Filed under: Gadgets
Black Friday GPS deals: Consumer Reports maps 'em out
Feeling lost in all the post-Thanksgiving sales? If you're shopping for a portable GPS system, Consumer Reports has some directions for you. The magazine says there will be several name-brand systems for less than $150 come Friday morning, but be careful which road you go down.
Using their past research, the staff at CR greenlights several GPS deals they have recommended, and which ones could be dead ends. Take the Garmin nuvi 660 (pictured above). It's a Consumer Reports top pick, and available for $400 (normally $800) at Best Buy this Friday and Saturday. Or a CR Quick Pick is the Garmin StreetPilot C330, available Friday at Wal-Mart for $129 (usually $168.54).
GPS shoppers can read (for free) the CR buying guide, here, or watch a video here.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
A54 11:00AM (11/21/2007)
Garmin 650 for $310 at amazon and costco.com
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:37AM (11/21/2007)
That's not a good price. The 650 is lacking Bluetooth and traffic. That's a big difference.
I have a 660, I highly recommend it.
A54 11:52AM (11/21/2007)
Huh? I disagree. The 650 is nearly $100 cheaper than this black Friday deal and only differs in the Bluetooth and the traffic feature.
The traffic feature is a subscription service that does not cover all areas.
Plus, you don't have to wait overnight in line -in the cold- for a one day deal at a store. You point and click and it's delivered to your door; while you can browse Autoblog for the latest version of the Mustang.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:01PM (11/21/2007)
It's also missing the FM transmitter I understand. But I think tha feature is overrated.
The Bluetooth handsfree is awesome though. It does text messages too. It's nice to be able to find a business on the nuvi and hit a single button to call them.
The Nuvi 650 is $300 at costco.com, BTW.
ah_m45 12:21PM (11/22/2007)
uh... how come the 660 deal isnt on the best buy website? can anyone help me out here? i wanted that one... but they have it for 800 :/
calebe 11:08AM (11/21/2007)
Rand map $2.95 walmart.
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The Other Bob 1:59PM (11/21/2007)
Or likely free from your state department of transportation.
Andy 7:06PM (12/10/2007)
Free at your local AAA office.
Tony C 7:26PM (12/10/2007)
Don't you mean "free" from AAA if you have a membership?
mark_welby 11:10AM (11/21/2007)
GPS this, GPS that... Has everyone forgotten how to simply read a map? Sometimes technology can be so annoying. Apparently people can't get by anymore without some electronic gadget holding their hand.
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Takeo 12:18PM (11/21/2007)
If I'm out in the field where walking speed is as fast as I can go, and where there are no roads, one-way streets and traffic, yes a topo map and a compass works fine.
If you want to waste your time looking at a damn street map to find someone's house be my guest, the rest of us don't.
And yes, I know very well how to read a map, take your pick, aviation maps, topographical maps, network maps. Because I choose to use a GPS in lieu of a paper map doesn't make me a dumbass.
Losers.
VP 11:13AM (11/21/2007)
I am directionally challenged, and i am not going to apologize for using a GPS. For those of you who are good with maps: God bless you souls. You just saved $300.00
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Hank 11:15AM (11/21/2007)
more like saving only $150 w/ the upcoming Black Friday deals.
rndmnme 11:23AM (11/21/2007)
I love how people knock on GPS claiming people maps are better.
Cause you know, you can search for restaurants, points of interest, etc with a paper map. Paper maps can tell you when there is construction a head. You can carry half the United States in the the space of a cup holder, and they go down to small street level. You can download new maps to your paper maps, and of course your paper maps or so convenient to read/listen to when you drive.
Yeah maps are vastly superior...
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calebe 11:30AM (11/21/2007)
I have those features on my cell phone and my wife has Blondstar er OnStar.lol, which actually works. I'll use a map thanks.
theSAWzall 12:01PM (11/21/2007)
Plus a map can't tell you where you are when lost. Especially in those neighborhoods where the street signs are lit so poorly. Maybe I'll finally get one of these this year and stop driving in circles trying to find the street Google maps wants me to turn onto.
cheezwiz 2:06PM (11/21/2007)
By not using a GPS, I can watch the road and not get lost in the first place. I'm not saying maps are better - just that the last thing we need is more distractions in the car.
It's hard enough to send emails from my car without more gadgets interrupting me...
DriftPunch 11:31AM (11/21/2007)
It think they can be incredibly useful in rental cars, or for salespeople. They may even be a good band aid for those who have no planning ability whatsoever.
For the rest of us, they are cool toys with limited actual utility, and we all know how much we like cool toys. This being said, I'm not about to get one unless it's priced as a toy (dirt cheap).
They are easy for the GPS companies to market as it's easy to develop a percieved need in todays luxury based markeplace. - Don't get lost - Don't end up in the ghetto - No need to persue the bourgeois practice of figuring out where you need to go before you begin your journey.
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judd 11:31AM (11/21/2007)
Not all drivers or passengers in this case can read maps. I can read a map but while driving, no. I'll use my GPS. Saves more time and gas.
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Carlos 11:43AM (11/21/2007)
If you're too cheap for Nav, you can text message "(Address #1) to (Address #2)" to Google (466453) and it'll text you back directions… been using that lately.
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