Another Look at the Rand McNally TND 710 Truck GPS

You said it best, "its just another tool to add to my cab" if you use it along with the Rand road atlas, it will get you where you want to go. for me, the ETA feature and travel center locator is worth the cost alone, sure, you have the quick stop feature for locating the Pilots, TA's, Flying J's and Walmart's and such, but when your off the beaten path and hrs are running low, its great for getting you to smaller truck stops, the ETA feature is dead on as well, I hear on the CB all the time about guys that hate GPS units, but, if the technology is available, why not use it? the same goes for satellite radio and cell phones.

 

I will be diving into the Trucing Biz this summer when school is out.
So, I do a LOT of research on various aspects of trucking.

It seems as though the RM is getting very mixed reviews on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Rand-McNally-...I/ref=sr_cr_hist_all?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Seems as though right now, the Garmin Dezl may be the best choice.
Granted, a new product and technology from RM could have bugz galore,
and so it seems right now. Hopefully over the next year RM will iron out the wrinkles and give a reliable product.

Right now, it seems too risky to buy.

 

Most of the reviews as I read them have to do with settings. Take the time to set the TND up properly for your needs.

Thanks,
Makr

 

Let me know when Garmin releases their version of Mark aka cc194217. He is the reason I stick with RM. I cant name one other product on planet earth that allows me to have dang near 24/7 support, or would allow me to simply ask questions about that product on a whim.

 

Quote: "Most of the reviews as I read them have to do with settings. Take the time to set the TND up properly for your needs."

Do you and Rand think that users are deliberately using wrong settings? Do you think all those who have complained have not made a reasonable effort to set up their Rand GPS correctly? I am sure they have done the best they can. That so many have problems indicates inadequate on screen instructions, help and user manual. Remember that according to the OECD about 40% of North Americans are functionally illiterate in that they are unable to read and understand safety notices at work, a bus timetable or the instructions on a bottle of pills from a pharmacy. This includes many professional drivers. They will do no better with reading and understanding the manual, printed or on screen, for a GPS. GPS makers need to apply some intelligence and common sense to ensure that their products are usable by such people. What a cheek to blame the users for Rand's failing!

What do you and Rand not understand about such terms as "INTUITIVE" and "USER FRIENDLY?" As you and Rand are getting so many complaints, most of which you admit are due to settings, it should be obvious that Rand needs to make some serious revisions to make its product usable by ordinary people and not just well educated geeks.

Similar comments probably apply to some other makes of GPS. The dunces who make them need to consider the needs and computer skill and literacy levels of the users and accommodate them. Ordinary users should not have to accept such frustrating devices.

While I appreciate the time and effort you put in to solve so many issues, the reality is that if the device was properly designed to be easy to use you would not be needed! At least you are still here for Rand whereas the Garmin guy has gone MIA.

 

Would you like the Blue-Ray manufacture also to set your time and date before you get it home?

Preferences and Truck tools. It is a simple thing to do, but we have default settings as any electronic device has.

I have testers that are less than computer savvy up to engineers. So, what the customer sees we see way before hand. The screens are easy to use. If not they get changed before the public sees it.

Most customers take it out of the box and run with it. Then when it preforms as it should with default settings we get bad reviews.

How many customers actually take the time to read any manual with anything they buy? I for one do not. Yet, the over 100 pages of the TND instructions cover the TND.

I have met face to face with a lot of drivers last year and many times it was just a setting that was giving them fustration.

Rand sets defaults settings for the general public. It is up to the user to define their setting for their needs.

In reading the reviews, many were submitted because the issue they had was a setting was at default.

30 days is the time I would give any user time to learn the TND and play with it. As you play with it more you start to understand that it is more than a simple Point A to B direction finder.

I would like to know the time difference between the time one bought the TND before they posted a review? If it was within a week, then not enough time was given to "learn".

If you say it should not take that long, then look at smart phones. How many master their smart phone completely in one week?

I have had the face time and read the reviews. Simply take the time to go over the many different screens and adapt the TND to your driving needs.

I have met only one user so far last year that I could not show something he did not know already.

How many before they posted a review simply called Rand Support for assistance?

The help is there, but one has to put a foot in the door first.

Thanks,
Mark

 

You mean all those lil' pamphlets that have come with everything I've ever bought since 1972 were meant to be READ?

Swell....NOW ya tell me......

 

I found my 510 no harder to use than my car garmin nuvi and easier than my iPhone. It is not set up from the factory as a one size fits all. You have to set up the device for your truck, if your using toll roads, etc. I have had very few issues.

The traffic feature is my biggest complaint. I bought the antenna and find the info it receives out of date sometimes. As in it will say bad traffic due to a wreck. I arrive in the area and no signs of a wreck and traffic flowing great. Or it will not say anything about the traffic issue I'm in and it's obvious it's been that way a while. Not a huge issue but I regret buying the antenna. I'll live though.

As far as the unit goes no major issues. Sometimes the speed limit is wrong but that's why it's a tool not a perfect device. I still read the road signs.


It help me get to where I'm going along with my phone gps, atlas, phone calls to destination, and Qualcomm.