To a lot of people this is old hat. It's my first time however; bear with me while I wax enthusiastic.
I'm in New England on a week long contra dance junket. When I got my car they offered me a special on a GPS unit, and I splurged.
I am not a great navigator in the best of circumstances, so I compensate with multiple Google and Mapquest printouts, a DeLorme Atlas for whatever state I'm in, and an up to date membership with AAA so I can clean up on free maps for wherever I'm going. In the woods I am quite skilled with map and compass. I have to be. I have no native understanding about where I am. But Boston defeats me every time. Last year I had arranged to stay with friends my first night. Getting from Logan to Waltham seemed so simple in the abstract. But on the ground it was a different story. I parked under innumerable streetlamps, trying to reconcile what the street signs said and what was portrayed on my map. As I got closer I was in frequent cell phone contact with my overnight hosts, and even then they had to rescue me at a minimart and lead me to their house.
This time I had an authoritative female voice directing me. And I wasn't married to it, so therefore she had credibility. “Exit. Right. And. Bear. Left. In. Point. Two. Miles.” “Turn. Left. Onto. North. Road.” And bang, there I am, in Concord at my hotel. I have no idea where I am, but then again, I didn't need to know. I am both oddly disconcerted and relieved.
Can I get one of these things and take it wherever I travel?
The same thing happened to me. I rented a car on a business trip and decided to get a GPS unit to find my way. As soon as I got home I bought one for our road trip and even got my parents to buy one for themselves. So very cool. I use it all the time when I go wandering in the countryside. While I carry maps and all, having this show me quickly that there is a way to get home up ahead is reassuring. Cheers!
Posted by: Beau | January 16, 2008 at 07:16 PM
I know what you mean, brother. I have the same problem with New Orleans. No matter how often I go, as soon as I exit off the interstate downtown, I'm lost. I keep telling myself to get GPS, but I haven't done it, yet.
Posted by: Bobby | January 17, 2008 at 06:31 AM
I got my wife a Garmin Nuvi 350 about a year ago. She takes it with her on business trips. It's an amazing piece of technology. The 350 has US/Canada/Mexico road info, so we were able to use it on our Vancouver Island visit earlier this year. Costs ~$300 on Amazon.
Posted by: Bob | January 17, 2008 at 07:44 AM
My favorite experience with a talking GPS unit was in Staten Island. I ignored the GPS direction to turn left due to a clogged left hand turn lane. About half way into the next block the GPS spoke, "make a legal u-turn!" The legal department probably had a hand in the programming.
Posted by: Bruce Nall | January 17, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Garrison Keillor has a wonderful Guy Noire skit built around a whiny, recalcitrant GPS unit. "You never ask me where I want to go!" It's a bit past the first 1/2 hour on Prairie Home Companion: http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/about/podcast/
Posted by: Robin Shapiro | January 19, 2008 at 04:06 PM