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Beanbags for Garmin GPS

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Neville MADDEN

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Jul 22, 2012, 9:51:07 PM7/22/12
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Morning everybody,

My wife and I arriving in the US - LA on Friday morning and will stop
over the first night in Santa Clarita, just to the north of LA.

I tried to have a beanbag mount delivered to Walmart and Best Buy stores
near there but the ordering system never considered that someone outside
the US may want to pick up in store in the US! So it doesn't work.....
DFCs

Both their catalogues show nil store stock so I'm wondering where to go -
pronto. My first thought was a truck stop. Or do I jusy stick the Nuvi
GPS on the winscreen of my rented car for 5 weeks and if the cops don't
like it tell them in my Aussie accent that I don't understand what they
are talking about!

Thoughts and suggestions.

Neville
Queensland
Australia

Owen McKenzie

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Jul 22, 2012, 10:33:56 PM7/22/12
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I bought a friction mount that I like much better than the beanbags I
had before here:
http://www.staples.com/Garmin-Portable-Friction-Mount/product_803926

--

Owen McKenzie
Posting from Pigeon Forge, TN

We were promised hope and change.
We got hype and blame.

nob...@nada.com

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Jul 23, 2012, 12:33:32 AM7/23/12
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It doesn't lose it's stickiness like the bean bag.

who where

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Jul 23, 2012, 1:00:24 AM7/23/12
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Unless you have a passion for a beanbag mount, I'd just stick it on
the windscreen (it's legal in CA if you stick it in the designated
areas).

We just returned late June from stateside, ten weeks in hire cars all
up the eastern "third" and only used the screen mount on our Nuvi.

Scott J

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Jul 23, 2012, 8:39:17 AM7/23/12
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"Neville MADDEN" wrote:
>>Or do I jusy stick the Nuvi GPS on the winscreen of my rented car for 5
>>weeks...

IMO, the beanbag is best. It allows you to easily hide the GPS when the car
is unattended. Otherwise, there is a good chance someone will bust out a
window and steal it.


Sunshine

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Jul 23, 2012, 10:43:44 AM7/23/12
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Like someone else said recently, now that so many people have a nav
unit, the incentive to steal is drying up, somewhat.

Carl Heinz

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Jul 23, 2012, 12:10:26 PM7/23/12
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On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:00:24 +0800, who where <no...@home.net> wrote:

>Unless you have a passion for a beanbag mount, I'd just stick it on
>the windscreen (it's legal in CA if you stick it in the designated
>areas).

I wasn't aware of this. It had been a total ban. What are the designated
areas? Thanks.
--
Carl Heinz
cfhe...@charter.net
(Remove number)

Scott J

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Jul 23, 2012, 4:16:11 PM7/23/12
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Still, thieves will steal anything that can be seen through the windows,
even loose change. If Neville leaves that Nuvi attached to the dash or
windshield for 5 weeks, the chances are better than 50/50 it will be
stolen, IMO.

Ed Pawlowski

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Jul 23, 2012, 5:36:51 PM7/23/12
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On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:10:26 -0700, Carl Heinz <cfhe...@charter.net>
wrote:

>On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:00:24 +0800, who where <no...@home.net> wrote:
>
>>Unless you have a passion for a beanbag mount, I'd just stick it on
>>the windscreen (it's legal in CA if you stick it in the designated
>>areas).
>
>I wasn't aware of this. It had been a total ban. What are the designated
>areas? Thanks.


Down low where it is not obstructive. Best place is around where
inspection stickers go, lower left. I'm sure they have more formal
specs on it.

Gene E. Bloch

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Jul 23, 2012, 5:42:12 PM7/23/12
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On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:10:26 -0700, Carl Heinz wrote:

> On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:00:24 +0800, who where <no...@home.net> wrote:
>
>>Unless you have a passion for a beanbag mount, I'd just stick it on
>>the windscreen (it's legal in CA if you stick it in the designated
>>areas).
>
> I wasn't aware of this. It had been a total ban. What are the designated
> areas? Thanks.

From another answer of mine to an earlier post of yours:

<QUOTE>
Actually they can be used, but only in the extreme lower corners.

The areas defined on the two corners are of different sizes, but I
forget the numbers. They aren't large, though.
</QUOTE>

You might consider to going to http://dmv.ca.gov/ to find the exact
rules.

Your earlier post:
Message-ID: <5fao08p353i4qgbc6...@4ax.com>

My reply:
Message-ID: <1ei6eiysjqid5$.dlg@stumbler1907.invalid>

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

Mike Lane

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Jul 23, 2012, 7:16:22 PM7/23/12
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I quite agree. A used satnav is worth next to nothing these days. I never
worry too much about leaving mine in the car for a few hours. When I leave
the car overnight outside I remove the unit but usually leave the beanbag in
place.

I would be more worried about wheels or tyres being stolen than a satnav, if
I left the car in a really dodgy area.


--
Mike Lane
UK North Yorkshire
mike_lane at mac dot com

who where

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Jul 24, 2012, 2:58:06 AM7/24/12
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On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:10:26 -0700, Carl Heinz <cfhe...@charter.net>
wrote:

>On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:00:24 +0800, who where <no...@home.net> wrote:
>
>>Unless you have a passion for a beanbag mount, I'd just stick it on
>>the windscreen (it's legal in CA if you stick it in the designated
>>areas).
>
>I wasn't aware of this. It had been a total ban. What are the designated
>areas? Thanks.

To quote from: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm there
is an exemption for a number of categories of "obstructions", the
relevant one of which appears to be:

(12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted
in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest
removed from the driver or in a five-inch square in the lower corner
of the windshield nearest to the driver and outside of an airbag
deployment zone, if the system is used only for door-to-door
navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated.

Of course, all GPS car-nav is *is* door-to-door (ahem!).

nob...@nada.com

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Jul 24, 2012, 12:39:40 PM7/24/12
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What inspection stickers? California doesn't do vehicle inspections
except for smog and that is reported directly to the DMV before you
can buy/renew plates.

Linea Recta

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Jul 25, 2012, 8:47:14 AM7/25/12
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"Neville MADDEN" <nrma...@yahoo.com> schreef in bericht
news:XnsA0997891731E7...@94.75.214.90...
May I ask, what is a "beanbag" in this context?



--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

Bert

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Jul 25, 2012, 9:36:40 AM7/25/12
to
In news:500feada$0$6909$e4fe...@news2.news.xs4all.nl "Linea Recta"
<bleep...@bleep.invalid> wrote:

>
> May I ask, what is a "beanbag" in this context?

It's what garmin now calls a "friction mount."

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=861

--
be...@iphouse.com St. Paul, MN

Douglas C. Neidermeyer

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Jul 25, 2012, 9:55:04 AM7/25/12
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On 7/25/12 9:36 AM, Bert wrote:
> In news:500feada$0$6909$e4fe...@news2.news.xs4all.nl "Linea Recta"
> <bleep...@bleep.invalid> wrote:
>
>>
>> May I ask, what is a "beanbag" in this context?
>
> It's what garmin now calls a "friction mount."
>
> https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=861
>

Ya gotta love these people-- $40 for a mount for a $90 device!

A little bit different marketing strategy than the cell phone/iPad/iPod
case folks where the more expensive the device, the more they charge for
the case...

--
The more is given, the less the people will work for themselves and the
less they work, the more their poverty will increase.
--Leo Tolstoy


Lee

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Jul 25, 2012, 10:03:08 AM7/25/12
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I have been using one with my Garmin Street Pilot C530 for years and
it has not moved once in that time. It stays where I put it. Now I
hope when I decide to replace the old gps that the new one will fit
on there.


Bert wrote:
> Innews:500feada$0$6909$e4fe...@news2.news.xs4all.nl "Linea Recta"
--
Lee US Army Retired
2004 Georgie Boy Cruise Master
Skype: lee.g.bray and logitech

Linea Recta

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Jul 25, 2012, 10:30:39 AM7/25/12
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"Bert" <be...@iphouse.com> schreef in bericht
news:XnsA09B5799262...@216.250.188.141...
> In news:500feada$0$6909$e4fe...@news2.news.xs4all.nl "Linea Recta"
> <bleep...@bleep.invalid> wrote:
>
>>
>> May I ask, what is a "beanbag" in this context?
>
> It's what garmin now calls a "friction mount."
>
> https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=861
>
> --


Hard to make out how it works from the minuscule picture. But I suppose it
contans a weight?
Is this better than a suction mount?

Linea Recta

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Jul 25, 2012, 10:32:29 AM7/25/12
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"Lee" <lbra...@bellsouth.net> schreef in bericht
news:x0TPr.49332$s91....@news.usenetserver.com...
>I have been using one with my Garmin Street Pilot C530 for years and
> it has not moved once in that time. It stays where I put it. Now I
> hope when I decide to replace the old gps that the new one will fit
> on there.
>


From marketing point of view I suppose it won't fit. A different fitting for
every type of device...

Howard Lester

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Jul 25, 2012, 1:07:25 PM7/25/12
to
"Linea Recta" wrote

>> It's what garmin now calls a "friction mount."

> Hard to make out how it works from the minuscule picture. But I suppose it
> contans a weight?
> Is this better than a suction mount?

The "bag" base is weighted, yes, and works different from a suction mount.
The friction mount won't fall off the window or leave a mark.

nob...@nada.com

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Jul 25, 2012, 2:27:37 PM7/25/12
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On Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:55:04 -0400, "Douglas C. Neidermeyer"
<s...@arms.omega.faber.edu> wrote:

>On 7/25/12 9:36 AM, Bert wrote:
>> In news:500feada$0$6909$e4fe...@news2.news.xs4all.nl "Linea Recta"
>> <bleep...@bleep.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> May I ask, what is a "beanbag" in this context?
>>
>> It's what garmin now calls a "friction mount."
>>
>> https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=861
>>
>
>Ya gotta love these people-- $40 for a mount for a $90 device!


Try EBay

Mike Lane

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Jul 25, 2012, 2:45:24 PM7/25/12
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Bert wrote on Jul 25, 2012:

> In news:500feada$0$6909$e4fe...@news2.news.xs4all.nl "Linea Recta"
> <bleep...@bleep.invalid> wrote:
>
>>
>> May I ask, what is a "beanbag" in this context?
>
> It's what garmin now calls a "friction mount."
>
> https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=861
>
>

I ordered a 'Friction Mount' for my Montana to use it in the car. It's one of
these:
<http://tinyurl.com/d9kwfau>
It's nowhere near as good as the old type of beanbag. It doesn't slide around
or topple over, but the base doesn't mold itself to the surface it sits on,
so it tends to rock as the car moves.

Gene E. Bloch

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Jul 25, 2012, 3:05:21 PM7/25/12
to
I have one; The base is deformable, so you can mold it to the surface.
But it's fairly stiff, so it requires human muscle power. It also won't
form very sharp curves, so it might not fit as well as one might like.

Bert

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Jul 25, 2012, 3:43:13 PM7/25/12
to
In news:0001HW.CC35FD54...@news.virginmedia.com Mike Lane
<mike.lan...@ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:

> I ordered a 'Friction Mount' for my Montana to use it in the car. It's
> one of these:
><http://tinyurl.com/d9kwfau>
> It's nowhere near as good as the old type of beanbag. It doesn't slide
> around or topple over, but the base doesn't mold itself to the surface
> it sits on, so it tends to rock as the car moves.

They seem to sell two very different things both called "portable
friction mount."

One looks just like the old beanbag that I've been using since I had an
eMap:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=63953

The other looks like it might be what you're talking about:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=69365

They both come with a gooseneck, although the gooseneck appears to be
permanently connected to the base of the second type.

Saw one of the beanbag models in a Target store this morning for the
low, low price of $45.00.

Sunshine

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Jul 25, 2012, 4:52:53 PM7/25/12
to
On 25 Jul 2012 19:43:13 GMT, Bert <be...@iphouse.com> wrote:

>In news:0001HW.CC35FD54...@news.virginmedia.com Mike Lane
><mike.lan...@ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> I ordered a 'Friction Mount' for my Montana to use it in the car. It's
>> one of these:
>><http://tinyurl.com/d9kwfau>
>> It's nowhere near as good as the old type of beanbag. It doesn't slide
>> around or topple over, but the base doesn't mold itself to the surface
>> it sits on, so it tends to rock as the car moves.
>
>They seem to sell two very different things both called "portable
>friction mount."
>
>One looks just like the old beanbag that I've been using since I had an
>eMap:
>
>https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=63953

That's what I've been using for a bunch of years now. It cost me just
under $20 at Amazon at the time and has worked perfectly ever since.

>The other looks like it might be what you're talking about:
>
>https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=69365

I haven't seen that type, so no experience with it.

>They both come with a gooseneck, although the gooseneck appears to be
>permanently connected to the base of the second type.
>
>Saw one of the beanbag models in a Target store this morning for the
>low, low price of $45.00.

Both have a suggested retail price of about $25. The Target price
looks ridiculous.

Bert

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Jul 25, 2012, 6:56:51 PM7/25/12
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In news:ivm018l64oitlm9d6...@4ax.com Sunshine
Yep. But even NewEgg, my absolutely favorite place to buy anything
electronic, has priced it at $29.99, "was 39.99."

Quite strange.

Sunshine

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Jul 25, 2012, 8:22:27 PM7/25/12
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Agreed, it's strange. Maybe the 'beans' for the bean bag are in
temporary short supply, causing the price to spike.

In other words, I have no idea.

BTW, Newegg is also my 'go to' place for anything electronic.

nob...@nada.com

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Jul 25, 2012, 9:19:45 PM7/25/12
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On Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:45:24 +0100, Mike Lane
My experience is exactly the opposite. The new version sticks better
and you can mold it. The old beanbag ones will eventually get dirty
enough on the bottom to slide and washing fails afte 4-5 times.

Sunshine

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Jul 25, 2012, 10:01:37 PM7/25/12
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My beanbag mount is coming up on 5 years old and hasn't required
washing yet. Am I just too neat and fastidious?

Mike Lane

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Jul 26, 2012, 5:22:49 AM7/26/12
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I've tried that but I've found it impossible to make it exactly fit the curve
of the dashboard (which is concave at the point where I want to place it). So
it always rocks slightly and vibrates when driving - very annoying.

pe...@never.here

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Jul 26, 2012, 7:34:21 AM7/26/12
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On Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:19:45 -0700, nob...@nada.com wrote:

Over what sort of period would that be? When did you start
experiencing problems.

I've been using mine since Nov 08 and no signs of slipping yet. Have I
got that pleasure still to come?
--
Pete

Gene E. Bloch

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Jul 26, 2012, 2:06:16 PM7/26/12
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Sorry - I should have explicitly mentioned that the lack of good fit
leads to vibration for me as well, but as it happens, it doesn't bother
me very much :-)

Obviously you are aware of that (and thanks for pointing it out), but my
leaving that out doesn't help other readers with their decisions...

nob...@nada.com

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Jul 26, 2012, 4:57:43 PM7/26/12
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Within 6 months and we don't drive much, Thats abour 4,000 miles for
us. Garmin gets called about it often enough to have ready solution -
wash with dish washing detergent. I'm sure it defends on the material
the dash is mad from. Our cars are Hondas and pretty slick.

Quick acceleration would put it in my lap or on the floor. A hard turn
could do something similar. It happened more and more frequently and
Garmin told me the only solution was to replace it with a new, one, so
I tried the new one that's sticky and it works fine. Never goes
anywhere. It does vibrate some, but I attribute the mostly to the
larger Ennui 1450.

Yo$$1960

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Jul 27, 2012, 3:31:06 PM7/27/12
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On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:16:11 -0700, Scott J wrote:

> even loose change. If Neville leaves that Nuvi attached to the dash or

Over here, windscreen (windshield) mounts are most often of the suction
cup variety. It's probably the same Stateside. It's easy enough to
remove the base and GPS, and store out of site when you're not in the
vehicle. I would advise cleaning off any visible sign of the cup being
attached (usually a ring the size of the base) to reduce signs of the GPS
even more. Also, and this may seem obvious, but removing the power cable
completely and storing that along with the GPS reduces signs of ownership
even further.

> windshield for 5 weeks, the chances are better than 50/50 it will be
> stolen, IMO.

With the above advice heeded, the vehicle shouldn't be any more of a
target than any other.

--
Regards _
/ ) "The blindingly obvious is
/ _)rad never immediately apparent"
I'll be the rubbish you'll be the bin
Love Song - The Damned

Sunshine

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Jul 27, 2012, 3:41:28 PM7/27/12
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On Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:31:06 +0100, Yo$$1960 <br...@yoss1960.ukfsn.org>
wrote:

>Over here, windscreen (windshield) mounts are most often of the suction
>cup variety. It's probably the same Stateside.

I think you're right, and I think it's because that's the mounting
system that comes in the box, as crappy as it is. When I bought a Nuvi
several years ago, I proactively bought a bean bag mount so that when
the Nuvi arrived, I already had a superior mounting system. Thus, the
suction mount never left the box it came in.

Yo$$1960

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Jul 31, 2012, 10:09:05 AM7/31/12
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On Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:41:28 -0500, Sunshine wrote:

> I think you're right, and I think it's because that's the mounting system
> that comes in the box, as crappy as it is. When I bought a Nuvi several

There's nothing wrong with them in principal, AFAICS. The trouble is,
they don't mount well on curved surfaces. IME, all winscreens
have a curve in at least one plane. Sometimes two. Legislation in
various places means they have to be mounted where the screen has the most
curve. Ah, the irony. Fortunately, in the UK we aren't encumbered by
such legislation, so I can place my GPS approximately on the centre line
of the screen. I prefer it there. It also has the benefit of being
accessible by any passenger (read: the wife) should the need arise to
alter any settings or enter any data. Therefore, I don't have to stop.
Unless I want to, of course. :-)

> years ago, I proactively bought a bean bag mount so that when the Nuvi
> arrived, I already had a superior mounting system. Thus, the suction mount
> never left the box it came in.

I've never liked the idea of the beanbag mount; I just don't like things
laying around on the dashboard. I tend to go for an air vent mount
instead.

A pet peeve of mine: Why all the widescreen models? I don't need info
about what's to the side of me, it's the road(s) ahead that are of concern.

--
Regards _
/ ) "The blindingly obvious is
/ _)rad never immediately apparent"
We don't need no-one to tell us what's right or wrong
The Modern World - The Jam

Mike Lane

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Jul 31, 2012, 2:50:38 PM7/31/12
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Yo$$1960 wrote on Jul 31, 2012:

> A pet peeve of mine: Why all the widescreen models? I don't need info
> about what's to the side of me, it's the road(s) ahead that are of concern.

That's OK if you only ever use the unit in 3D mode. I often use mine in
normal map mode or 'North Up' as Garmin has it - I like to know where I am on
the map. Also when planning a route you need to use a 2D map mode. In these
cases the larger wide screen display is a definite advantage.

Yo$$1960

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Aug 3, 2012, 8:50:49 AM8/3/12
to
On Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:50:38 +0100, Mike Lane wrote:

> on the map. Also when planning a route you need to use a 2D map mode. In
> these cases the larger wide screen display is a definite advantage.

When planning a route, I don't use a satnav, I use maps.

I use the satnav to *avoid* planning routes. :-)

--
Regards _
/ ) "The blindingly obvious is
/ _)rad never immediately apparent"
I'm not here for your entertainment
U & Ur Hand - P!nk

Mike Lane

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Aug 3, 2012, 9:18:28 AM8/3/12
to
Yo$$1960 wrote on Aug 3, 2012:

> On Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:50:38 +0100, Mike Lane wrote:
>
>> on the map. Also when planning a route you need to use a 2D map mode. In
>> these cases the larger wide screen display is a definite advantage.
>
> When planning a route, I don't use a satnav, I use maps.

So do I, but having planned it I then want to transfer it to the satnav.
However this is done, at some stage I need to view the route on the unit, for
which I need a 2D display.
>
> I use the satnav to *avoid* planning routes. :-)
>
I don't. I want to know what route I am going to follow and to be able to
alter it if necessary.

pe...@never.here

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Aug 28, 2012, 7:34:29 AM8/28/12
to
Thanks for the reply and apologies for the delay - just got back after
4 weeks away where I covered about 1200 miles using the sat-nav during
most of them, Still no signs of slipping :-) The cars my present
sat-nav and beanbag have been used in have been Ford Focus.


>Quick acceleration would put it in my lap or on the floor. A hard turn
>could do something similar. It happened more and more frequently and
>Garmin told me the only solution was to replace it with a new, one, so
>I tried the new one that's sticky and it works fine. Never goes
>anywhere. It does vibrate some, but I attribute the mostly to the
>larger Ennui 1450.

As I say, never encountered the problem and have been using the
current beanbag since Nov 08. As you suggest the make of car, or more
likely the materials used in their build accounts for our different
experiences.
--
Pete

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