I am interested in getting GPS maps of Thailand and can't decide what to go for first option would be a PDA and use the built in GPS (how detailed are the maps??) or go for a Garmin system?? what do you think?? i am wanting to do this as cheap as possible

I am interested in getting GPS maps of Thailand and can't decide what to go for first option would be a PDA and use the built in GPS (how detailed are the maps??) or go for a Garmin system?? what do you think?? i am wanting to do this as cheap as possible

If you want to use the GPS with Street Maps, I would to go for the combi: PDA+GPS because the maps on the "normal" GPS are the same.

But if you want to use the GPS for Navigation purpose like flying or sailing, I would go for an Garmin GPS!

I am interested in getting GPS maps of Thailand and can't decide what to go for first option would be a PDA and use the built in GPS (how detailed are the maps??) or go for a Garmin system?? what do you think?? i am wanting to do this as cheap as possible

It's been a while since I have seen the Nokia maps. When I last looked they were no where near detailed enough for use up country to do me any good. I have two Garmin units. One is a 2610 Street Pilot and I love it. It has the ESRI Version 2008 map. I had the Rotweiler map on it and it was full of glitches. The ESRI map is great with no problems that I have found.

My other unit is a hand held Garmin eTrex Legend CX. It works pretty well with the Rotweiler map. I had to upgrade the memory card to one gig because the original was too small to hold the complete Thailand map. I think the easiest way to check map detail is to look at the size of the map. The Rotweiler map is 136 MB on the eTrex. Whatever you decide on, be sure it has plenty of memory because a 128 MB card is NOT big enough for sure.

I paid 7,000 baht for the ERSI map and $100 US for the Rotweiler maps. The ESRI map will NOT work on your desk top or laptop. The Rotweiler maps will. When you make the $100 donation you get all upgrades free and there are many maps available including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and many others. The $100 for the Rotweiler maps was money well spent because of the ability to use my home computer with them. I emailed Garmin and they told me the 2610 Street Pilot interprets maps differently than the newer Garmin units and that there is no fix available. That's why I also bought the ESRI map from Gadget Trend.

I am interested in getting GPS maps of Thailand and can't decide what to go for first option would be a PDA and use the built in GPS (how detailed are the maps??) or go for a Garmin system?? what do you think?? i am wanting to do this as cheap as possible

If you want to use the GPS with Street Maps, I would to go for the combi: PDA+GPS because the maps on the "normal" GPS are the same.

But if you want to use the GPS for Navigation purpose like flying or sailing, I would go for an Garmin GPS!

Can't afford flying or sailing and can just afford to drive a car so its the PDA with GPS then. Any brands you could recommend?? Is MIO any good?? cheers

If you plan to use mostly in a car, you could go for nuvi 200. Price: 14.700,- and includes the ESRI map of Thailand (City Navigator - please check for version; the newest one is V.8).

If you go for a PDA, hm, the cheapest with a GPS will cost you around 17.000,- Baht and most probably will not have the same, detailed map as from ESRI.

You really have to decide how you will use it. If just for driving, I would go for nuvi. my 2c

If you plan to use mostly in a car, you could go for nuvi 200. Price: 14.700,- and includes the ESRI map of Thailand (City Navigator - please check for version; the newest one is V.8).

If you go for a PDA, hm, the cheapest with a GPS will cost you around 17.000,- Baht and most probably will not have the same, detailed map as from ESRI.

You really have to decide how you will use it. If just for driving, I would go for nuvi. my 2c

Any suggestions as to where to purchase the nuvi in BKK?

If you plan to use mostly in a car, you could go for nuvi 200. Price: 14.700,- and includes the ESRI map of Thailand (City Navigator - please check for version; the newest one is V.8).

If you go for a PDA, hm, the cheapest with a GPS will cost you around 17.000,- Baht and most probably will not have the same, detailed map as from ESRI.

You really have to decide how you will use it. If just for driving, I would go for nuvi. my 2c

Any suggestions as to where to purchase the nuvi in BKK?

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