GPS Why not a smart phone?

I run a GPS as the cell phone does not always have a signal.
But I also always look at map to know where I'm going as the GPS doesn't always want to go the best route.

My Tom-Tom was given to me years ago by our kids....to use on our cross country trips. A simple "better use it or else" situation. No problem...I use it as intended.
Just got a 'droid tablet with google maps. Experimenting with it, some routes are different than the Tom-Tom...but OK. It is also "bluetooth"...my radio is "bluetooth"...so I gotta figure out how to connect them. IF they are compatible. Right know, experimenting with the tablet, after a certain amount of time, the screen DOES go off...but at every turn, comes back on.
Not aware that VERIZON charges for "voice gps" on the tablet...just air time.

I got a GPS when my phone carrier started charging for voice GPS. And as mentioned above, the screen is too small to really see the details and I certainly wasn't going to pay for the ability to add voice directions.

My phone's screen also fades out after a few minutes if I don't touch the screen or a button - so while driving, it can be a pain.

But I've never been a fan of multi-use electronics. If you use your cell phone for music, GPS, camera, and phone, and the screen goes bad - you have nothing. With a separate GPS, mp3, phone and camera, if the screen on the phone goes bad, I can still use all the other functions.

The DW (aka the navigator) thought her smart phone was just fine, but after two years of it she now wants a tablet with cell connection.

The phones are too small for detail. Then if you set them down for a moment and pick it back up, you always touch something, either a button or the screen that you shouldn't have and then it takes you several minutes to get back to the screen you want and meanwhile you've gone by a turn. It all gets much worse if the driver is trying to use a smart phone in traffic.

Buy something like the Garmin 760 with a large screen and mount it so the driver can see and listen to it if they want. Why create stress trying to use a phone as a GPS.

And a GPS for truck or MHs like the 760 will help keep you off of roads you might not want to be on with a large MH - single lane roads, small bridges, low overheads, weight restrictions, etc. A cell phone won't do that.

And using the phone as a GPS with Google maps drains the battery rather quickly.

Get a phone to talk on and do emails or texts, get a GPS if you want a GPS..........

Bill

the required data package to use a Phone as a GPS is the problem. the cost of a data package will be expensive.

Was thinking of getting a stand alone because i hate my iphone gps and i hate when people call and text which i get way to much. My iphone has gave me wrong directions or would take me the long way. Im tech savy too and i love it just hate my phone for direction, i like everthing else that i can do with it.