Garmin GPS 18 Deluxe USB Sensor for Laptops
by Garmin
(Click here)
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: GarminBrand: Garmin
Edition: Electronics
Audio: English (Original Language)
Model: 010-00321-00
Color: BLACK
Publisher: Garmin
Studio: Garmin
Music Label: Garmin
Product features:
- 12 Parallel Channels & WAAS-Enabled Sensor
- Available In Either A Serial Or Usb Connection
- Designed To Plug Into Most Laptop Pcs
- Offers Automatic Routing
- & Voice Prompt Navigation To Virtually Any Address
- AmazonBasics Quilted Case for Small Electronics Including Cameras, Mobile Phones, and GPS Units (Black)
- AmazonBasics Universal Travel Case for Small Electronics and Accessories (Black)
- AmazonBasics Carrying Case for 4.3-Inch Portable GPS (Black)
- Bracketron UFM-300-BX Nav-Pack Weighted GPS Dash Mount/Carrying Case
- Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500 GB Bulk/OEM Hard Drive 2.5 Inch, 8 MB Cache, 5400 RPM SATA II WD5000BEVT
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin GPS 18 Deluxe USB Sensor for Laptops
Customer Review: Muskogee Re-Route
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my first GPS and as yet I've only "tested" the unit but I am impressed. It may not be the best choice for someone who uses a GPS several times, day in and day out and/or is mostly solo as this is designed to hook to ones laptop and will most probably reside on the passengers seat. That said, by virtue of this design one gets quite a view as the map is as big as your laptop screen. My initial use was sitting on my wife's lap and as others point out a "Co-Pilot" can be of benifit in this case. I have found a "mounting system" for my laptop (cop like) for under $40 so in time (I don't have it yet) one will see if this places the screen in a useful position for a solo run. For the price and this time, my search put Amazon as the best, this seems a good bang for the buck. For the most part my wife and I don't "need" a GPS. We both know where our work is (and my wife is not into Gizmos but does get lost easily) but at times we need to "find" an unknown location. We also take a drive (21 hours) to South Padre Island at least one time a year. Sure I know the basic route but as I tend to drive through the night while my wife sleeps the idea of a GPS guide has been on my mind the last two trips as often turns "pop" up at the most inopertune times and this GPS puts a lot of information at ones finger tips. As far as the product itself the receiver is a small puck like unit, maybe 2 1/2 inches. It was pretty much "plug-n-play" after selecting that the unit was USB then loading the software and entering the unlock code a stop at Garmin website and an easy software update . As other's have said entering the street names can be a bit of a puzzle. I wanted "Elm Tree Lane" but even with the proper zip code the only way to get that street was by inputing "Elmtree Ln" not a big deal but I see where it could make look-ups interesting. The unit quickly set up the fastest and most direct route. The voice promps were good but don't use street names, just "turn left in 3/10 of a mile. However, the computer screen gives the street names in a banner which is rather large print and is easy to see at a glance. As I needed gas when I came to my first "right turn" I went left. The program almost immediatly re-routed based on the direction I was going now. The unit then guided us almost flawlessly to our destination (a bit confused at the gas station but later I noted the unit was "locked" on road) so once back on "the" road I got clear verbal directions that were given at least twice allowing me to always get into the proper lane with plenty of time to spare. Being a laptop, on my co-pilot's lap, as the driver, it probably not real safe to do more than just take a quick glance at the screen but one can tap the space bar and it repeats the oral directions. Should I be able to pull off my "cop mount" it could be very cool for our trip. Now the map orientation is either north up or direction of travel up. That makes alot of sense but with a widescreen laptop it would be nice to make the direction of travel "across" the screen should one choose especally while tranversing Texas. On the return from our "test" trip, I thought I would take every backroad turn to see how the unit would work. It has a "take me home" tab that will automatically set ones route home. The unit may be a bit too accurate as it immediatly told me to "continue north one tenth of a mile then turn left" that was all true, however, as I had backed up the driveway on arrivial. I didn't really need directions back down the driveway to the street. The unit was set on "fastest route" and again set up quickly with the fastest most direct course. I took every back street and weird way I could think of and clearly expected the unit to lose it's temper and scream "No, I said RIGHT turn" after 10 or 12 deliberate wrong turns but it would just recalculate (about 10 seconds) and continue to guide us home never requesting a U-turn but based on direction of travel. At home I programed a trip to SPI. Now since I did not have the address I just found the Island itself and clicked on it. I noticed that the ID was on the north of the island and as it's like 100 miles long and there are no roads up north so I looked for a close city to identify. I was easily able to ID Port Isabel which is where the Causway crosses to SPI so I marked that as the end and hit calculate. The route was clearly the most direct and I have driven that way before. I know that this way runs one through several smaller Oklahoma towns where the highway goes literally right through town with speed changes, stop lights, the local police etc. and as I generally am coming through at 3 A.M. well you get my drift, no disrespect to Okie From Muskogee. I prefer going down to Oklahoma City then down I35 as that is all major highway as the scenic route is of little use in the dark. The software did not seem to agree, I guess I could have read the directions but being a guy I just fooled around till I figured it out which really was not too complex. I just identified Oklahoma City as a midway "Waypoint" and then recalculated the route. I have not used the find gas station feature but as often as I push the limits and hope one will show up in the next 10 miles that might reduce anxiety. So my take is at $109 for a person who seems to be a more "casual" GPS user this unit seems pretty groovy and again, should I be able to do the Cop-mount for my laptop it would be all around great with a power inverter. Now for a "sales rep" type who is a bit more demanding a good window mount dedicated GPS unit or a built-in might be more to the peachy keen but the cost can be between $300-$1,500. For my limited requirments it seemed like $250 was as high as I wanted to go so getting on the map for $109 works for me at least as to my introduction to the GPS world.
An up-date; well now I've used it for the before mentioned trip to SPI and it is the way to travel. Yes, there were some quirks. First I was able to mount a "Cop" type stand so I was able to have it where I could use it well on the trip, even used the mouse. My laptop is big, really too big for this with the 17 inch screen but it was nice but again due to size and complexity it was/is great for a big trip but for occasional use (and my motorcycle) I got a Garmin eTrex Cx as I could load the same maps from the GPS 18 as Garmin allows a person to download the maps to 2 Garmin products. The City Select 7 alone would cost you more than this unit which it includes, also I should note, if you got this unit in the past year Garmin will send you a FREE map upgrade to City Navigator 8 free shipping too. The unit was just too good when coming through downtown Dallas I was in the wrong place when the highway did a three way split and I was off course. Within just a few seconds the unit had done it's recalculations, it had me move to a left lane exit then I went down a dark (scary) tunnel and as I came out into the light I was merging back on the right roadway, very cool. It's a bit annoying everytime you pull over for gas or to hit a rest stop as the unit "also" starts to recalculate but one learns to shut it down prior, I rig the laptop to go to "stand by" when the lid is shut so that's easy. I'd also just close the lid when I had a long stretch to drive. By the way I let it route me home through Muskogee, and during the day it's very pretty and them people is right friendly.
Description of Garmin GPS 18 Deluxe USB Sensor for Laptops
Turn your laptop PC into a powerful street navigator with the GPS 18 ? a GPS sensor bundled with nRoute? and City Select software that automatically guides you with turn-by-turn directions and voice prompts to get you safely to your destination. Similar to Garmin's MapSource® software, nRoute features an easy-to-use interface, making it intuitive to operate so you can focus on driving. It offers auto-routing and voice-prompting capabilities to virtually any address. The GPS 18 ships with fully unlocked MapSource® City Select® CDs, which provide full coverage of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico (North America version) or major metropolitan areas throughout Western Europe (Europe version). Map detail includes highways, interstates, business and residential roads, with turn restrictions, speed categories, and other navigation features. It also features more than five million points of interest including restaurants, lodging, attractions, shopping, emergency services, post offices, and more. The GPS 18 includes a 12 parallel channel, WAAS-enabled sensor, available with either a PC or USB connection. The receiver includes an integrated magnetic base and is less than three inches in diameter. Traveling with your laptop on business or vacation? The GPS 18 is a simple, convenient, inexpensive way to turn your PC laptop into a personal navigator to get you where you're going.Traveling with your laptop on business or vacation? Garmin's GPS 18 global-positioning sensor is a simple, convenient, and inexpensive way to turn your PC laptop into a personal navigator. The GPS sensor is bundled with nRoute and City Select navigation software that automatically guides you with turn-by-turn directions and voice prompts to get you safely to your destination.
Similar to Garmin's MapSource software, nRoute features an easy-to-use interface, making its operation intuitive so you can focus on driving. It offers auto-routing and voice-prompting capabilities for virtually any address.
The GPS 18 package also includes City Select North America map data with detailed maps of the United States and select cities in Canada. This data is fully unlocked, and map detail includes highways, interstates, business roads, and residential roads, with turn restrictions, speed categories, and other navigation features. Its more than 5 million points of interest include restaurants, lodging, attractions, shopping, emergency services, post offices, among others.
The GPS 18 includes a 12-parallel-channel, WAAS-enabled sensor/receiver just 2.4 inches in diameter with an integrated magnetic base. The receiver connects to your PC via a USB interface, high-speed 2.0 with USB 1.1 compatibility, and it's powered via your computer so you'll never have to change batteries.
What's in the Box
GPS 18 sensor with USB connection, integrated magnetic base, automotive windshield mount, nRoute with City Select North America map data (full unlock), owner's manual, and a quick-start guide.
Digital Cameras & Photo Categories