I began using a ViaMichelin GPS about 5 years ago. The amount of anxiety driving around has diminished by a huge amount since I started using it. I no longer have to check the map after every turn. I do many tunings in the evening, and using this tool is invaluable for navigation at night. If I make a wrong turn, it immediately routes me around so I don't have to worry about where to turn. If I need to find a store, gas station, market or other place, I can search it in the GPS. That feature is worth the cost of a GPS if you're in an unfamliar place. I sometimes use my wife's Garmin, which also includes bluetooth so I can talk while I drive. The price of GPS devices is going down, and it's almost a necessity these days. I honestly don't know how I did without it. You can find many refurbished devices for a good price, and some offer traffic rerouting when the roads are clogged for an accident or something. Updating is good if you can afford it, or you just call the customer for directions when it's not shown. FWIW. Paul McCloud San diego ----- Original Message ----- From: Matthew Todd To: pianotech at ptg.org Sent: 11/26/2009 5:34:26 PM Subject: Re: [pianotech] maps or GPS I bought my Garmin in 2007, and it came with a FREE map update. (They still come that way too, last I checked). You really don't need to update but once every two years. I just recently went online and got my 2010 update for FREE. I figure after another two years, instead of updating, I will just buy a new one. Plus it is convenient instead of the old fashioned maps. If your customer stands you up, and you've got some time to burn, you can either punch in the next customers address, or a point of interest to get you wherever you want to go. Much simplier for me than trying to plot a course on a map, or having pre-printed mapquest directions, in which case, you are out of luck. Matthew Sent via Garmin Nuvi Mobile Device --- On Thu, 11/26/09, wimblees at aol.com <wimblees at aol.com> wrote: From: wimblees at aol.com <wimblees at aol.com> Subject: Re: [pianotech] maps or GPS To: pianotech at ptg.org Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 7:25 PM Plus, it costs $139 for Garmin last time I looked to update. 97% accurate although, It's for this reason I didn't buy a GPS. I prefer the old fashioned street guides. There was a very good one in St. Louis, and there is a very one for Oahu. I have found them to be very accurate, and it only costs $15.0. It last about a year before the much used pages tear out. I also look at it when I'm waiting for a customer so that I can get better acquainted with the island. And, it's one less electronic devise to learn. Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT Piano Tuner/Technician 94-505 Kealakaa Str. Mililani, Oahu, HI 96789 808-349-2943 www.Bleespiano.com Author of: The Business of Piano Tuning available from Potter Press www.pianotuning.com -----Original Message----- From: Gerald Groot <tunerboy3 at comcast.net> To: pianotech at ptg.org Sent: Thu, Nov 26, 2009 9:10 am Subject: Re: [pianotech] maps or GPS I did 3 years ago. The only disadvantage I can think of is the new streets and sub divisions that are built afterward. They don't show up on the GPS unless you update it yearly which I do not do. I did for the first year because it was included in the cost however, even then it did not update all of the latest sub developments where I live. Plus, it costs $139 for Garmin last time I looked to update. 97% accurate although, I hear some people drive into rivers and lakes because it says "turn here." Jer -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of James Grebe Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 12:48 PM To: Pianotech Subject: [pianotech] maps or GPS Howe many of you have given up use of street guides and went to GPS? James James Grebe Est. 1962 Piano Tuner-Technician Creator of Custom Caster Cups Creator of fine Writing Instruments www.grebepiano.com 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 (314) 608-4137 Become what you believe _____ avast! Antivirus <http://www.avast.com> : Outbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 091126-1, 11/26/2009 Tested on: 11/26/2009 2:10:08 PM avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2009 ALWIL Software. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20091126/7a329190/attachment.htm>
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