I have an N810. My N900 will arrive tomorrow (25-Nov-09).

Can someone who already has the N900 comment further on its GPS, mapping and navigation features? I'm specifically interested in free solutions. I do not intend to purchase an expensive 3rd party subscription.

Examples of things I would like to receive feedback about:

How much better is GPS, mapping and navigation than the N810?

How fast does the N900 get a GPS lock under various conditions?

Will it acquire a lock without a data connection?

How does the overall solution compare to Verizon's Droid with Google's turn-by-turn navigation?

How does the overall GPS solution compare to a dedicated GPS device such as a Garmin nuvi 600- or 700-series device? (I have never used one of those.)

Any other experiences from N900 users regarding GPS? Please share!

If I had titled this "N900 GPS sucks" would I have 100 replies by now?

GPS is fine, it's Ovi Maps I think you're referring to that's suck.

A little more detail would be great. I'd like to believe you that the GPS is fine, but some people are saying it does not acquire a lock quickly and that a data connection is required.

I've also read mixed opinions on Ovi Maps, so I'd like to hear from people with an N900 that are actually using the GPS heavily.

I tried mapping on the N810 I bought for my 2 year old to play with. GPS was very slow to lock, not sure if it ever did. The mapping application was terrible. I am sure the N900 app will be better but from what I have read it will be a big letdown compared to Google Maps or OVI 3.0 on my E90. My N900 should be delivered tomorrow. I will update this post when I have had a chance to try the maps.

There's another thread here called "So what did you expect?". That's what inspired me to start this thread about the N900 GPS.

Basically, my expectation/hope for the N900 would be something like this:

Ideal N900 = updated N810 + updated Maemo + voice calls + 3g data + GPS & mapping equal to Verizon Droid

That "equation" shows that the N900 will probably meet all my expectations except, I fear, for the GPS & mapping.

I already posted somewhere else a couple reviews that show the Google turn-by-turn navigation on the Droid is far from perfect. I just want something about equal on the N900. It doesn't have to be perfect at all because navigation on the Droid isn't perfect. But it's a whole lot better than on the N810.

GPS is good. It gets a lock in less than 10 seconds, but it requires data connection.

There is no real navigation software untill sygic releases their software.

It REQUIRES a data connection? What kind of GPS is this? I have an 8 year old Garmin GPS that is not a phone and has no data connection and it works just fine as a GPS. And it gets a satellite lock typically before I can back the car out of the driveway.

I don't agree with this statement, until I can see it for myself or someone else can comment otherwise.

Typically, the first time your car has to get a SAT lock, it takes a long time. But my car NAV system, like many others I suppose, keeps track of where it last was. So, it knows which satellites to scan for.

Hand held NAV units are the same way. But jump on a plane and travel a long distance while they are powered off, and you will find they also take an annoyingly long time to get a lock.

How does google maps behave in the browser?