Originally intended to document my experience of DeLorean ownership, focus is often radical and strange, boring and obtuse.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

How To Change Maps On Sony GPS



As long as I've been using my Sony Nav-U GPS, I've discovered it to be both fun, and as annoying as a video-game deprived, snot-nosed kid in church with no kleenex and short sleeves.

The NV-U70 GPS unit is one of the smaller units on the market, memory-wise. It only has 1 gig of useable space. The problem with 1 gig is that the maps of Canada and the U.S.A. take up more than 1 gig.

To get around this problem, Sony included a DVD with various maps of North America. You can pic and choose, mix and match, which maps you want. I've never had to do this before, but since Suz and I are off to Florida tomorrow, we needed to add the southern states to our maps.

When I inserted the DVD-ROM, it installed in a few seconds. Easy. I selected "Map Manager" which lead me to a very simple map-selecting screen, which was perfect for me, being a dim-witted guy. All you need to know is where you are travelling, what it looks like on a map, and some simple math. All of which I was supposed to learn in grade 2.

The map options were:
  • Full USA

  • West USA

  • East USA-A

  • East USA-B

  • Canada-A

  • Canada-B

  • Hawaii

  • Puerto Rico

  • Alaska

When I selected a particular map, the corresponding states/provinces were highlighted, and the size of the map, in MB, would appear in the bottom corner along with how much space, in MB, was left.

I deleted "Canada-A" which included about 50% of the U.S. and replaced it with "Canada-B" which only included the northernmost states. That freed up another 450 MB or so for another map. The second map I chose was "East USA-A" which included, as Homer would say, America's wang.

The next part was the hard part: Waiting. Waiting usually isn't very hard to do. But when you really want something and are forced to wait and wait for an unreasonable amount of time, it can get frustrating.

Ask any video-game deprived, snot-nosed kid sitting in church.

Get this. It took one and a half hours for the maps to be transferred to the Sony NAV-U. Wow. I could've watched an entire movie. Or written 90 high quality answers for Useless Advice From Useless Men. But instead I played Killer Instinct on my old SNES. It was time well-spent.

And now I'm going to spend some more time relaxing and having fun in Florida. See you all in some form or another when I get back next week.

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7 Comments:

Blogger Ellie Creek Ellis said...

you take way to many vacations.

10:01:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Funny - I think I take way too few. I'm going to propose to my manager that I work 4 weeks a year and get 48 weeks vacation.

10:45:00 PM

 
Blogger Techie Guy said...

Vacations? I used to take those...many years ago.

I use paper maps...which don't take an hour and half to download. But it may take an hour and a half to fold back up.

9:34:00 AM

 
Blogger Monogram Queen said...

Hey if he goes for 48 weeks vacation send him my way! LOL
Hope you have a good time and give a honk when you come down I-95 at Exit 164 in Florence. I'm nearby!

1:08:00 PM

 
Blogger Bella said...

Have a great vacation!

4:58:00 PM

 
Blogger ZoeyBella said...

I've wanted to get one of those GPS things, but I seem to have one built in to my mind. Thus I can never get any sleep when someone else is driving because they're always asking me which way to go.

But thanks for the smarty-pants tutorial anyway :)

12:09:00 PM

 
Blogger Louisiana said...

i just came from there..the people are wonderful, the food delicious and the weather to die for..enjoy!

thanks for the wishes..i did have the most beautiful of holidays and this year has already being incredible..

enjoy!

11:18:00 AM

 

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