map updates.

Garmin>Tomtom

I have a Tomtom, it sucks. Doesn't read the street names properly and I just find the mapping not as good and not as easy to use iin comparison to my gf's Garmin.

tomtom user for at least 3 years.
very satisfied. easy to use - map updates cost an arm and leg though.

TomTom took me through the ghetto area of seatlle,
After that tried to get out they pointed me to a dead end in the middle of nowhere...

I WAS LOOKING FOR JACK IN THE BOX

^ this happens to garmin to.

to be honest, if you find one that has lifetime maps. that's great, but seriously, do you really need to update your maps EVERY year?

I've had a GPS since 05 and my current one is 2008 map, and in GVRD, it's totally fine.

Not totally necessary of course. But if it's only a bit more then why not?

Any Garmin GPS's with LM in the name (like 1490LMT) include lifetime maps. I think it's about $30-$50 more. There's other ways *ahem* to get Garmin's current maps if you really want them.

In any case, the must have features I've found in GPS's are:
*Text to speech. Reading out street names is much better than telling someone to turn in 100m. Almost all current GPS's have this feature.
*Lane assist. Knowing which lane to get in for your exit helps a LOT. Especially on the US freeways that have multiple exits.
*Traffic alerts/rerouting. Not always 100% accurate I've found, but better than nothing. Having it auto re-route you is even better as it's one less keypress.

Of the two you listed (the 1350 and the 1490T), here's the side by side comparison. The main differences is:
*screen size
*junction view on lane assist (shows a picture of the exit graphically so you know which lane to be in rather than just an arrow showing you which lane to go in)
*autosort multiple destinations
*bluetooth
*FM traffic receiver included in the 1490T

Whether it's worth the extra $50 is up to you. I probably would just for the traffic receiver, autosort and junction view. The 1390T is a smaller version of the 1490T if you don't really care about the screen size. You can probably save a bit of money with a smaller screen. Alternately, you might be able to find them for sale on Craigslist (if you don't mind used) as those models are about a year or two old.

I personally have no interest in bluetooth and FM traffic receiver. Anyone give us some insight on how they fully use this function?

I honestly don't use BT, but it could be used as a hands free speakerphone. It's also good for calling POI's directly from the GPS. (some POI's have phone numbers on the GPS itself - it saves having to look it up)

The FM traffic receiver will mark out where on your route that there are delays and adjusts your ETA to compensate. On my nuvi 3790T, it uses that data to automatically re-route you as well. (on the older units like my 1390T, it gave you the detour option instead and you could hit a button to reroute)