This is not a review of either GPS system, it is a basic comparison. For a review of the Belkin BT GPS system, please see the following thread:
Recently Buy.com had a price mistake on the Microsoft Streets and Trips with GPS unit for around $40 shipped. Even though I had the Belkin system, I decided to order it anyway, at least to do a comparison. I knew my friend had this system but I didn’t really get a chance to use his system. After mine showed up my friend and I planed a Thanksgiving road trip and I told him to bring his along. Mine remained sealed in the box.
The Microsoft System includes both the Streets and Trips software and the USB GPS system. The USB cord is long enough to mount far away from the PC and includes a plastic suction cup about 3 inches from the GPS unit. The GPS unit itself is clear, a bit thinner then the Belkin, yet much wider.
My friend informed me that his system does not give him turn by turn direction via a voice, only by displaying it on the screen. This severely hinders the systems usefulness, in my opinion.
On its face, the Microsoft version seems to be a bit more refined. For example, when you plot a route, if you’re online, it will update the map and check for weather and road conditions and re-route if necessary. The GUI looks much more sophisticated and there is a cleaner look to it.
As for the Belkin software…it’s functional, basic, but talks. This means that I don’t need to look at the screen to get around.
The Belkin unit was the one we decided to use to navigate around with because it spoke making our lives easier. When we got to the hotel we ran some tests on both units. We were on floor 6 of what I believe was a 10 to 12 story building.
We booted up both systems, sat at the table near the window, placing both GPS units in the center of the table. The belkin system picked up 4 Sats out of 9, enough to locate a position, obtain our height above sea level, and speed (0 mph). His was not able to pick up any Sats therefore not being able to locate a position.
He then explained to me that the way Microsoft designed the suction cup a bit away from the GPS itself that it does not seem to hold too well to windows. Sure enough when we tried to mount it to the hotel window, it kept on falling down. Obviously the hotel was not moving, I can’t imagine trying this in a moving, shaking, car. Dumb design, no two ways about it. He held the GPS unit up to the window and still could only pick up one or 2 Sats. Our position came up but kept jumping around, it couldn’t quite pinpoint exactly where we were.
Just to see if it was a fluke, we moved my system on the window sill and I was able to pick up 6 out of 9 Sats…even better signal then I had before.
I see a clear winner, but I’ll list the pro’s and con’s of each for you to make an informed decision.
Belkin BT GPS
Pro:
It speaks to you.
It has a better GPS unit.
It is portable, no wires.
Con:
Basic looking software
No real-time updates
Requires BT
~$400 MSRP
Microsoft Streets and Trips GPS
Pro:
More sophisticated looking software.
Real-Time Updates.
USB Compatible
~$130 MSRP
Con:
Does not speak to you
Weak GPS unit
Terrible designed suction cup
