We are looking to buy a GPS device for Europe travel by car and on foot. . At first we were attracted to the TomTom 930 package deal. After a little reseach and by contacting those who sell all varieties, we are leaning towards a top of the line Garmin product. We have been told that the topographical mapping is more detailed, more accurate and easier to read particularly while on foot. Does anyone have an opinion or recommendation on this subject. Thank you for any assistance that you can provide.

We love our TomTom. It is so intuitive to use. I don't know about the mapping differences. It just seems like all the buttons are where you want them.

I just bought the 920 on Amazon as a gift for someone for $250 total with shipping. It has the European maps as well as US and Canada. I'm assuming the 930 replaced it, but I don't know the difference between the two.

I think everyone likes what they have; in my case a Magellan 760 but I suspect you might get better information if you look at one of those on-line review sites, especially if you want a wider variety of opinions but if you think the ones here are more trustworthy then....

All I can say is that my 760 knew EVERY SINGLE back road I could find in Europe, especially in the UK and those roads ranged from paved to not-so-paved. Ditto for France and Spain...good luck with your final purchase.

I don't know what is meant by topographical mapping. Some newer models have 3D renderings of buildings.

I tried using my older Garmin while walking around.

Honestly, as useful as they are in cars, it's a hassle carrying them around. And the battery life on these things aren't the greatest either. Some car power adapters won't charge in the car, just maintain whatever power levels it had when you plugged it in.

I've always found using a easily foldable map more useful, even if I carry the GArmin in my messenger bag because I didn't want to leave it exposed in the car.

I went through this a few years ago and went with Garmin, but mainly because more of the countries I was visiting were "mapped" Tom Tom didn't have much for Croatia. That's one thing you want to check. What of "Europe" have they mapped for you.

Garmin is better in North America, TomTom is better in Europe.

In any case, take a model that has both continents pre-installed.

As Dukey said, people love what they have.
I have a Tom Tom and chose it partly based on the name (same as my cat!) so what do I know....I'm not blonde BTW but I love my GPS.

How do TomToms work in North America?

We've only used our TomTom in North America and had no problems.

I have been running GPS software in Pocket PCs for about six years (iPaq 2215, iPaq 6510, HTC WING). The free Google Mobile Maps application updates its maps continuously, so my GPS always displays up-to-the-minute road and delay data. google.com/gmm

This works on SmartPhones and Blackberries, too - although the screen size on these leaves something to be desired (PPCs, by contrast, typically have 320x240 screens). You can have a GPS <U>and</u> a pocket computer for the price of a Garmin or Magellan.

And the fact that you can run nanika.net/metro on almost any device that's <I>not</i> a dedicated GPS is just gravy.

Thank you all. I currently use Google maps in my Blackberry Bold 9000 and would be happy to use that solution while traveling through Europe. I find that the google maps are excellent and the search feature works well. The only problem is that Blackberries and other smartphones are not standalone gps devices and incur data charges. Thus the problem is that the cost of continuous data downloading while roaming in Europe with an Australian/foreign sim card in a Blackberry is extremely expensive++. I guess I could buy a low cost sim card with unlimited data from a European telco and switch it but not sure what the best option would be that covers a variety of countries again without incurring cross border data charges.

As for mapping I understand Garmin and TomTom have similar coverage although Garmin seems to have more aftermarket support mapping software products for adventurers and similar road features to TomTom. I will take a look at them side by side with an expert and report back. So far I have been told that the screen display and use-friendliness of the large screen Garmin is superior for those walking around complex streets in European cities. We shall see.

Google Maps, I'm pretty sure, can only be streamed.

They have licenses with Navteq and TeleAtlas, which sell their maps to the GPS companies for a hefty sum, so that they in turn can charge consumers like $150 a country or continent.

That means that to use Google Maps, you have to have an internet connection as opposed to having all the map data locally.

I will say this. I have recently had to deal with Garmin's customer support. (For some reason my Nuvi "lost" Europe) While it took about an hour for them to get it fixed the service on a two year old unit was outstanding. They were nice, professional, knew what they were doing and overall it was excellent. In this day and age sadly that's not always true. They probably made a customer for life.

Thanks for the comment carolA - I agree about the rarity of service quality cultures.

For scrb - I roam on a mobile phone / cel phone rate plan in Australia that allows me unlimited data. You are correct in that Google Earth, which I access from an icon on my Blackberry screen, requires that data connection. It is very simple to load Google Earth to the Blackberry off theGoogle site or via Crackberry.com etc. Similarly the Blackberry maps product which I believe to be inferior also requires a data connection. This works perfectly in all but remote places where there is not GPRS or 3G data coverage. It is all about cost.

You must have a great data plan because it's prohibitive for Americans roaming overseas.

Some guy went down to Mexico and downloaded the movie Wall E for his grandkid and got hit with a bill for $68,000.

His phone company claimed their cost, passed to them by the Mexican company whose network the guy used, was $17,000.

Scrb - no, read back 5 comments above - my unlimited data plan is only for Australia and that is why I have to buy a Garmin/Tom Tom etc. for use while traveling in Europe then Asia, USA etc in the future.

The amount of data used to access Blackberry Maps or Google Maps on Blackberry is large and the costs while roaming would be prohibitive just like the Mexican example you mentioned.

There is however one solution that is emerging where you download mapping to a Blackberry or other smartphone from another source and then link those maps to the inbuilt gps facility on the Blackberry or Smartphone. One of those products is called Trekbuddy. It was created because there are many locations of course on earth where there is no data download ability but the gps works just fine.

Anyway back to the comparison - I am leaning toward the Garmin 265T - when I looked at it today next to a TomTom 930 the Garmin screen colours appeared better for definition and the screen was brighter based on its default setting - I have more research to do before reporting back.

if anyone has already made a detailed comparison the we would appreciate some feedback here. thanks again.

Let me count the ways I have done it...

In cities, Google Mobile Maps on WiFi works for a quick fix.
Microsoft Pocket Streets with stored city maps downloaded from Microsoft for free.
Microsoft Pocket Streets with onboard cross-country maps I export from AutoRoute.
My unlimited T-Mobile GPRS data service for $5.99 a month works some places across Europe.

Hi Robespierre. I used to have a T-Mobile Blackberry purchased in Missouri with an unlimited data use plan for traveling outside Australia and predominantly in USA . When I used it for data in Europe I got hit with a significant charge.

WiFi is a matter of finding the connection and convenience. I didnt know Microsoft Pocket Streets would load and be read by the inbuilt gps in a Blackberry or other Smart Phone WITHOUT A DATA service from a Telco.

My understanding was that you need an interface program/software like Trekbuddy installed to avoid the need of data from a Telco. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Hence rather than deal with the vested interests of the Telcos, I think I need to purchase a standalone GPS device. In Australia I have found a full service GPS company called Johnny Appleseed that seems to cover all products and all markets. I will visit there on Tuesday.

Pocket Streets is totally self-contained. The maps are on line (in case you wonder) at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en and the program is available here: http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/Ed...05-16788.shtml

There's a trick to tapping T-Mobile's European data network without stratospheric charges: my device has to be registered on a T-Mobile cell site. Partner sites get the billing right.

New TomTom 930 user here. After an initial stumble which customer service worked out - it didn't recognize Quebec - I like the way it functions. The TomTom forums are a big help:

http://www.tomtomforums.com/

So far it has worked in several states & provinces. It is going to Europe with me on May 22 for Sicily.

Ian