Do You Use High-Tech for Local Find, Maps, Directions?

[Dravyk]

Do use any devices to either find places locally or get info on them or to get you there?

For instance, looking for a bar or restaruant you don't know -- and you are outside already (so we've knocked off looking in phone books or the web at home), do you now use OnStar? Or a service like Tom-Tom? Or flip your cell and call up a place for search and maps?

Ok, how about a place you do know -- but you're on the road, not totally sure where it's at or how to get there. Same thing, car service like OnStar? A cellphone service (maybe calling Yahoo, Google or MapQuest to find how to get there?)

And lastly, now you are home and thinking of going out ... Call up friends? Look for restaurant review or map to or driving directions to the restaurant online?

Ok one more thing ... if you don't now ... what's stopping you and would you use it or plan to use it in the near future? Do you see value in it?

[Dale_Ryan]

I am always confident with a map and a compass whenever I go to new places.

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by Dale_Ryan

I am always confident with a map and a compass whenever I go to new places.

I'll take that to be one "no" response.

[Inabon]

no man i use "ask the guy in the corner where the fuck this place is" technology.

and i usually get well you go down the street and where you see a mango tree make a right

go to the 3rd bulding make a left

(if the mango tree was cut you are fucked)

[Peaches]

I use Mapquest or Hellpuppy. Hellpuppy is usually better because he includes things like "If you pass such and such, you've gone too far"

[sarettah]

I use yahoo maps from home for almost anything now, long distance or local.

On the road (at least until the laptop got stolen) I would use yahoo during the evening from a hotel to plan the next day.

I have OnStar but just the basic package, so I don't get all the fancy instructions and such.

I also have a gps unit in the truck that I am finding myself becoming more and more reliant on

[PornoDoggy]

Around here, I ask my girlfriend's brother for directions.

Then I ask my girlfriend where the so-and-so barn is, only to find that they so-and-so family all died off, and the barn burned down ten years ago.

[Red]

Anytime I'm going somewhere for the first time, I mapquest or google map it.
I've been doing it for years.

[TheEnforcer]

I sometimes use mapquest, sometimes I ask my sister, and sometimes I just look in the phone book maps.

[justb]

I map it out before getting in the car

[Dravyk]

So then ... what do you folks think about these car gadgets that tell you or map you how to get somewhere?

And what do you think about the ability to open up your cellphone, go someplace, either tell it where you are or having it automatically pick up where you are by GPS and then tell you, for instance, what Italian restaurants are near you, how they rate, and how to get there?

Useful or wouldn't use?

[Peaches]

I looked at getting a GPS but for $2500, it seemed more logical for me just to keep using Mapquest and friends I will probably get one in my next new car though.

[MorganGrayson]

My husband uses MapPoint. (I use the "ask husband to use MapPoint" method.) He prints out the map and off we go.

I also have a Thomas Guide in the car.

When out and decide to go somewhere without knowing where it is, we either use the "oh, heck, let's just drive around until we find it" method, or else pull over and ask somebody.

The absolute best time I ever had asking for directions was when we were going to a concert on Camp Pendleton. The uniform at the gate started with "ok, you go 15 klicks straight..." We actually didn't get a word of it, but it was fun to listen to. (Luckily, there were signs.)

If I someday buy a new car and have the money, I'd love the thing that tells you where you are and where you're going; calls the ambulance for you; all that stuff. I'm sure there will also be amusement value in listening to my husband go into his "government spyware" rant.