[UPDATE 3/15/10 - Even though this article is fairly kind to Garmin, I've since had to actually deal with the company. I have sworn off of Garmin because of their total lack of Customer Service. The short story is that they want me to pay an additional $50 to re-download a map I already paid $99 for. So anyone looking for Garmin recommendations, please do not accept this blog post as one. Just read it for what it's worth. The first ten days with Garmin were fun, but then it all went sour. You can read my thoughts on Garmin's Nüvi 1350T DRM and crappy customer service here]
Sometimes you find giggles in the most unexpected places…
In the past couple of weeks, Tim and I have been trying out various third party GPS systems for the Jeep. And by various, I mean two. They both seemed adequate at getting us places, but the Garmin is the clear winner.
The Tom Tom had a kludgy interface. I am constantly surprised when any tech company still has interface issues. It seems really simple to me: minimize the number of times a person sitting in the car has to tap the screen to make it go and let the computer do everything it can with no help from the user.
Oddly, the Tom Tom would make you type everything and then it would start directing you with the voice, but the screen wouldn't start updating until you clicked on "DONE". I have no idea why that extra click was in there. Add to that, the "BACK" button inexplicably kept changing sides, so you couldn't just click on it four times in quick succession. You actually had to focus on it and watch where it would appear next in order to back out of the nested menu structure.
Here's a note to Tom Tom: either pay Apple to build a simple interface for you, or at least read the iPhone Human Interface Guidelines and follow them.
The next one we tried, and the one we kept, is the Garmin Nüvi. Not only did they get the whole "BACK" button position right, they used an icon so you don't have to read AND they made it so if you hold it down it skips all the way to the top no matter how deep in the menu system you are. Good move!
Then I found the Yeti voice in the picture above and there was no turning back. This is the only GPS I've ever had that makes me smile when its giving directions. "Oot ort ort OOOT Squeeee!" apparently means keep driving in the direction you're going or something.
And, Yes, Rob, it does Squee.
So it wins. We're so keeping the Garmin. It gets us where we want to go and it makes me giggle.
