Recently there was a gathering of the women in the family for a bridal shower. I drove my wife, mother-in-law, and daughter to the address. I was told that men would be allowed in at 3 p.m. That was okay with me, because I suspected that cake and ice cream would be served then.
I went to my automotive gps and selected the shopping menu. I typed in GUN and a list of businesses with GUN in the name came up with mileage and directions. A couple of the business had closed their door, but there was enough open that it helped me spend time. Other option words are FISHING, and SPORTING goods.
There will be leads that may not be of interested. One lead took me to a great shop that specializes in Paint Ball guns and everything that goes with the sport you can think of.
After driving a few hours to get to this area, and more time spent running around and looking I needed a snack. I still had a couple hours to go and what if there was no cake and ice cream to be had?
I went to the food option in the gps, and then to fast food. There was a Wendy’s about a mile from my location. The gps auto routed me to Wendy’s and a large chocolate shake was ordered up.
When you use this search method you will need to sort out false leads, such as Joe Gunn Tire shop. It is my assumption that Joe is in the Tire business, not the gun business.
As my automotive gps ages the maps, and other information grow stale, I have a few options, pay to update the mapping software, live with it, buy the newest model, or buy a new highly discounted, high end gps that has been or about to be discontinue. I can go on line and compare features to make sure that I am getting what I want.
Currently with the economy in the dumps, and new construction shut down the maps are aging slowly. I am aware of about a mile of road opening in my area since I purchased my unit last year. No big impact. The search for different business is quickly growing stale. Many businesses are now vacant buildings. Car dealerships with their service bays are now ghost towns. The newest units on store shelves right now are out of date when it comes to the business community.
An update of City Navigator for a Garmin automotive gps cost about $100. I am thinking of waiting two to three more years and then ordering a discounted unit with the features I want with an updated map. Most of the units have features that many buyers will not use. They will power-up and hit the road. I would like a unit that has the ability to create Routes. Using a Routing tool I can better plan a trip, rather than using the default selected by the unit.
The other day when I was looking at features on different units I mentioned to the wife that I would like one that allows the user to create routes. She gave me the green light to get one, but I think I need to let my current unit age a little.
*I understand that Garmin will update maps with 90-days of purchase.
