Prime Toys

They're hitting us with all kinds of electronic deals right NOW, some that are Primetastic!
Garmin DriveSmart 50LMT Advanced 5.0" GPS navigator with lifetime map and traffic updates. Regular price (this is through Garmin website, with free shipping) Regular price: $229.99; Sale til 11-27-17: $139.99. I've had my 3490LMT for about 7 years, it rocks! I paid about $400 for mine! Recommend!

.

 

Because it REALLY bites!! If you've had the opportunity to try a stand-alone, with voice command, you'll never go back to ANY built-in GPS. Some of the advantages, besides the RIDICULOUSLY cheaper price of the stand-alone (currently around $140!, versus anywhere from $800-$2500 surcharge for built-in), the stand-alone I use is in the lower left corner, of my windshield: line of sight, better even than my Advanced with heads-up display; if you want to see upcoming streets or other detailed info on my built-in GPS, you have to look away from the road. My Garmin 3490 LMT is completely voice command: "Find Address", "Navigate", and voila you are on your way. You can ask for Recent", and see a list of addresses/locations you've visited, say the number of the entry, and you're on your way! Yeah, the screen is smaller but the info displayed is so much more logical and complete/cusomizable, and you're much less likely to get lost. Yes, I've tried Mercedes, Lexus, Prius, Mazda, Chevy, Ford, etc. GPS's in rental cars or with friends in their cars; the Garmin ate them all alive; it's portable!! It gets free updates frequently, though not frequently enough for my area. It gives you alternate routes if there's traffic; it is hooked up (lifetime free) to traffic info. The Garmin references streets by name (though some of the pronunciations are really funny), and at the appropriate time. I've used it in the country roads of Provence in Southern France (with optional Europe map chip); worked great. I can locate, for example, Jack in the Box, get a list, and be on my way in about 15 seconds, same for Saved Points of Interests, or Recent destinations. Try that on a Built-in!

.

 

The Prime unquestionably has an excellent voice recognition system!
It's the 18th-century approach to programming your destination that is my gripe. True, the 18th century was a very romantic era which offered much to society, but they didn't know SQUAT about living with an EFFICIENT, LOGICAL, SIMPLE, LOW-PRICE GPS. I Can voice command an address, and be on my way in 15 seconds with my add-on GPS; my Prime, 3 minutes, on average. This has been my experience across the board with built-in GPS units from Mercedes, Lexus, Ford, GM, Mazda, etc. Toyota should offer a GPS-ready car, for 3rd party GPS units (the dealer could sell them as options), and focus their clever digital energies on an overlay, for example, with Tach, oil pressure, coolant temperature, alternator output, altitude, and interior temperature, for example!! Call it the HPICO ( Henri Pierre Instrument Cluster Option). It would replace the GPS, and it would therefore add no cost to the vehicle!! Whatta ya think? Are ya with me??!!

.

 

Mr. Ferrari, what process are you using to request a destination? On my Advanced, I have to say Navigation, then it wants city, then street, then number, blah, blah, blah! It's like writing a novel! And the last 2 times I tested the bloody thing, it got completely and totally screwed up. These were simple straightforward locations that I finally found by just looking around or using my Garmin. Also, the graphics are poorly thought out, no real visual cues, and on, and on. YES the APPEARANCE of the in-dash is superior, but when I need visual details/cues, I'm forced to look fown, away from line-of-sight; very dangerous here in nut-land!! I don't wish to sound overly boisterous here, it's just that ALL these car companies have yet to get their acts together, while I've waited fruitlessly for over 10 years.

.
Oh by the way, GO MANCHESTER UNITED!! You rock!

 

Mr. VTBIGDOG, and Mr. Ferrari, I just tried using the Toyota GPS AGAIN.
Mr. Ferrari, I'm speaking of entering a brand new address into the system, one I haven't already visited. This takes 15 seconds on the Garmin, and as much as 3 minutes with the Toyota GPS. I use the command "find address", then I speak the address in one swoop. Unfortunately, the Prime does not understand me properly, and it has me repeat and confirm every single component of the address. This process is ridiculous and happens every single time I try to enter a new address. That's why I take so long to enter a new address into the system. I have not tried to summon an address already in the system. Perhaps the UK version of the Prime has better voice recognition for the GPS. Or maybe it's just my Franco-American accent that fools it. I have absolutely no problem whatsoever using the voice command to operate my telephone, or to turn on the radio and tune channels.

.

 

Thanks, Mr. VTBIGDOG! Great insights! What is the VR button? I haven't looked at the screen yet, so maybe it'll be self-evident when I do. The quiet voice bit does help; it's nagged me a few times about that during phone commands; you do need to close all windows for optimum performance. The confirmation bit is also annoying for phone calls, so I definitely will pursue the VR button tactic. The radio tuning command works fine.

.

 

My problem is I constantly have to locate new addresses; the Garmin takes and locates them (in a closed car) in seconds with virtually no confusion. The built-in GPS requires a tremendous amount of confirmation which is unacceptable when you've used the other simple toy for over a decade!! The displayed info on the Garmin is much more complete, quicker, and useful, even though it's a much smaller screen. It's also line-of-sight.

.

 

Total voice!! I am stuck using touch screen when I frequently change the SETTINGS (to avoid freeways, for best EV range). It is so easy; I admit I'm spoiled!! The commands are listed on the screen, so they are easy to learn/remember.

.