Barrelling down a dusty highway with a dog-eared Gregory's on your lap, tracking the number of kilometres until the Big Merino appears on the horizon: such memories form part of your typical idyllic Australian childhood.
With the emergence of in-car navigation systems, many a map book has been replaced by a talking GPS. Compact, hands-free and shiny — what's not to love? Well, maybe the tendency of some units to occasionally lead you into a lake or down a narrow cul-de-sac. But at least you can then blame technology for your road-related mishaps rather than having to admit to less-than-stellar map-reading abilities.
So what's your choice: map or GPS? In Whaddayreckon? this week we're asking whether you use satellite navigation when charting your course.
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Steve
15/07/2008 03:25 PM
I don't have a GPS yet and getting one is not high on my gadget wishlist. But I do get a laugh out the gumpy's I see stuck in crawling traffic on the freeway in peak-hour with a little screen showing an arrow pointing toward a destination that may only be a few kilometres away but will take 30 minutes to get to.
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Cameron
15/07/2008 03:56 PM
Also not high on my priority list, in fact, not on my list at all. I can't believe how lazy people are that they can't spend 3 minutes looking up their desination on a map? Still I've got to hand it to the creators of these products, they've done a fantastic job of convincing consumers they need one.
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hollandp
15/07/2008 04:37 PM
I have one but I don't use it for daily driving. Where they come into their own, is where you are in an area you haven't been before. I took mine to Europe last year and it was invaluable - I set it to the "Non main roads" setting and got to see some great places without time loss or stress. I too was a sceptic but when you drive in odd places, they are invaluable.
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sirbisa
15/07/2008 04:54 PM
A GPS was not really on my list but now I have one, (Mio C520) I have to say I find it very useful especially in unfamiliar parts of the city at night. It's taken me with spot on accuracy to a number of locations without any hassle on dark wet nights.
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Neonlight
15/07/2008 05:23 PM
GPS is good at night. Places you do not drive often say another metro area or city is great and you don't need to waste time on looking at maps. However what's annoying is it doesn't know the Traffic conditions the TMC is only in Melb...taking back streets are quickly then what GPS tells you.
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iconfess
15/07/2008 09:15 PM
I'm sure GPS has some valid uses but it does seem like another example of technology breeding a society of dumb, lazy people. The film 'Idiocracy' comes to mind.
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Aussieguy
15/07/2008 11:19 PM
I purchased an Asus PDA P525 nearly 2 years ago, and have found it to be the best gadget ever, it saves you going over pages and pages on a Map trying to follow the route, and even if you take a wrong turn, the unit will re-direct you inthe right directon, also it will warn of speed cameras in the area, and you can find points of interests of your choice, this Asu P525 comes with screen mount, which also when connected to your power unit has everything going for it, if anyone is thinking about a GPS unit, I can only say they are great, which ever maker you go for, do some research on the the different makes, happy motoring.
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Patrick F
16/07/2008 09:43 AM
I have had a GPS for a while now, and whilst I find it invaluable when I'm not to confident driving in new areas, and a lot safer than a map - It can sometimes lead you astray in rural locales. I once decided I would let it give me directions to my home (thinking there may be alternate routes I was unaware of) and it took me down a dirt road, fair enough I live in a regional area - 10km's down the road and the GPS says to 'continue until further notice' only problem, a HOUSE smack-bang in the middle of the electronic road.... I will rely on one in non familiar areas, but when I am on my own turf, i'll let local knowledge do the navigating
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Andrew
16/07/2008 04:21 PM
I am not interested in navigation. I just want a device that will warn me if I am about to exceed the speed limit because I have not seen a speed sign amongst all the advertising bill boards.
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Go Tom Tom
26/07/2008 11:33 AM
I use my GPS to get me to a destination I have not been before and this is where GPS comes into its own ... using a GPS to get you to an unfamiliar destination is much safer and overall less time consuming than having the old dog eared book of maps on your lap, also I do not have to be the navigator for my partner so there are no more tempers raging .... using a GPS has got me to drive to places I would not have, had I had to use the old book of maps method.
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grungysquash
06/08/2008 07:44 PM
I use a GPS built into my phone using tom tom 7 and maps for Australia - was using TT6 but have found TT7 to be a good tool - plus it's built into my phone so I always have it!!! Normally I will use google maps to find an address and plug this into TT7 and away I go. It's only lead me astray once, but I'm using the most modern maps now (720.183) so hopefully I'll be OK now. Oh also useful when in Melbourne to know where those pesky camera's are.
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navteen
13/08/2008 02:37 PM
My s30 is less accurate than the nokia navigator which sucks
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