Garmin StreetPilot i3

Suasexed · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:31 pm Post subject:

The box says it's v7 software...i haven't checked the unit yet but i very much doubt it's v8 Sad

Hopefully Garmin will offer the upgrade free to everyone as hoped.

Montala · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:36 pm Post subject:

ixion · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 44

r172 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 19, 2005 Posts: 4

Marty-Party · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 17, 2005 Posts: 87

Hi, can you tell us where you got your V8 from?

Thanks

ixion · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 44

Minx · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 10:30 pm Post subject:

I recently purchased a StreetPiloti3 got mine from Halfords online if that helps ya Marty-Party.

Minx · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 10:30 pm Post subject:

Ooops sorry should have stated it's v8. Embarassed

ixion · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 44

Yes my V8 from Halfords too.

GaryBlanchard · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: Europe Maps

[/quote]When the FREE upgrade happens for every i3 customer the new version 8 maps will be City Nav NT maps, no longer city select.[/quote]

Bought my i3 V7 a few weeks ago.. Does anybody know when we might get our V8 update maps?

Gary

zogman · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: Europe Maps

GaryBlanchard · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:54 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply Zogman.
I'll just have to wait!
Gary

blackrat62 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 47

TomTom One - Garmin i3 Comparison.

Having just bought one of these bargain TomTom Ones (£224 at Argos) and used it frequently over a couple of days - I thought I'd stir up a hornet's nest and post a comparison to the Garmin i3 I have been running for a while.

Please note - these are just my views - not necessarily facts!

Screen/display - the i3 maps are smoother and nicer to look at (the One's are a bit jagged) BUT the One's are larger and the touch screen is very useful compared to the i3's fiddly (but functional) scroll wheel. I like the ability to 'invert' the screen on the One. One wins.

POIs - the i3 only warns when over the limit and displays what the limit is, the One always warns you and doesn't show the speed limit. Also the Garmin POI loader is easier to use - virtually automatic. i3 wins.

Mount - the One mount is HIDEOUS. It is very large- you need the 'invert' screen facility because the mount sometimes has to be upside down, and it is very fiddly with silly knobs to adjust and it is very stiff to put on and off. The i3 mount is very fast, smooth and exceptionaly easy to adjust. This is an issue for me because I keep switching between cars. i3 wins.

Maps/routing - a mixed bag here. The One's routing is the best by far - it uses the routes you'd choose if you knew all the best routes whereas the i3 can choose some very odd (and slow) ones.

Despite reviews to the contrary - they both are as likely as each other to tell you to turn around. Don't believe the reviews that tell you the One doesn't.

Looking at speed to re-calculate routes the One outstrips the i3 easilly - the One is near instant but the i3 can go into a state of madness - constantly 'recalculating' as it can be so slow you have passed where it wanted you to turn before its finished calculating.

The One's 'detour' function is also superb and has the ability to pick the distance to avoid. My i3's detour function was tested on a motorway and sent me off the motorway then back to the point I left it at after several miles of a detour!

Turning to what I suspect is a 'map source issue' - the One's maps often show one route whilst giving different verbal commands - such as a routed right fork with a verbal instruction to keep left, and they 'miscount' the exits from roundabouts by counting one road twice if the road has a seperating island or central res - it therefore frequently says (for example) "take the Fifth exit" whilst displaying (and meaning) the second.

This is very odd, and no test that I have seen has ever mentioned this - but it is my experience. I presume this is a 'mapping' error. My i3 has never given contradictory verbal and display commands. I'd say One wins routing, i3 wins maps.

Signal Lock - That SirfIII set in the One is great. My i3 goes mad in town with a treated screen - the One holds a stready lock. One wins.

Overall- I'd say the two are pretty even bearing in mind the price gap. The One is a more refined and better specified device, slightly hindered by some mapping defects (though it uses its maps better) and that horrible mount. Whereas the i3 is superb for the money - and that £60 saving is important to many who only want basic navigating.

On balance I'd go for the One and pay the difference now Argos do it (temporarily?) for £224 - and that is the choice I have made. But don't feel bad if you have the i3 - its great too - want to buy mine?

Mr_Gonzales · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:25 pm Post subject:

That's a good review/comparison!

A guy at work got the one today and brought it over. The view is definitely a lot less pretty than the i3, but the route calculation speed blew the i3 away (I assume it's got a faster processor, more memory?) and it got a fix on 3 sats using no external aerial within 30 seconds of being turned on straight from the box. An i3 with external aerial sitting next to it only had 2 sats.

Both doing the same route from work came up with the same, weird route to leave work - a route you'd never choose to take - a left turn then almost around the block one full time instead of a right turn.

The UK female voice on the one isn't as nice as the one on the i3, though it has a male one which sounded good. US male/female ones were greyed out as they weren't loaded off the CD.

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