Friday, February 6, 2009

Technical hoo-haa



I have a Nuvi 205w navigational system in my car. It came with the extended warranty we invested in when we purchased the Impala. I was very impressed when Dickidoo demonstrated how it worked. My icon is an eagle. I even have an eagle shadow that shows up on the little animated road below me. At the touch of the screen I know exactly where I am and how to get back home. Emergency locations like police stations, fire departments and hospitals are also pre-programed. I was so excited to try it out on my own.

'Turn right on Wayfarer Drive in 50 yards' said the Nuvi 205w with an annoying female voice that sounded suspiciously like the voice of the self check-out registers at my store. Just great! I hear her all day at work, and now she was in my car bossing me around and telling me where to go,

Except there was no right turn in 50 yards...

'Turn right.'

There is no right turn, it's a fricken field!

'Recalculating route.' my Nuvi 205w said almost impatiently.

'Turn left on Coral Ridge Drive.'

There is no fricken Coral Ridge Drive on the left either! The sign says Candelabra! I even stopped the car to give the gadget time to recalculate.

'Turn left!' By that time I think my Nuvi 205w was actually yelling at me! I deal with enough irritating people in my line of work and I certainly did't need my machines copping an attitude with me as well so I switched off the navigator and drove around until I found Coral Ridge Drive.

I know there will come a time when I need my Nuvi 205w and will probably greatly appreciate her directions but for now, just around my town, she's a pain in the caboose.

I still think those things should come with gender options. Perhaps some guys actually like Nuvi's voice, but personally I would rather have a voice like Sam Elliot's telling me where to go. I wouldn't even care if there was no left turn, I'd get lost a million times just to hear him say 'Turn here,' or 'Turn there'.

It would be more like a date than getting lost!

10 comments:

Unknown said...

That is funny! They have a commercial I am not sure if you have seen it where the gps make's the guy show him the jewelry he bought his girlfriend and then put the necklace around the GPS or she wont the let the guy out of the car. Ok I am rambling but it was a funny post...

garnett109 said...

guys never need gps equipment we know where we are going

Michelle said...

That is exactly why I turned the volume off on mine. That voice annoys me!

Melanie said...

sam elliot!!? id love that...lol



Melanie

Anonymous said...

Jodi, that is funny, you still bust me up Bill

moshell's lilbit of space said...

Oh Jody....that is funny....


Yeah...Sam Elliot's voice would be just fine...although I might just stay in the car forever....

Traci said...

Sam Elliot. Mmmmmmm

Lori said...

Ha ha. Ooh, Sam Elliot giving you directions. Now that would be fine!

Melissa and the boys said...

Our TomTom once told my sister and I to turn right on the middle of a bridge. She started yelling at us too...

I HATE her voice.

redsneakz said...

There's one where you can use John Cleese's voice.

I think it would be hilarious if Sam Kinison were alive to give directions.