OT: Cell Phone GPS vs Regular portable GPS

Any recommendations? I need easy to operate and reliable. I see that my cell phone carrier AT and T is showing phones with GPS included. I've been looking At Garmin portable GPS devices. As usual so much to choose from and so little experience. . .

Ya got me. I got a nice Garmin for Christmas, and it took me month to realize that it didn't work in the car because the lighter connection had a shorted out fuse.     

Good luck.

Candy

So, "Techno Girl" which Garmin did you get? I see they have lots of different models. How easy is it to operate?

I don't have it with me, but I think it'sa 265WT.  My son did the research, and decided that was the one that would be the easiest for me to deal with.  It works well, for  the basics.  I haven't tried to download any new maps or info onto it, but it gets me where I want to go.  And it's even better, now that  "Techno Girl" figured out how to power it up......

I'm planning on downloading maps of Hawaii soon.

Candy

Candy, Maui is easy. There is water all around. When you get to water you either go swimming or turn around. I didn't see a speed limit sign over 35 while we were there. Lots of time to figure out where you are going. Did I tell you my daughter and 3 friends got tickets from Seattle to Maui, Hawaiian Airlines, including 5 nights in condo on Kaannaapalli Beach for $600.00 each? . . now that's a deal.

Hey Karen,

Of course, I have to be different, so while everyone is tapping Garmin as the one, I did lots of research and found Navigon 2200T to be the unit I chose, it is small enough to fit in your pocket, so you can take it for sightseeing in cities and what I found enticing was that it offered free traffic info, which can detour you around a jam.  To update maps, I think a 3 year subscription was like $50 which considering I paid $169 for the device brings it in less than a Garmin with similar capabilities.  So, that is my input, guess it's a matter of personal preference.  Rather than use a telephone GPS, I like being able to see in real life terms, how the highway signs should appear, as well as the voice guidance.  I can say this though, where there is new developments involved, GPS, all of them, can be less then reliable, so be aware of that and be sure you have a number to contact a person in case such an issue happens. 

Good luck.  Laureen

Laureen, I haven't even heard of this one, but then I'm just starting to look.  I can get easily confused and often read more between the lines than is actually there! From your standpoint is it easy to use?

I have a Navman and a MIO and they are both from the same company. I paid 100.00 for one and 150 for the MIO. I just baught my daughter the MIO for 99.00. I love my MIO. had a Magellian and it got stollen. I wouldnt recommend the Magellian it is to slow.
Carla
I was going to just use the one on the phone but the screen on the phone is to small and I couldnt understand what they were telling me to do on the phone. Plus if you loose the signal you doent have a GPS signal either on the phone. 
So I would go with a portable GPS.
Carla  

Two more names I've never heard of! Thanks for the info Carla.

Carla, Which MIO do you have? I see there are several models.