Considering a Nexus 7

GS300 · Feb 24, 2014

I would like to get a tablet for use in my vehicle. The primary usage would be Pandora to replace XM and for use as a GPS. I have the Verizon share plan so I can either hot spot it off my phone or get a wireless model for $10 a month added to my account. I am not worried about data usage at this time.

What are your thoughts on which way to go on this. Is using hot spotting too much of a hassle or other problems versus paying the extra for the tablet plus the monthly?

Would you go with a 10" screen rather than the 7 for this kind of thing?

Thanks for your help.

GS

Little Darwin · Feb 24, 2014

I tried my 7 inch Nexus for a while as a GPS, but it was too big for me... Why not just use your phone? I have found that works best for me... Although I don't use Pandora.

strollin · Feb 24, 2014

I use my phone for GPS and Pandora at the same time instead of my N7. The phone does have a smaller screen but then it has it's own data connection built-in. If I want, I can still turn on the hotspot feature to let my passengers access the internet on their tablets or whatever.

For GPS purposes, you may want to use an app that stores it's map data locally so a data connection isn't needed.

doniago · Feb 24, 2014

Personally I still prefer having a standalone GPS, in part because I don't think I've ever been able to use my phone's navigation without the phone rebooting at some point.

tukatz · Feb 24, 2014

I have a system in my Mustang that allows me to play music from a USB thumb drive that I leave permanently installed. I use my N7 for navigation with the Sygic app. The app is free but you buy the maps. I purchased maps of the whole world (minus a few countries I'll likely never visit anyway) for about $100. Map and POI updates are free forever, unlike GPS units like TomTom and Garmin where you have to pay for map updates. I have my N7 in a DeviceWear Ridge case and created two loops of 1" wide web strap that I can slip the N7 into. They are hung from a heater vent using heavy duty twist ties as can be seen in the photo below. The maps are stored on your N7 so you don't need a data connection, nor are you out of luck in an area where your data connection gets no signal. I've used this setup on several road trips and it works great. The app give you a great display with intelligent lane guidance in many tricky places and you get spoken turn-by-turn instructions in your choice of a number of voices in several different languages. Sylvia speaks to me in Italian.

I highly recommend the N7 and the Sygic nav app.

doniago · Feb 24, 2014

To be fair, whether or not you have to pay for map updates depends on what model of GPS you buy. I paid for free lifetime map updates and traffic alerts.

tukatz · Feb 24, 2014

doniago said:
To be fair, whether or not you have to pay for map updates depends on what model of GPS you buy. I paid for free lifetime map updates and traffic alerts.

Yes, but what did the GPS and lifetime updates cost?

For someone who has or is considering purchasing a Nexus 7, the cost of the nav system MAY be considerably less than the cost of a GPS and lifetime updates. There is the added benefit that you are dealing with one device rather than two.

My solution isn't for everyone, but I felt it was information that might well be useful to the op.

doniago · Feb 25, 2014

It wasn't a cheap model, but I do love it.

If anything I prefer having two devices. Let the GPS deal with navigation, freeing up the N7 for other tasks. In other words, I don't consider one device rather than two to be a benefit in this instance. And honestly, my GPS almost never leaves my car's dash or glove compartment, so it's not as though there's any appreciable juggling.

Your info is useful, but as I noted it's somewhat of a misrepresentation to assert that you must pay for map updates.

tukatz · Feb 25, 2014

Point well taken. It might be useful to the op to know what brand and model GPS you bought.

GS300 · Feb 25, 2014

I have a Garmin gps but am looking to have a single device similar to a factory install. I don't want to pay what they want and feel that xm has priced their products too high for what they offer. I have struggled with the whys of tablets but think this might be a good application at a very affordable price.

GS

tukatz · Feb 25, 2014

I struggled with the whys of tablets also until I broke down and bought my N7 last November. Now it has all but replaced my laptop. I'm delighted with mine and think you will be also.

doniago · Feb 25, 2014

My N7 won't ever be replacing my laptop, but I love working with it as opposed to my phone when possible. Larger and faster.

I bought an ASUS Transformer back in the day and while I definitely use it for some things (reading larger-than-usual ebooks, situations where I want to do any real typing in Android), I've never really used it as much as I thought I might.

I went into the N7 with similar concerns that I wouldn't end up using it a great deal, and have been very pleasantly surprised.

My GPS is a Garmin as well. Model name/number escape me, but I could dig them out if desired. It has a glass screen, voice control, and the car power cable plugs into the cradle rather than the device, which I like. Also, the device locks to the cradle magnetically, which is just cool.

Considering a Nexus 7

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