TomTom START 50M 5" Vehicle GPS with Free Lifetime Map Updates $59.98 Store Pick Up, or + s/h to your house @ Wal-Mart

JonnyRock said:   This one is the same price
Slightly smaller screen but includes traffic
and lifetime maps
http://www.walmart.com/ip/TomTom-XL-335SE-TM-4.3-GPS-Unit/161162...

thanks

babalu said:   this is basically a rebranded 550 xxl - no sd slot, no audio out

This is the type of information I was asking for. Maybe I can find different views of the 550 xxl.

The XXL is an entry level unit, no bluetooth. With an optional cable it can receive clear channel FM traffic broadcasts in metro areas. It has a nice 5" display and a more customizable menu than Garmin. Avoid the newer TomTom Via series. You have no control at all over files or updates. You cant even seen the file system. There are complaints on discussion boards of sensitivity problems and slow satellite locks with the Via series. I have an XXL and a start 50 and they look the same.

docjoo said:   Most latest smartphones do have GPS and don't need wireless signals to make GPS work.

Having a GPS location is a very different thing than having maps and routing data. If I gave you your lat/lon coordinates without a map, would that help you get anywhere?

Sure, many apps Cache data or have maps on local storage, that's not part of the basic functionality.

It's all about expectations. Like I said before, some people are willing to have a compromised experience. Some aren't. Whatever works for you, you know?

slickdeal45 said:   docjoo said:   Most latest smartphones do have GPS and don't need wireless signals to make GPS work.

Having a GPS location is a very different thing than having maps and routing data. If I gave you your lat/lon coordinates without a map, would that help you get anywhere?

Sure, many apps Cache data or have maps on local storage, that's not part of the basic functionality.

It's all about expectations. Like I said before, some people are willing to have a compromised experience. Some aren't. Whatever works for you, you know?

I didn't know car GPS unit can help you get directions based on lat/lon coordinates without a map. All I know is that it has GPS chip and my phone can help me do same thing and more than this $60 GPS unit. But like you said...whatever works...for me why pay another $60 bucks when my $50 Samsung Galaxy S3 can do it at no additional charge from my current phone plan. I bet some people who bought this unit didn't realize their smartphones can do the same for free.

Not everyone wants/needs a smartphone, or more specifically, the monthly bill for the data plan required to do any "smart" things with the phone. Sure, you could possibly load maps onto your SD card & use it for free, but then you still don't get traffic or the better POI search.

slickdeal45 said:   docjoo said:   Why not just your smartphone? It's free from Google.

A GPS is a much better tool. Some of us don't compromise.

I beg to differ. I was on vacation last month and took my Garmin along to DC. Once I got downtown the GPS kept recalculating my trip to the point I had to stop and let it think about it for a minute because I was going in circles. My wife pulled out her Iphone selected google maps and entered our target and I was on my way. If I missed a turn it didn't take a minute to think about it I was just given a new turning point. I gave my Garmin away because of that and the fact that maps do get outdated (not talking about tomtom here). I know most people don't have a "smartphone" but a lot of us do and it's a nice option that fits in my pocket.

Thanks BB for the post - in for 1 - it's cheaper than updating the maps on my old Garmin.

UPRRSLO said:   slickdeal45 said:   docjoo said:   Why not just your smartphone? It's free from Google.

A GPS is a much better tool. Some of us don't compromise.

I beg to differ. I was on vacation last month and took my Garmin along to DC. Once I got downtown the GPS kept recalculating my trip to the point I had to stop and let it think about it for a minute because I was going in circles. My wife pulled out her Iphone selected google maps and entered our target and I was on my way. If I missed a turn it didn't take a minute to think about it I was just given a new turning point. I gave my Garmin away because of that and the fact that maps do get outdated (not talking about tomtom here). I know most people don't have a "smartphone" but a lot of us do and it's a nice option that fits in my pocket.

I have seen similar things happen in bigger cities (Chicago, NYC) where the GPS doesn't work nearly as well as a phone. Also, a phone has the ability to update mass transit and GPS usually doesn't work underground. Having said that, a GPS is great for folks who do not have smartphones. We have a few of them and my parents use them all the time. When I'm going out of town, I'll toss one in my car, too. Lastly, just because this deal doesn't appeal to you, doesn't mean it is not useful for someone. Hell, I don't go thumbs down all the diaper deals because I don't need them.

docjoo said:   I bet some people who bought this unit didn't realize their smartphones can do the same for free.
Are you saying the smartphone GPS apps that do not require data to load maps are free? And how many smartphones have 5" screen?

JonnyRock said:   This one is the same price
Slightly smaller screen but includes traffic
and lifetime maps
http://www.walmart.com/ip/TomTom-XL-335SE-TM-4.3-GPS-Unit/161162...

Does anyone own this one, that can weigh in on how well the traffic feature works? My Android GPS supposedly includes the traffic capability, but it shows nonexistent traffic jams and omits real ones.

Picked up the Start 50M today and just finished installing the updates. After creating an account I received an email with a $10 Voucher for the TomTom Online Shop, good for 30 days. Now to figure out what to spend it on.

rapidrick said:   The 5 inch screen suites me well for a RV.

What I've found to be really handy for a larger vehicle are the GPSs with remote controls. TomTom has had that as a feature on many of their older high-end units. Not sure if they still offer it, but I've found mine to be really useful when the GPS isn't mounted quite so close to the driver.

I have a smartphone but hardly use it for gps. Use it for calls and emails mostly.
It just can't beat my 5" tomtom which has lane guidance, tts, good poi search, etc. Each to their own but regarding the obama comment and being on welfare, such a stupid comment, shouldn't put down people like that.

This thing is a pain in the ass. I got it today and it takes me over ten minutes to lock onto a satellite. What a pain in the ass!

I need help. This thing is driving me crazy! I am ready to return this back to WalMart. I am having the same problem as a posting I read on the WalMart site:
<Not what I expected02/02/2013
Although this model has improved features which I like over my old Tom Tom (more bells and whistles), for the life of me I can't get used to to changing positions of the directional arrow, it's all over the place (sometimes my new unit has the directional arrow indicator going up the screen where left is left and right is right but then it may be coming down the screen and left is right and right is left or then maybe across the screen. I can't focus or orientate my mind to keep up the proper relationship of my vehicles position in regards to the direction of travel. I've changed the menu position option from vertical to horizontal several times withonly slight improvement. On my old Tom Tom, left was always left, right was always right, up the screen was going forward where it always remained, screen view was constantly adjusting to stay in alignment with the directional arrow thus I always knew my vehicles position relative to direction of travel. I'm wondering if there are others out there experiencing the same problem.>

This is probably a common issue for those that didn't learn navigation by using a traditional map. I don't miss the days of having to flip through the pages of the big Rand Mcnally road atlas to figure out how far until the next bathroom break, but like you, I still prefer my maps north up. It's easier to tell what direction I'm heading at a glance and also keeps me constantly aware of the cardinal direction. I'll bet if you asked those that only know how to read the heading up orientation, 3 out of 4 wouldn't be able to tell you which direction was which as soon as they turned the GPS off.

KuoH

knickdigger said:   Your screen might be set as "North = Always Up" or whatever it's called, like mine is. I prefer it that way, keeping the map static & having the car icon change direcctions.

Billygoats said:   I need help. This thing is driving me crazy! I am ready to return this back to WalMart. I am having the same problem as a posting I read on the WalMart site:
<Not what I expected02/02/2013
Although this model has improved features which I like over my old Tom Tom (more bells and whistles), for the life of me I can't get used to to changing positions of the directional arrow, it's all over the place (sometimes my new unit has the directional arrow indicator going up the screen where left is left and right is right but then it may be coming down the screen and left is right and right is left or then maybe across the screen. I can't focus or orientate my mind to keep up the proper relationship of my vehicles position in regards to the direction of travel. I've changed the menu position option from vertical to horizontal several times withonly slight improvement. On my old Tom Tom, left was always left, right was always right, up the screen was going forward where it always remained, screen view was constantly adjusting to stay in alignment with the directional arrow thus I always knew my vehicles position relative to direction of travel. I'm wondering if there are others out there experiencing the same problem.>

OK, I figured it out. Tapping the bottom center area will toggle between 2D and 3D mode. I need to be driving in 3D mode and use the 2D mode for a view of the map as though viewed from above. 2D map mode as far as I can tell, cannot be rotated in direction of travel. I can live with that.