Travel
I didn't get a chance to post yesterday as I spent several hours with Autumn & Arianna while Jeannie & Donald went to a movie. When they came back from the movie we went to the bike trail where Jeannie & I walked and the others rode their bikes. We covered about 5 miles and I was really tired by the time I got home. I don't think I even ate much - a sandwich was about all I could manage, and went to bed early!
This morning I went to Costco and bought a new GPS. Yes, I just jumped through hoops getting an update to my old one to work, but it never did. I would get a quick glimpse when I turned it on, then the screen would go blank and I might hear something from "The Voice", but then it would all go blank and quiet with a green stripe going across the bottom of the screen and a notice that maps were being loaded. That went on over and over again.
I have the new one ready to try out and will do that in a few minutes. It's irritating to think that I have to add all the saved addresses again. I dislike touch screens to begin with and it will take me forever to just get my kids entered in the "Favorites". This is my last attempt with Garmin, and I have the feeling I should have just gone straight to Magellen ($$$).
I was debating with myself on going without a GPS, but thinking of the long drive ahead of me I just don't want to be without it. I could never get around any large and unfamiliar cities without help. At one time I could and then I noticed that by the time I read the signs overhead I've passed the turn! I always try to bypass the cities anyway, but there is no way to get through the midwest without driving through or around a large metropolitan area.
Half an hour ago I was ready to cry, but now I'm ready to curse! I plug the damn thing into the cigarette lighter and the screen is so dim I can't read it. I strained my eyes to find they wanted me to select a language. While scrolling through the languages I must have inadvertently let my finger touch "Slovenian" and from then on everything was in Slovenian on a dimly lit display, not that I could understand a word of it.
I came inside and connected to my computer but couldn't find any help. I called Customer Service but they don't give help on Sunday. I went back out to the car to try again. Glory be! I'm seeing English here, but it's so damn dim that I can't read half of it. Of course these things come with no instructions - just a diagram of a blue stick man to show you how to get started, and I think I will now have to download the entire Manual (no doubt in sixteen languages) to get an answer. I am so frustrated with technology and wonder why Garmin can't spring for a small several-page instruction on basic operation of the device, adjusting display, etc.
At least my AAA maps are in English, and I may have to rely on them after all!
UPDATE:
My son, Joe, came by with his two girls, and he listened to me rant and rave about the GPS. A little later when the girls were occupied with something else, he asked "So what is with your new GPS?" He sat in the car and turned it on, found the Settings option and lightened the display, and also made some other changes that I wanted. I guess the screen was so dim and my limited vision couldn't even see the Settings option or I could have changed it myself. Thanks to Joe! I don't know what I would do without my 4 kids who continually help me out with one thing or another.
- "new" Gps, Etc.
I tried out the new maps on the old GPS yesterday, and have mixed feelings about it. The screen looks different for some reason, or I should say the maps look different. I still have my old friend, "Lee", the Aussie male voice, calling out...
- Updating My Garmin Gps
This is going to be quick. I've been trying since yesterday to update the maps on my Garmin GPS. Today I talked to a tech at Garmin who ran me through the whole process to the point I had started to install the new file. He told...
- Trying To Buy A Book!
It shouldn't be this difficult. I went to the Barnes & Noble bookstore this morning but didn't find the books I wanted. I then went over to the crossword puzzle section and all they had were easy puzzles, so I left. I did a computer...
- Quiet Sunday
I haven't done anything today except to take back the radio I bought a couple of days ago. I didn't like the static and just didn't want to fool around trying to figure out where I might put it. I should just buy a good digital...
- Older Than Dirt!
Jeannie called this afternoon and asked if I wanted to come over for a while, as they were going to sit out by the pool while the girls were playing in the water. When I got there I found Alyssa (Joe & Sarah's daughter) had spent the night. ...
Travel
New GPS & Update
I didn't get a chance to post yesterday as I spent several hours with Autumn & Arianna while Jeannie & Donald went to a movie. When they came back from the movie we went to the bike trail where Jeannie & I walked and the others rode their bikes. We covered about 5 miles and I was really tired by the time I got home. I don't think I even ate much - a sandwich was about all I could manage, and went to bed early!
This morning I went to Costco and bought a new GPS. Yes, I just jumped through hoops getting an update to my old one to work, but it never did. I would get a quick glimpse when I turned it on, then the screen would go blank and I might hear something from "The Voice", but then it would all go blank and quiet with a green stripe going across the bottom of the screen and a notice that maps were being loaded. That went on over and over again.
I have the new one ready to try out and will do that in a few minutes. It's irritating to think that I have to add all the saved addresses again. I dislike touch screens to begin with and it will take me forever to just get my kids entered in the "Favorites". This is my last attempt with Garmin, and I have the feeling I should have just gone straight to Magellen ($$$).
I was debating with myself on going without a GPS, but thinking of the long drive ahead of me I just don't want to be without it. I could never get around any large and unfamiliar cities without help. At one time I could and then I noticed that by the time I read the signs overhead I've passed the turn! I always try to bypass the cities anyway, but there is no way to get through the midwest without driving through or around a large metropolitan area.
Half an hour ago I was ready to cry, but now I'm ready to curse! I plug the damn thing into the cigarette lighter and the screen is so dim I can't read it. I strained my eyes to find they wanted me to select a language. While scrolling through the languages I must have inadvertently let my finger touch "Slovenian" and from then on everything was in Slovenian on a dimly lit display, not that I could understand a word of it.
I came inside and connected to my computer but couldn't find any help. I called Customer Service but they don't give help on Sunday. I went back out to the car to try again. Glory be! I'm seeing English here, but it's so damn dim that I can't read half of it. Of course these things come with no instructions - just a diagram of a blue stick man to show you how to get started, and I think I will now have to download the entire Manual (no doubt in sixteen languages) to get an answer. I am so frustrated with technology and wonder why Garmin can't spring for a small several-page instruction on basic operation of the device, adjusting display, etc.
At least my AAA maps are in English, and I may have to rely on them after all!
UPDATE:
My son, Joe, came by with his two girls, and he listened to me rant and rave about the GPS. A little later when the girls were occupied with something else, he asked "So what is with your new GPS?" He sat in the car and turned it on, found the Settings option and lightened the display, and also made some other changes that I wanted. I guess the screen was so dim and my limited vision couldn't even see the Settings option or I could have changed it myself. Thanks to Joe! I don't know what I would do without my 4 kids who continually help me out with one thing or another.
- "new" Gps, Etc.
I tried out the new maps on the old GPS yesterday, and have mixed feelings about it. The screen looks different for some reason, or I should say the maps look different. I still have my old friend, "Lee", the Aussie male voice, calling out...
- Updating My Garmin Gps
This is going to be quick. I've been trying since yesterday to update the maps on my Garmin GPS. Today I talked to a tech at Garmin who ran me through the whole process to the point I had started to install the new file. He told...
- Trying To Buy A Book!
It shouldn't be this difficult. I went to the Barnes & Noble bookstore this morning but didn't find the books I wanted. I then went over to the crossword puzzle section and all they had were easy puzzles, so I left. I did a computer...
- Quiet Sunday
I haven't done anything today except to take back the radio I bought a couple of days ago. I didn't like the static and just didn't want to fool around trying to figure out where I might put it. I should just buy a good digital...
- Older Than Dirt!
Jeannie called this afternoon and asked if I wanted to come over for a while, as they were going to sit out by the pool while the girls were playing in the water. When I got there I found Alyssa (Joe & Sarah's daughter) had spent the night. ...