Archive

Garmin nüvi 785/785T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth and Maps of U.S, Canada & Puerto Rico

Amazon.com Price: Too low to display (as of 2010-07-30 21:05:25 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
Garmin nüvi 785/785T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth and Maps of U.S, Canada & Puerto Rico
 
Manufacturer: Garmin
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $549.99
Sale Price: Too low to display
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Now
 

Product Description
Directionally challenged? Many people lose their sense of direction. Getting from point A to Point B can be so stress provoking that you hardly want to leave point A. The Garmin nuvi 785T helps get you from one point to another and helps you have fun at any point you choose. And you'll never be lost. The nuvi 785T offers full coverage mapping for the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The preloaded map data features nearly six million points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and attractions. The map data is provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. It features 3D buildings, lane assist and lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ. Take advantage of Garmin's first premium traffic service without subscription fees. 3D navigation with lane assist provides drivers a clear picture of what lies ahead on their route, including road sign detail and arrows indicating the proper lane for navigation. Some areas even offer a 3D view of buildings. Steer clear of traffic with nuvi's integrated FM traffic receiver. Receive alerts about traffic delays and road construction that lie ahead on your route. The nuvi 785T features an MSN Direct receiver with a 3 month trial subscription that includes updated information about traffic conditions, fuel prices, weather reports, movie listings, headline news, stock quotes and local events. Auto time zone will automatically adjust your time zone while navigating Garmin Connect Photos - associate your favorite images with saved locations DEM maps show you shaded terrain contours at various zoom levels High-sensitivity GPS receiver for improved performance and reception Turn-by-turn directions with voice guidance Easy-to-use, Touchscreen interface Trip computer records mileage, max speed, total time and more Simplified PC connectivity, using USB mass storage Configurable vehicle icons allows users to select a fun, and cus

Product Details
  • NOTE: The MSN Direct receiver with integrated vehicle power cable is one device that is BOTH the MSN Direct Service (traffic) receiver and the car charger
  • Bright, 4.3-inch diagonal color WQVGA TFT touchscreen with 480 x 272 pixels and white backlight
  • Preloaded with City Navigator North America NT
  • Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling
  • High-sensitivity GPS receiver for improved performance and reception
  • NOTE: Model number on the box is 785T because the traffic receiver is included; however, the model number on the device itself is 785 as the "T" in 785T refers to the additional component

Video Reviews
No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews
Garmin + MSN Direct = MAGNIFICENT!
 
Review Date: September 21, 2009
Reviewer: Joxxy, Long Island, NY United States
Garmin + MSN Direct = MAGNIFICENT!

This GPS is just INCREDIBLE! It is by far the best GPS I have EVER owned! Better than any portable unit currently on the market and far better than any (over-priced OEM) in-dash GPS unit.

I purchased this GPS because it was taking me between 8.5 and 14 hours to travel from Long Island, NY (where I live) to Lake Placid, NY area (where my wife lives) bi-weeekly. The total distance is between 381 and 465 miles depending on which GPS you use. As you can guess, most of my travel time was spent in heavy traffics between long Island and upstate NY. I just wanted to try it and return it if it didn't fit the bill.

I have now owned this GPS for more than 2 months now and it has yet to fail me. My travel time is now consistently below 6.5 hours and the distance travel is usually around 380 miles (sometimes a little longer when trying to avoid traffic) . Even during Memorial Day weekend, it took me barely 7 hours to get back home with one of the heaviest traffic I have ever seen. I am so sold that I have already purchased the lifetime subscription to MSN Direct. And I already got my money worth!

I have an in-dash GPS unit (slow and lousy at best and that I hate dearly) in my 2006 BMW X5. There is a mediocre and useless in-dash GPS unit in my wife 2005 Nissan Murano. These in-dash OEM GPS units have the strangest routes, they are slow, and just take you from point A to point point B. It doesn't matter how they get you there... I have also owned 2 Garmin Nuvi (350 and 370 - both pretty good) and 2 TomTom (One and 340S (just OK).

Back to the Nuvi 785T. Sorry for getting carried way...

First, lets get the bad/suggestions out of the way:

- Does not display the speed limit/actual speed next to each other (and turning to red when over the limit) like the TomTom beautifully does. It displays mainly the speed limit on major highway and is accurate in most cases.
- The sound is just adequate, but need some improvement. Make sure to adjust the sound to 100%. The default 80% is too low and you may not hear a thing.
- MSN Direct receiver should be integrated in the unit itself, not on the charger.
- Rebooted on me once during my trip. I was checking traffic on my route and VLAM!
- I had to spend another $100 for lifetime MSN Direct!

Second, the GOOD:
- Extraodinary accuracy. The estimated time of arrival is almost always dead on.
- AMAZING display. The best resolution when compared to any other GPS out there.
- Gas Prices on MSN direct - very accurate information, but used it only once.
- Weather on MSN Direct - I love this feature and use it often.
- Bluetooth calling is nice and clear, people could not tell I was calling handsfree. But, the sound wasn't loud enough on my end.
- Great overall feature set.

Third, the GREAT:
- Traffic on MSN Direct - Simply AMAZING! highly accurate and reliable feature. I am no longer thinking about beating NY traffic. I just jump in the car and drive. This GPS really showed me what it capable of during Memorial Day weekend.
- Best routing engine on the market! Always the shortest distance and fastest time when compared to any other GPS.
- Garmin GPS re-route better than ANY other GPS by far. You will never hear "make a U-turn when possible" crap. It just recalculates the best route from your current position.
- Send To GPS - This is maybe one of my favorite features that I use almost daily.
- SUPER fast satellite acquisition and very Strong GPS signal anytime and almost everywhere.
- It is a GRAMIN!!!

My Recommendations to potential buyers:
- update the software and firmware as soon as you receive your unit
- update the maps to the latest as soon as possible
- set the volume to 100% before first use

This is simply a MAGNIFICENT piece of electronic. If you really want the very BEST in GPS technology, this is IT!
Good Product!
 
Review Date: December 31, 2008
Reviewer: Hello,
I love the Garmin Nuvi 785t as this is a good unit. From what I am able to tell, it is about 99% accurate but those flaws will not let you miss your destination. Some of the directions around town do not make any sense but being that I know differently I did not take that advice. However, a stranger would not know the difference as gas will be wasted. For the most part, I am very satisfied with this unit.

For those of you that are new to the GPS these features are for you:

The first thing you want to do before routing an address is to connect the unit to a computer and UPDATE the Garmin software. It comes with a USB cable and it is easy to update.

It does speak the name of the street as well as the lane to get in after you make the turn.

U.S. interstates and roads speed is automatically displayed but not for local and state highways/roads.

Your personal speed is shown no matter what road or highway you are on.

The GPS has a mode for "automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian."

You are able to transmit the voiced directions through your radio to your automobile speakers without a cable by simply putting your radio on a FM station WITH static. The lower the channel the better but the lowest station that can be used is 88.1. The con to this is that you cannot listen to your CD's while you are using that feature and you will be able to hear some of the static.

Media card: the unit can take the regular SD card as well as SDHC card but not over 4GB. According to Garmin, anything over 4GB will make the unit slow and they do not advise using anything over 4GB.

It has a picture viewer so you can insert your media card to view your pictures as well as have a picture for the address listed in your favorites or address book.

When you input your address, let the unit find your location and save it as your home address because your location may not match your current address. It might find another address but your actual coordinates will match the location of your house.

The unit draws the map quickly as well as the re-calculation of the route. However, if you are on the interstate and you did not take the routed exit and if you have not passed the street that is attached to that exit, then the unit will not recalculate until you have passed that street especially when the exit is a long road. It will recalculate quickly if a street is not connected to an exit.

You can enter multiple destinations.

The "Where I am feature" is a good feature especially when you cannot find an address. You can pull in a driveway, press the icon and it will give you an address or what they believe to be address. I typed an address in the unit and the address could not be found. Therefore, after arriving at the address, I pressed the icon and it gave me an address which was different from the address that I had and I saved it for the future.

The current temperature is displayed on the GPS.

The "points of interest" is nice because it pretty much becomes a telephone directory.

I have not seen any 3-D buildings on the map.

MSN Direct: I love it BUT traffic reports are not in my area. All of the services of MSN Direct are not available in every area. All available features are available in the most major cities so if you live or travel to major cities, then just for the traffic reports is worth subscribing to this service. We traveled to a large city and were helped with the traffic information. It alerts of the traffic, the delay and how major the traffic has stalled as well as rerouting you passed the stalled traffic. The car icon automatically appears on the screen as you do not have to do anything which is great especially if you are driving alone. The information given gives traffic information for your direct route as well as traffic miles away from your location. You can push the car icon and it lists the location of the reports. Go to this link http://www.msndirect.com/coverage.aspx to find out if coverage is in your area and what features are available in your area.

The "Gas Prices" feature for ME is worth the [...] for the lifetime subscription. It is accurate and I got prices as far as an eleven mile radius of my location. I wish I had this feature earlier when the gas prices were much higher than they are now.

The "Stock Prices" is great if you do not have internet services on your cell phone. Enter the stock symbol and it automatically displays the information. The GPS does not have to be plugged into your car in order to get the update as the adapter has a battery so it continues to update the unit as long as the adapter is connected to the unit.

The "News Headlines" is just as it says. It shows the headlines and a brief summary.

The "Weather" gives you the current weather as well as weather in other cities in a certain radius of your location.

There are other features of MSN Direct but I highlighted some of the features.

Cons: There are two cons with this unit:

Lane Assist: It is not interactive and it looks like what you see when the lane assist is advertised. It flashes briefly across the screen so if you missed it then you missed it. However, you can touch the turn guidance icon and if the lane assist icon is highlighted then you can see the lane assist but if you are driving alone that is a bit much especially if you have to make a split decision. Lane assist is not every where all the time as that feature is very limited.

However, the plus is that the turns and the lanes are pretty much clear to understand without the lane assist.

Battery: The unit is too expensive for this to be a throw away unit. The battery is not replaceable and the guide gives you instructions on how to dispose of the unit but not return the unit to have the battery replaced. Therefore, it is imperative to protect the unit in making sure that the unit is not left in a hot automobile. Yes, the unit has a warranty but
Good Navigation, traffic from MSN works well
 
Review Date: December 12, 2008
Reviewer: Nick from NJ,
I had an older Garmin C340 device and recently upgraded to the 785T for the wide screen and real-time traffic, weather, gas prices and other information from MSN. I was pleasantly surprised by how much better the 785T is compared to my old C340. I love how thin it is, and the wide screen is nice. I also liked the traffic information and found it to be fairly accurate. Even though the gas prices are going down, they will surely go back up and given how things are with the economy, saving a few bucks helps. I haven't had any problems, but just to be safe I upgraded the 785T's software using Garmin's Webupdater application. The upgrade is easy. After you get the device just install the WebUpdater application on your PC from Garmin's website, connect the device to your computer with a USB cable, and start the Webupdater application.
Very Pleased
 
Review Date: August 28, 2009
Reviewer: Amazonian,
I have overall been very pleased with my 785t. I gave my 780 to my father, and struggled with whether to get another 780 or to upgrade. I made the plunge and went with the 785.

Pros:
* Faster screen update is really slick. It doesn't make the device navigate any better, but it does make it a lot nicer overall experience- it's almost like watching a movie.

* My 785 gets a satellite lock a LOT faster than my 780 did. After 10 hours at work, the 780 would take at least 90 seconds to get a lock. The 785 locks in within about 15 seconds.

* Maps, estimated arrival time, and speed limits have been absolutely spot on- much more accurate than I would have expected.

* I love the MSN Direct features. Some of them are novelty items, but I use the "Send to GPS" feature almost daily. This feature allows you to look up an address on Microsoft's map website and beam it over the radio to your GPS. I'll look up an address, beam it over, and by the time I get to the car and boot up the GPS, the address is right there, ready to navigate. VERY cool! The GPS doesn't even have to be plugged in to receive the data. The power cord (which doubles as the MSN receiver) has a battery built in, and receives the MSN Direct data. As soon as you connect the GPS to the power cord, all of the new MSN data is immediately uploaded to the device.

Cons:

* The Lane guidance feature looks really cool, but I have yet to find an intersection or exit in my area that has the data. I haven't traveled extensively, but have have been through a number of high traffic, confusing exit scenarios in central NC where no lane guidance or Junction View was available. According to Garmin's product description, "you'll never question which lane you should be driving in again." That is patently false until they get lane assist mapped out for every intersection in the US.

* I had hoped to use the GPS as a media player in my car. Unfortunately when you keep a large SD card > 4GB in the device, it takes a lot longer to boot up- sometimes a couple of minutes.


Overall I love the device. Lane guidance and Junction View are brand new features, and it will take some time for that data to be collected and fed into the maps. I feel sure that within the next year or two there will be much more broad coverage. I highly recommend this product.
One truly great product!
 
Review Date: May 9, 2009
Reviewer: Stephen D. Bacon, Colorado Springs, CO
At first, I wasn't interested in a GPS unit, but since I will be traveling to several cities on vacation this year that I am not so familiar with and I travel a fair amount on my job, I decided to buy one. I spent some time doing research and decided on the 785T. The price ($399) couldn't be beat and it had the lane change and photo navigation which were what sold me on this model. It is exceptionally accurate regarding the milage and time calculations.

The refresh rate is extremely smooth and I liked the fact Garmin allows you 60 days after purchase to get a free map update (saves you about $200). Setup was a little odd since you have to power it up and use it before you can get it set up on your computer for registration and getting updates. A slight annoyance, but okay. MSN Direct will ONLY work in designated areas so if you are out in the middle of nowhere, you can't get stock updates, weather, best gas prices, etc... Not sure why this is so; especially, since this is tied to a satellite system which covers almost 99% of the world.

POI is another great feature for finding restaurants, banks, gas stations, etc.... But beware that the information on some POIs can be outdated. A restaurant in Salt Lake City was no longer there. Inputting an address in Salt Lake City was difficult due to the uniqueness of their address system. Maybe I wasn't doing something right, but I couldn't input a 500 West 9000 North address. The POI saved me on this aspect for the restaurant, but it was a little frustrating.

The 3D highway signs are pretty cool. Displays accurate wordage and symbols as shown on the actual highway signs. Bluetooth for phone works, but the receiving party has a hard time hearing me due to road noise. Overall, it is a great product and I am glad I purchased it. You can't beat the price compared to newer or comparable products.

TomTom ONE 130 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

Amazon.com Price: $73.97 (as of 2010-07-30 21:23:39 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
TomTom ONE 130 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
 
Manufacturer: TomTom
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $199.95
Sale Price: $73.97
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available
Buy Now
 

Product Description
The TomTom ONE 130 is easy-to-use personal navigation. TomTom's award-winning software means effortless navigation from point A to point B. Switch on and go right out of the box. Just enter the address on the touchscreen and start driving anywhere in the United States or Canada. TomTom guides you door-to-door with turn-by-turn spoken instructions. And 3D graphics help guide you to your destination, worry free.

Easy-to-use widescreen navigation. Click to enlarge.

TomTom's award-winning software means effortless navigation from point A to point B. Click to enlarge.

The ONE 130 is preloaded with millions of points of interest to enhance your traveling experience--easily find your favorite gas stations, hotels, restaurants, and more. TomTom has the most accurate maps, and with TomTom Map Share technology, you instantly can modify street names, street direction, points of interest, and more on your own device.

And with the "Help Me!" menu, added safety features enable you to easily access local emergency providers, such as police, fire stations, and hospitals. The "Where am I?" feature pinpoints your exact location to give to emergency providers.

Award-winning Fold & Go EasyPort mount folds flat against the device, making it easy to take it with you from car to car.

No activation, no monthly fees.

Go confidently.

ONE 130 Features

  • Maps of United States and Canada with TomTom Map Share
  • Fold & Go EasyPort Mount
  • Spoken Instructions

What's in the Box

ONE 130 GPS device, EasyPort mount, USB cable, Adhesive Disk, car charger, and user guide

All TomToms Feature

Plug & Go--Works right out of the box.

Preloaded Points of Interest--Easily find millions of gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more on your route.

30-Day Latest Map Guarantee--Up to date, off the shelf.

TomTom Map Share--Modify your own map and benefit from others' verified changes with TomTom Map Share.

Help Me! Emergency Menu--Easily access local emergency providers, such as police, fire stations, and hospitals.

TomTom HOME--Always up to date.

Traffic Ready--Optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver accessory keeps you up-to-date on traffic events to minimize potential delays.

Fuel Price Service (optional)--Know more, pay less.

Why TomTom?

TomTom believes that personal navigation should be as easy and safe as possible. TomTom develops smart technology that gives you straightforward solutions, innovations to make life easy.

Easy to Use

  • Award-winning navigation software
  • Plug & go

Best Maps

  • 30-Day Latest Map Guarantee
  • Modify your own map and benefit from others' verified changes with TomTom Map Share

Best Routing

  • QuickGPSfix
  • Traffic ready

Leader in Safety

  • Help Me! emergency resources menu
  • Safety preferences menu

About TomTom

Founded in Amsterdam in 1991, TomTom has established itself as a global leader in navigation by being an innovative company with a strong brand, clear customer focus, and high-quality products and services.

TomTom is a leading navigation solutions provider with navigation products sold in 30 countries and in over 20 languages. To further its commitment to car navigation, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas maps in 2008 so that the company can continually provide the most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing.

TomTom has its own mapping company!

Did you know that every year, roads change by up to 40% in high-growth areas? Tele Atlas manages this by using the world's most comprehensive systems to identify and incorporate these changes into our maps with unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. All TomTom devices benefit from the Tele Atlas advantage--more coverage, more points of interest, and more freshness and accuracy.

Product Details
  • 3.5-inch touchscreen with award-winning Fold & Go EasyPort mount that folds flat against the device, making it easy to take with you from car to car
  • Effortless navigation from A to B--enter the address on the touchscreen or use voice address entry and start driving
  • Preloaded with millions of points of interest to enhance your traveling experience--easily find your favorite gas stations, hotels
  • With TomTom Map Share technology, you can instantly modify street names, street direction, POIs, road speeds
  • Help Me! menu provides added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers, such as police, fire stations

Video Reviews
No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews
SAME GREAT TOMTOM NAME BUT NO REASON TO UPGRADE
 
Review Date: May 11, 2008
Reviewer: Anton Tobias, The vast cornfields of the Midwest
Here is the latest in TomTom technology. The TomTom 130. This latest development from TomTom will be perfect for first time GPS buyers who are looking for something simple, compact, and accurate. For previous owners of the TomTom One however, this is no reason to upgrade.

The product itself is as close to perfection as I've seen in a basic GPS device, hence the five star rating, but then again so is the TomTom One 3rd edition that was released late last year. The TomTom 130 model is basically the TomTom One with a few minor upgrades. The most notable would be the new flip and fold mounting capability. Instead of the standard suction cup mount that TomTom owners are used to owning as a separate component (one that slides in and out of the back custom grooves of the TomTom itself) there is now an attached mount that folds into the unit for easy storage. This is convenient but in my opinion and like the other minor upgrades, no reason to toss out your old TomTom One in exchange.

iPod has set the standard for a lot of electronic thresholds, none being more noticeable than the size and depth of its products. To some it up...slim is in and the TomTom 130 is even slimmer than its big brother the TomTom One weighing in at a 6.1 ounces and only 1 inch in depth. Here are the some minor specs:

Unit Size: 3.8"H x 3.2"W x 1"D
Display Size: 3.5" (Diagonal)
Weight: 6.1 oz

Also worth noting is the TomTom 130 now boasts a 3 hour battery charge instead of the paltry 2 hour that left TomTom One owners completely dependent on the cigarette chargers in their cars. 3 hours isn't exactly a wealth of time but it is an improvement and a little more realistic.

Also included with the product is TomTom's exclusive Map Share feature that allows users to make their own map corrections and share them with other TomTom customers through their online connection using the TomTom Home software on their PC. This service is free of charge.

This has been the subject of some confusion among TomTom users and should be pointed out. Some customers mistakenly think the Map Share updates they receive are entire map upgrades. This is not so. Although TomTom does provide its customers with Map Share updates free of charge these only include minor map modifications, such as dead end streets that weren't marked properly or points-of-interest that were marked out of place. These Map Share updates do not include the miles of new roads being built every year across America & Canada. In order to receive these major map updates customers will have to pay for them.

Of course the TomTom 130 will already come included with the latest Tele Atlas which is now version 720.1802, and although TomTom has major map upgrades throughout the year most customers (including myself) will be content with just paying for an upgrade once a year. This guarantees that you will always have the latest maps with the newest roads.

Like the TomTom One 3rd Edition the TomTom 130 comes with a "Help Me" button which when pressed opens features such as "Phone For Help" which displays emergency numbers for the current location (such as and typically 911) "Drive To Help" which show you the quickest way to the nearest police station or hospital and a "First Aid Guide" which is provided by the British Red Cross.

Also included in the safety features is an option to sound a custom alarm if any of the following occur:

1. When approaching a school or church
2. When driving faster than a set speed
3. When driving faster than allowed

The 130 still uses the same TomTom touch screen user-interface so prior TomTom users will already be familiar with the controls but with such a user friendly design even new customers will have the hang of it in no time. The screen is a bright 3.5 inch full TFT color LCD with 320 x 240 pixels that supports 64K colors.

For first time GPS buyers this unit is perfect because of its price, portability, latest maps, outstanding user-interface, and simplicity. For someone looking to upgrade to something a little more advanced try the TomTom 130S with text-to-speech capability (verbal pronunciation of street names).
Love my TomTom
 
Review Date: May 22, 2008
Reviewer: S. Harvey, Colorado
I recently bought the Magellan Maestro 3225 and, after 5 days, returned it because it was really user unfriendly. I then got the TomTom for the same price and I love it! So many more features than the other one. One thing I love is that it gives you a choice of route and background colors so that you can decide what color scheme works best for you. Also, gives you several choices of voices to choose from, which is nice. The British one is so polite! HA HA! I would highly recommend this device, and at $150, it's a good deal. One thing -- I highly recommend downloading the Mr. T voice ... There's nothing better than to be told to make a left up here, fool! I pity you!
EXCELLENT GPS FOR THE $$$$$
 
Review Date: May 31, 2009
Reviewer: Yooper, Upper Michigan
If you do not require live traffic or bluetooth and just need guidance, this unit is all you need. Good mapping, compact and very easy to use. In fact my 6 year get's a kick out of entering the routing. Why pay [...] when there is no need? BTW....I was sceptical about the rebate but, I received my check within 4 weeks with zero issues. Very nice buying experience and did not have to step into a retial store.
Very Good
 
Review Date: July 7, 2008
Reviewer: D. Anderson, Murfreesboro, TN United States
I really don't know what more you could expect for the price. First, the sound. I'm partially deaf, and the unit set at 85% volume, it is just fine. At 100%, it's too loud. There must have been a bad productin run in the earlier ones, because mine is just great. Second, it will snap out of it's mount when adjusting...unless you also also hold the mounting part while adjusting the position of unit. No big deal and problem solved. Third, all maps, everybody's, are out of date the moment they are created. That's the nature of growth and constant change. However, I'm impressed as to how current this unit is. I did update it right away from the Tom Tom web site and got a later version map from the one originally installed. It has interstate off ramps and shopping centers in my area that were only completed 6 months ago. Forth, finding a location. Remember, it is intended to locate a place that is unfamilar to you, find it for you. It does that nicely. However, it may not follow the same routing to get you there that you might choose otherwise for yourself. You might like using some back streets, neighborhood streets that would maybe work better you think. But, if you already knew how to get there, why are you using the GPS? If you are unfamilar with how to get to your destination, it will take you there. If you do however wish to take alternate routing, say you know basically where you are going, but just can't find the particular address, then go your way and it will constantly update new routing until you get to the destination, and it will tell you when you have arrived. I am impressed with the detail of the maps. It has service roads in some of our shopping centers, pavement that is almost part of the parking lot. It locks onto you location very quickly and is very accurate in positioning you at locations. I did notice in a couple of cases, street addresses (my street and house) are a few hundred feet from there actual location. However, MapQuest and others have the same errors. Again, this level of technology for this price, unbelievable.
great little unit
 
Review Date: July 7, 2009
Reviewer: Lake, New York
This item does essentially all that a gps unit should. It has more than enough features to make it an excellent choice.

I was able to update my refurbished unit to the latest maps through the downloaded software "tomtom home". The map update was free, same as with the brand new units. You get one for the first 30 days of ownership, and the tomtom home website recognized my refurbed unit as available for a free update. Other posts have commented variably on this.

A comment was made about an poor manual.. In the box is only a basic start up guide, but the detailed and easy to understand manual can be downloaded from the tomtom support website.

The audio and selection of voices are fine. The suction cup is a neat and very usable idea. The unit will recalculate your route if you take a detour, therefore avoiding the endless 'turn around' commands of some. It will also recalculate alternative routes to the end position should you choose.

The screen resolution is fine and bright. There is a choice of map displays for night and day use. 2d and 3d views can be selected.

Entries are made by touching the icons on the screen... really simple. That makes navigation around the menu very easy and the menus are intuitive.

I found that putting in an address is easy: you pick a state, start typing in a city (it will predict which one when you get in enough letters), do the same for the street name, and then touch in the street address.

Points of interest included within the memory are more than adequate for me, and more can be downloaded from tomtom home. That is, the unit has a list of parks, airports etc without typing in their address.

The refurbished price[...] makes it a great deal too. The unit looked perfectly new... no indication it had been refurbished.



TomTom XL 330S 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished)

Amazon.com Price: $69.69 (as of 2010-07-30 19:56:19 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
TomTom XL 330S 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished)
 
Manufacturer: TomTom
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $139.95
Sale Price: $69.69
Availibility: Usually ships in 2 days
Free Shipping Available
Buy Now
 

Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description Boasting a 4.3-inch widescreen LCD for easier viewing in the car, the TomTom XL 330 and XL 330S features the plug and play ease of use, rock-solid navigation, and sleek design we've come to expect from TomTom. Both models come pre-loaded with highly accurate maps for the United States and Canada, with TomTom Map Share technology that enables you to instantly modify street names, street direction, and POIs on your own device.

Both models share the same navigation and user interface features. Howerver, the XL 330S adds text-to-speech, which means instead of hearing "turn right in 50 feet," you'll hear "turn right in 50 feet at Ohio Street."



TomTom's XL 330 series GPS devices have a 4.3-inch widescreen display.

Key Features and Benefits

  • Easy to Use right out of the box (Learn more)
  • Clear Directions from the sensitive touchscreen display with turn-by-turn spoken directions
  • TomTom Map Share lets you instantly modify street names, street direction, and POIs on your own device and benefit from others' corrections (Learn more)
  • "Help Me!" Emergency Menu gives one-touch access to local emergency providers, such as police, fire stations, and hospitals
  • Preloaded Complete Maps of the United States and Canada with TeleAtlas data
  • EasyPort mount is foldable and slim for easy portability
  • POI icons easily find gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more along your route. Customize by adding your own points of interest
  • QuickGPSfix speeds up the time it takes to fix your GPS position to help you drive off more quickly.
  • Traffic-Capable with optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver accessory keeps you up-to-date on traffic events to minimize potential delays
  • Daily Fuel Prices, available as an optional service, finds the lowest priced gas on your route

Specifications

  • Display: 4.3-inch TFT color LCD touchscreen (480 x 272 pixels, 64,000 colors)
  • Connectivity: USB port for charging and downloading maps and updates
  • Power: Internal Lithium-Ion battery for up to 3 hours of operation
  • Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.2 x 0.9 inches
  • Weight: 6.6 ounces

What's in the Box

TomTom XL 330S navigation device, EasyPort windshield mount, car charger, USB cable, dashboard mounting disk, printed documentation

Learn More

Easy To Use


Clear and easy widescreen interface


Instant route re-calculation if you deviate from the planned route.

Buy a TomTom device, and it works straight out of the box: Just plug it in and a few taps of the touchscreen later, you're on your way with clear, turn-by-turn spoken directions complementing. TomTom's easy-to-use interface has been extensively tested by independent assessors in the field and at TomTom's unique User Experience Labs

Preloaded Maps
The XL 330 series GPS device comes preinstalled with complete maps of the United States and Canada

Help When You Need It
Extensive safety features, including "Help Me" menu to give drivers direct access to emergency services and roadside assistance

 navigation screen
Icon-driven menu system

help screen
Emergency menu gives you fast direct access to emergency numbers and directions to the nearest assistance


New -- Small Mount, Big Speaker


 The integrated EasyPort Mount means you never need to figure out where to stow a mount in your car, and you never leave a sign for potential thieves that there might be a tempting electronic prize under your seat. The entire unit, mount and all, is small enough to fit into a jacket pocket, so just fold it up and go!

It comes with mounting discs for both windshield and dashboard.

A large speaker gives you the best audio quality, eliminating distortions so you hear your instructions loud and clear.


TomTom MapShare -- Maps Served Fresh Daily
With TomTom Map Share, you can update your map directly on your device as and when you spot road changes, and download daily updates from millions of Map Share users worldwide via your computer.

Enabling Map Share gives you:

  • instantly improved maps every day on your TomTom device;
  • entry into the world's largest navigation community;
  • the ability to share improvements daily with other TomTom users;
  • full control over improvements that are uploaded and downloaded; and
  • the best and most accurate maps available--always.
Map Share changes you can make instantly:
  • block / unblock street;
  • reverse traffic direction;
  • edit street name;
  • add missing Points of Interest;
  • edit Points of Interest; and
  • report other errors.
When joining the Map Share community, you can select various "levels of trust."
You might decide to receive only improvements that have been verified by TomTom, or changes that have been submitted by trusted sources.


New -- Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest

Search for the location you want.


Pick "Send to GPS."

 Itching to try out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to locate the best donuts on the west coast? Now, it's easy to search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest, then transfer the addresses directly to your TomTom.
  1. Install TomTom HOME on your compter
  2. Hook up your TomTom to the computer via its USB port
  3. Search for the location you want.
  4. Click the Send link in the info window for the address. That will bring up a popup "Send to" form.
  5. Pick GPS, then pick TomTom, and hit the "Send" button.
The address will instantly transfer to your TomTom device, the point will be saved as one of your favorites, and you can navigate to it or view it on a map just like with any other favorite.



Important Product Information

This is a refurbished GPS. Refurbished generally means that the unit has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the navigator back to like-new conditions. Some refurbished GPS devices might contain cosmetic blemishes. There is a six-month guarantee on parts and labor on TomTom refurbished products.


QuickGPSfix

Starting up can seem like a slow business, particularly if you're in a hurry, because the GPS receiver needs to know exactly where each GPS satellite is to calculate your location. But satellites only broadcast their positions once every 30 seconds. So if any of their signals are interrupted--for example, by passing high buildings--the whole position-fixing process has to repeat itself again and again until the perfect fix is achieved. QuickGPSfix takes a smarter approach.

QuickGPSfix can speed up the time it takes to fix your GPS position by downloading the latest satellite data via an Internet connection. Just connect your TomTom device to your computer, and TomTom HOME automatically downloads "QuickGPSfix"--a special GPS data file that helps your TomTom fix your position quicker, even when the GPS signal is weak or partially blocked.

This unique, free service--which comes as standard with the GO (920/720/520/910/710/510) and ONE (XL/New Edition)--helps you fix your position and get navigating faster than ever.

On the road or no access to TomTom HOME?
Get the same "QuickGPSfix" data by simply connecting to any TomTom PLUS service, using a wireless data connection (GO 920/720/520/910/710/510 and ONE XL/3RD EDITION and 2nd Edition). As soon as a connection is established, the "QuickGPSfix" data is automatically updated.

Note: QuickGPSfix data has limited validity. So to keep on getting a faster position-fix, re-connect your device at least once a week.

To minimize the amount of data sent over your wireless data connection, this automatic update is only carried out if the data on your device is over 5 days old. The associated data usage of this service is less than 10 Kb per connection. Please contact your mobile service provider to determine the exact costs. To disable this automatic update, just select ‘Disable Auto QuickGPSfix' on your TomTom device.



Fun Extras to Personalize Your TomTom

New smart and fun extras to personalize users' devices:
  • record driving instructions in your own voice;
  • buy fun voices from TomTom;
  • exchange files (of photos, songs, HTML documents, etc.) between your GO and any other Bluetooth-enabled device (laptop, phone, other TomToms);
  • select a favorite car icon on the screen;
  • load, store, and preview photos from your digital camera; and
  • enjoy music with the built-in MP3 player (earphones connector available via an optional SD card).


TomTom Traffic

With an optional RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver accessory, you can get traffic information from the RDS-TMC Traffic service, which is delivered over unused FM radio channels.
Traffic information is fully integrated into the TomTom navigation experience.
The RDS-TMC receiver is available as an accessory for the GO 930/730/530, 920/720/520, 910/710/510, ONE 3rd edition, ONE XL, ONE (30 series) and XL (30 series).

The RDS-TMC receiver accessory comes with a 1-year free subscription to the TMC traffic service.

With some TomTom models, an RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver is included in the box. This is indicated by the addition of "T" or "Traffic" to the model name. An example is "ONE Traffic".
.

Key features

  • Real-time traffic information across the US, using the most accurate and up-to-date sources.
  • Detailed incident reports, delay times estimated, alternative routes proposed, and (if enabled) automatic rerouting.
  • Accurate real-time warnings about dangerous road conditions ahead (fog, snow, ice, and so on) anywhere in Europe, Australia, and the United States (TomTom application version 6.0 or higher).
  • Clear on-screen animated or spoken (GO 920/720/520/910) traffic alerts as and when you want them.
  • Smart push technology, which minimizes the amount of data needed to update traffic information on your device.
  • Smart subscription--when you buy new maps, the Traffic service automatically becomes available in those countries too.


Supported Languages
The user interface/application comes in the following languages:
  • Catalan
    		•
  • Latvian
    		•
  • Czech
    		•
  • Lithuanian
    		•
  • Danish
    		•
  • Norwegian
    		•
  • Dutch
    		•
  • Polish
    		•
  • Estonian
    		•
  • Portuguese
    		•
  • Finnish
    		•
  • Slovakian
    		•
  • Flemish
    		•
  • Spanish
    		•
  • French
    		•
  • Swedish
    		•
  • German
    		•
  • Turkish
    		•
  • Hungarian
    		•
  • UK English
    		•
  • Italian
    		•
  • US English
    		•
    Spoken navigation instructions come in the following languages:
  • Australian
    		•
  • Japanese
    		•
  • Brazilian Portuguese
  • Latin American Spanish
  • Bulgarian
    		•
  • Latvian
    		•
  • Catalan
    		•
  • Lithuanian
    		•
  • Chinese Mandarin
  • Malaysian
    		•
  • Chinese Cantonese
  • Norwegian
    		•
  • Croatian
    		•
  • Polish
    		•
  • Czech
    		•
  • Portuguese
    		•
  • Danish
    		•
  • Romanian
    		•
  • Dutch
    		•
  • Russian
    		•
  • Estonian
    		•
  • Serbian
    		•
  • Finnish
    		•
  • Slovenian
    		•
  • Flemish
    		•
  • Spanish
    		•
  • French
    		•
  • Swedish
    		•
  • German
  • Thai
    		•
  • Greek
    		•
  • Turkish
    		•
  • Hungarian
    		•
  • UK English
  • Italian
    		•
  • US English
    		•



    About TomTom

    TomTom NV is the world's largest navigation solution provider, developing products with an emphasis on innovation, quality, ease of use, and value. TomTom's products include all-in-one navigation devices that enable customers to navigate right out of the box, including the award-winning TomTom GO family, the TomTom ONE range, and the TomTom RIDER (for motorcycles). TomTom also provides navigation software products that integrate with third-party devices, the TomTom NAVIGATOR software for PDAs, and smartphones. TomTom WORK combines industry-leading communication and smart-navigation technology with leading-edge tracking and tracing expertise. TomTom's products are sold through a network of leading retailers in 25 countries and online. TomTom was founded in 1991 in Amsterdam and has offices in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific.

    Product Details
    • Portable GPS device with 4.3-inch widescreen touch LCD
    • Preloaded with US and Canadian maps from TeleAtlas and millions of POIs, with ability to add and customize your own
    • EasyPort mount easily attaches to your windshield and folds away for easy portability
    • Traffic-capable with optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver (sold separately)
    • Includes car charger; internal battery provides up to 3 hours of continuous usage

    Video Reviews
    No video reviews found for this product.

    Customer Reviews
    best bang for the buck
     
    Review Date: May 25, 2009
    Reviewer: Michael A. Mundy, North Carolina
    bought this unit for the wide screen and street name instructions feature - have used for two vacation trips to unfamiliar areas and so far it is everything I expected. Very accurate, good instructions, good street name pronunciation and very quick rerouting if wrong turn taken.
    First unit I received had out of date maps which tommtom would not update for free, but Amazon quickly shipped me a replacement unit that updated maps free at tomtom home with no problem. Amazon really stands behind the items I have purchased through them.
    Great unit at an awesome pricE!
     
    Review Date: September 13, 2009
    Reviewer: James, Auburn Hills, MI
    I had a very expensive Garmin Nuvi prior to this that I paid $600 for 2.5 years ago. The antenna stopped working so needed to buy another on ASAP as I use it to travel as a sales rep for my company. I decided that rather than spending another $600 or even $300, I was going to try a less expensive unit. I found the this unit for $99 and decided that at $99 I did not have much to lose if I did not like it. Besides, Amazon is great about returns.

    Long story short - this unit is great. The mounting bracket is self contained so it is smaller to transport than some other units. This unit also has text to speech, which is rare for less expensive units. It does not do uneeded features for me like play MP3s. It gets me from poitn A to point B with easy to follow instructions.

    I love this unit! I even like it better than the $600 unit I have from Garmin!
    TomTom
     
    Review Date: March 20, 2009
    Reviewer: Julio J. Rodriguez, West New York, NJ, USA
    I had problems with the first TomTom that I received, because I order the one that say the street name and it didn't do it. I returned it and the one that I have now does the job very well. Up to now is working the way is suppose to do.
    Seriously Great Deal!
     
    Review Date: December 10, 2009
    Reviewer: Gheith Al Jrew, USA
    Well, I'd have to start by saying that this is my first GPS navigator. So, I can't compare it to any other product out there. However, I've searched this product reviews online prior to buying it & it was almost always well praised. Check Editor's review on [...] for instance.
    OK, I was a little hesitant to buy a 'factory refurbished' product but judging by this piece, I have no reason to do so any more. It looks & functions as a brand new. And it is a great value for the money.
    a) It installs very easily.
    b) It picks up signal fairly quick. I've tried it on cloudy days too & it worked as fine.
    c) I thought at first its battery dies quick but honestly it never died on me while driving. It takes somewhere between 1-2 hours to fully charge. Besides, it comes with a car charger so that shouldn't be a problem for long travels.
    d) It comes with a GREAT SPEAKER. The sound is really LOUD & CLEAR. I've tested it while driving with the radio on & I was having a conversation with a friend in the front passenger seat. I had Tom Tom XL330S on 90% volume. It was loud enough to set me focused back on the road!
    d) The screen is really wide & comfortable to look at.
    e) Mounting & dismounting this product is rather unique. I didn't like it at first but I soon got used to it. Now, no problems at all.

    Bottom Line: I'd recommend Tom Tom XL330s to a friend. Great performance, Ease of use, Great Value for your money.
    Make sure you buy TOM TOM XL330s and not a similar product. I'd also buy a carry case with it since the package ships free.
    tom tom gps
     
    Review Date: August 3, 2009
    Reviewer: Aaron Akselrud, Brooklyn NY
    This is a wonderful upgrade in Tom Tom Technology. It has a larger screen, text to speech and it arrived in ex cellent condition. the only downside is the fact that the voice often mispronounces names, ie. bridge becomes, branch. But i would certainly recommedn it to anyone.

    TomTom XL 330-S 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Box Version)

    Amazon.com Price: $92.79 (as of 2010-07-30 20:54:06 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
    User Reviews Send this to a friend
    TomTom XL 330-S 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Box Version)
     
    Manufacturer: TomTom
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $159.95
    Sale Price: $92.79
    Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
    Buy Now
     

    Product Description
    The TomTom XL 330-S is easy-to-use widescreen navigation. TomTom's award-winning software means effortless navigation from point A to point B. Switch on and go right out of the box. Just enter the address on the touchscreen and start driving anywhere in the United States or Canada. TomTom guides you door-to-door with turn-by-turn spoken instructions including street names. And 3D graphics help guide you to your destination.

    Easy-to-use widescreen navigation. Click to enlarge.

    TomTom's award-winning software means effortless navigation from point A to point B. Click to enlarge.

    An extra-wide touchscreen helps you find your way, worry-free.

    The XL 330-S is preloaded with millions of points of interest to enhance your traveling experience--easily find your favorite gas stations, hotels, restaurants, and more.

    TomTom has the most accurate maps, and with TomTom Map Share technology, you instantly can modify street names, street direction, points of interest, and more on your own device. And with the "Help Me!" menu, added safety features enable you to easily access local emergency providers, such as police, fire stations, and hospitals.

    The Fold & Go EasyPort mount folds flat against the device, making it easy to take it with you from car to car.

    Go confidently.

    How to Update Your Map

    XL 330-S Features

    • Maps of United States and Canada with TomTom Map Share
    • Spoken Street Names
    • Fold & Go EasyPort Mount
    • 4.3-inch Touchscreen

    All TomToms Feature

    Plug & Go--Works right out of the box.

    Preloaded Points of Interest--Easily find millions of gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more on your route.

    30-Day Latest Map Guarantee--Up to date, off the shelf.

    TomTom Map Share--Modify your own map and benefit from others' verified changes with TomTom Map Share.

    Help Me! Emergency Menu--Easily access local emergency providers, such as police, fire stations, and hospitals.

    TomTom HOME--Always up to date.

    Traffic Ready--Optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver accessory keeps you up-to-date on traffic events to minimize potential delays.

    Fuel Price Service (optional)--Know more, pay less.

    Why TomTom?

    TomTom believes that personal navigation should be as easy and safe as possible. TomTom develops smart technology that gives you straightforward solutions, innovations to make life easy.

    Easy to Use

    • Award-winning navigation software
    • Plug & go

    Best Maps

    • 30-Day Latest Map Guarantee
    • Modify your own map and benefit from others' verified changes with TomTom Map Share

    Best Routing

    • QuickGPSfix
    • Traffic ready

    Leader in Safety

    • Help Me! emergency resources menu
    • Safety preferences menu

    About TomTom

    Founded in Amsterdam in 1991, TomTom has established itself as a global leader in navigation by being an innovative company with a strong brand, clear customer focus, and high-quality products and services.

    TomTom is a leading navigation solutions provider with navigation products sold in 30 countries and in over 20 languages. To further its commitment to car navigation, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas maps in 2008 so that the company can continually provide the most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing.

    TomTom has its own mapping company!

    Did you know that every year, roads change by up to 40% in high-growth areas? Tele Atlas manages this by using the world's most comprehensive systems to identify and incorporate these changes into our maps with unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. All TomTom devices benefit from the Tele Atlas advantage--more coverage, more points of interest, and more freshness and accuracy.

    What's in the Box

    TomTom XL 330-S device, Windshield mount, desk dock, car charger, software/manual CD, documentation

    Product Details
    • Maps of United States and Canada with TomTom Map Share with TomTom's 30-Day Latest Map Guarantee--Up to date, off the shelf
    • Guides you door-to-door with turn-by-turn spoken instructions including street names
    • Preloaded Points of Interest--Easily find millions of gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more on your route
    • The Fold & Go EasyPort mount folds flat against the device, making it easy to take it with you from car to car
    • Switch on and go right out of the box

    Video Reviews
    No video reviews found for this product.

    Customer Reviews
    Absolutely the best GPS I've had so far
     
    Review Date: July 30, 2008
    Reviewer: Tom Music,
    So far I had owned 3 GPS devices: the Tomtom One 3rd edition, the Garmin nuvi 350 and this latest Tomtom 330s model. Before owning, I have used the Garmin Streetpilots given by many car rentals.
    By far, this is the best of the three:

    Pros:
    - Wide screen
    - Text to speech
    - LOUD speaker (I've read some reviews of a soft speaker - I guess either it was a bad batch of devices, or you didn't read the instructions on how to change the volume. With mine, on 80% it's blasting over the radio AND road noise.)
    - Volume adjusts to driving speed
    - great GPS reception (even in NYC, although sometimes because of tall buildings can have a little trouble finding current position, but that's the problem with ALL of the GPSs I've had, including the very highly reviewed nuvi 350)
    - The new Easyport mount that eliminates the need to carry three things for your trip: the Device, the mount (sometimes more than one part) and the car charger. This new mount is a blessing and a small nuisance at the same time since it makes it slightly more difficult to fit snugly into a pocket or a pouch, but is definitely more of a pro than a con because of its simplicity of use and the eliminated extra plastic thing to carry. This little issue can be solved either by buying the Tomtom carrying case (the one made specifically for the models with the easy mount for an extra ~$28 on Amazon), or simply by detaching it from the back since it is detachable. Though detaching it, some would say, is defying its purpose...
    - "Tomtom Home" software is a breeze to use and lets you add user updates to the maps when roads get blocked or other changes take effect to the preinstalled map.
    - Device SOFTWARE SOFTWARE SOFTWARE: The best software of a device I've had the pleasure of using. Explanation follows:
    The software allows much more intuitive handling of the device than any Garmin I've found.
    It's quick, it's easy, and the most important, when you search for a name of a POI, it uses the more modern approach that allows you to type any letter or word no matter where it appears on the name of the POI and it'll show you the results on the list.
    There are dozens of advantages in the software over the one of the Garmins I've used but I can't possibly list them all.
    Some important features to note are that the actual Navigation Screen View gives you so much more clear information (which one can, of course, tweak to one's liking) such as current time, time of arrival, total trip distance, remaining time to destination, GPS signal strength, next turn's street name, current street name, direction of and distance to next maneuver (which nuvi 350 garmin only tells you which way to go right before the turn), and to that you can add a compass, change the car symbol and even more impressive - the color scheme of the map!

    I have to say this is just a SHORT list of software features I absolutely love and think are on a much higher level of sophistication than what I've seen of Garmin.

    Cons:
    I really have to strain to think of any, but there are some minor ones (after all, nothing's perfect)
    - As I said the Easyport mount can be a little problematic when fitted into a pocket, but it CAN be removed from the back (see pros).
    - The car charger takes a little practice to insert it easily.
    - The "Password" feature when powering on the device seems more fluff than a hindering threat. It doesn't really lock the device if for example you enter the wrong password three consecutive times or so, it just won't let you use the device until the right combination is entered.
    - No bluetooth capability. For some it's a con, but for me personally it's a pro (because I don't really need it anyways, and if any corner should be cut to make the product less expensive, this is it!)
    - The map isn't as pretty as on the garmins. It has a little more jagged lines but, if visual beauty is important to you in a map representation of a GPS, you're really looking in the wrong direction...

    In other words, warmly recommended for the people who are interested in getting the best GPS for their hard-earned dollars.
    Excellent GPS, and easy to use too!
     
    Review Date: November 13, 2008
    Reviewer: M. Wells,
    I bought this GPS for my wife. I had a Tomtom GP 720 which I have been very happy with, but my wife didn't want all of the extra features the 7xx line provides. We came to focus on just a few features when comparison shopping. She wanted text-to-speech so that the GPS would read out the names of Roads and Cities which would make navigation easier. She also wanted a wide-screen display so that the GPS would be easer to see. We checked out Tomtoms, Garmins, and even some Magellins and Sonys at a local big-box store. I tried to stay hand-off -- I am a tech person; my wife is a bit less-so. I wanted her to try each one out and make her decision. She found that the Tomtom was easiest for her to use and understand. She was able to quickly route to addresses and Points of interest. The screen is clear and easy to read; the voice is easy to understand. Installation was quick and easy - this has the new Tomtom mount which tightens via suction when you twist the mount - much better than trying to push a suction cup onto the windshield. Six months later and she is still happy with the purchase.
    Much Better Than Expected
     
    Review Date: June 5, 2009
    Reviewer: MagnumMan, Florida
    I recently got a Tom-Tom 330 S XL as a gift although I really never have seen much sense in GPS systems. I've always been of the thought that if I didn't know my destination and how to get there, maybe I should stay off the road.

    Yes, I've used GPS systems before, but most of them were disappointments due to confusing user functions, inaccurate mapping, etc.

    This unit changed all that.

    Good points include:

    * If you can't figure out how to operate this unit, it's because you can't read or find the power button. It has just that one button, anyway. No confusing array of nonsense switches and buttons. You have the power button and a plug for the power in the bottom. My previous Magellan looked like a piano keyboard for all the buttons it had.
    * Included instructions stated I would need at least 5 minutes to find my first signal. Mind you, I was inside a concrete structure when it was delivered so I took a risk turning it on to begin with. This building has 8 inch floors and ceilings along with 6 inch walls with hardly any windows. It took all of about 10 seconds to find a GPS signal and gave my exact location.
    * I noticed the screen lists vehicle speed and exact location (latitude and longitude) so I decided to play a game and walk to another area of the building thinking I could fool it. Nope, that charade didn't work. It told me I was walking about 4 mph and followed me all around. That's accuracy!
    * Wider screen makes for easier viewing. My previous Magellan had a screen that was too small to effectively read.
    * Choice of screen contrasts ranging from a darker screen for daytime use to a lighter screen for nighttime driving. First GPS I've had with this feature.
    * Easy operation. If you're on a map and you need to get to the menu, just touch the screen. Touch "Done" when you're finished and it's back to the map.
    * I programmed the unit to take me home and noticed it gave me the shortest distance, which is great; however, that route requires travel on a toll road at $2 so I took my usual route home. In less than a minute it figured I had veered off course and reset itself to the course I normally take.
    * When I got home I thought the unit was off by about 25 feet on finding my home until I realized it was recognizing my lot boundaries, not the driveway. It was dead on almost to the inch on spotting my lot.
    * Due to work, I have a certified speedometer in my vehicle and the speed indicator on the Tom-Tom was dead on with my electronic speedometer in the car. The onboard speedometer has a warning feature that tells you you're exceeding the known speed limit on a certain highway. Truthfully, I didn't even know it had that feature until I heard it tell me.
    * It goes from overhead to straight on mapping. When it first plots your route it gives you an overhead or slightly angular map view. When you start driving it reverts to a straight on view with a slight angle. In short, you see the road on the GPS as it actually appears in front of you.
    * Built in mounting assembly is nice and avoids the problem of having to fish around for a mount in your car (leaving the mount on the windshield tells thieves you've got a $200 goody inside).
    * Proper length for the accessory power connection. I once had a radar detector with a 12 inch power connection cord. Too bad the power connector was over 2 feet away from the windshield. The Tom-Tom comes with what appears to be a 2.5 foot cord on the connector.
    * I've read some complaints about the volume being too low, but I thought it was just right. It may also depend upon the voice you opt for - some are more distinct than others. Besides, this creature must have a 3 inch speaker on the back so it's not the usual tinny coin sized speaker you usually see. Even with windows down at 50 mph I had no problem hearing it.

    Bad points:

    * Attached mount is great, but it makes for a bulky package. Fat chance you'll find the usual bag to hold this along with the power cords. Also, the mount and its attachment are sturdy but what happens if it breaks? No standard mount will hold this unit due to its bulk.
    * Due to elongated length, it's a little top heavy if you opt for the dashboard mount. This unit comes with an adhesive disk for dash attachment which I do use, but make sure you attach the unit properly. If you're a little loose, it will fall off the dash. When I attached it to the windshield it never once loosened.
    * It must be the bulk, but it does wiggle a little during driving on less than smooth roads, but not so much it's irritating.
    * Power connector is a mini USB dongle which is not great big deal, but the connector port is recessed on the bottom of the unit making attachment a bit tricky sometimes. Once it's in, it stays in, though.

    In short, you really can't lose with this unit. For those who complain about roads not being updated or slightly out of date, consider how much work goes into creating the maps these things use and the sheer number of roads in the U.S. and Canada. Even MapQuest isn't right all the time!
    Amazing for those with no sense of direction!
     
    Review Date: September 10, 2008
    Reviewer: Jason Nadler, Wading River, NY United States
    I'm one of those unfortunate souls who is lost once you turn me around once. I joke my internal compass always faces north (not magnetic north, mind you, just that no matter what direction I am facing my intuition suggests that's north). Needless to say, I am often lost. My friends love seeing where I'm taking them when I drive and have often bet one another on whether or not I will reach a destination I've been to a dozen times without making a wrong turn.

    Now that I've gotten that confession out, onto the 330S XL.

    I played with a few items in the store before I made the decision to buy this. I found that the TomTom was easy to use and incredibly intuitive. I looked at Garmin, and my only hesitancy was that when a zip code straddles two townships, it offers multiple choices based upon the larger townships and not the smaller, named community and zip, and this lead to some confusion.

    As irony would have it, I recently started a job where I drive from office to office, so I was using Google Maps to plot out my travels. My problem with this was the first direction always starts with a direction to head in (NW, SE), and I am oblivious as to what direction I am facing, as mentioned previously. So I compared the two, the TomTom directions and the G-Maps directions, and they were identical. The difference: TomTom knew where I was when I didn't. I didn't have to pay attention, it was telling me when and where to turn.

    The speaker was plenty loud. I know others have commented about it, but I actually had to lower mine because it kept startling me even with the radio on. I now keep it at 70% because I can hear it clearly but it's not so loud that it makes me jump.

    The screen is loaded with information, and at first this is distracting. How far and how much time to the destination, the next turn, the current and next street names. After a few hours, I became aware of what everything was and could merely glance and know what was up.

    The directions are very accurate - down to when to turn. Now, I wouldn't suggest this, but the directions are almost accurate enough to take blindfolded, meaning that when it says turn, you're usually right at the spot where you need to start your turn. I've seen in-car units where the accuracy isn't that succinct.

    My only complaint is that it's not 100% simple to take in and out of the car - it attaches by suction to the windshield, and you either have to undo the suction or pop the TomTom from the mount. Now this foible is also what keeps it so tightly attached, so I can't really complain - I'd just rather see a different solution - it's the sort of device I don't want to leave in my car and would rather just take with me when I go into a store.

    Overall, I like the thing and recommend it for ease of use, accuracy, and volume!
    A great GPS value with solid performance, lots of features
     
    Review Date: April 9, 2009
    Reviewer: Kim, Willoughby, OH USA
    If you are shopping for a navigation device for your car, then you have probably felt overwhelmed with the choices. If you are looking at the TomTom XL 330s, you are a practical person who needs to get from Point A to Point B with reliability. You simply need a GPS device and not a multimedia player with Bluetooth connectivity. Navigation is your goal. That's what you get with the XL 330s, but don't let simplicity fool you. I discovered you get a lot for your money with this unit.

    In a nutshell:

    THE GOOD
    * Less expensive than its top competitor, Garmin.
    * Fast GPS fixes, superb sensitivity.
    * Guaranteed latest maps free with new purchase.
    * Annual map updates are inexpensive at <$10/per quarter.
    * User map updates are free through Map Share community.
    * Macintosh and PC software compatibility.
    * Customizable features include colors, icons.
    * You can record your own voice for spoken directions.
    * Voices are clear, volume can auto adjust to speed.
    * Suction mount has a vice grip.
    * On-screen info helpful.
    * Trim profile.

    THE NOT SO GOOD
    * Window mount can be a little tricky until you get used to it.
    * No SD card slot. All memory is internal and not upgradeable.
    * (The memory is thus far adequate)
    * No AC charger included. DC car charger and USB cable included.

    I have tried several GPS units in the past and still have navigation on my SmartPhone, but I didn't want to tie up my cell phone while I was trying to navigate the streets of Tampa while on business for four days. I knew I had to buy a standalone GPS and I was most pleased with the performance of the TomTom XL 330s.

    My needs were simple and I had narrowed down my choices to the Garmin 255W and the TomTom XL 330s. Both are widescreen devices with good features from reputable companies. I picked the TomTom over the Garmin for several reasons:

    * It was approximately $60 less than the Garmin.
    * Map updates and corrections could be done through TomTom Map Share.
    * TomTom allows subscriptions to its map updates for under $10.
    * There was more trip information on the TomTom screen.
    * It was just as customizable as the Garmin.
    * TomTom's software is Apple Mac and PC compatible.

    The last issue for me was huge. I have three Macs and didn't want to have to keep a PC around, or install a Windows simulator program on my MacBook Pro. It is too clunky. The TomTom Home software is simple to use and allows me to access my 330s very easily to perform customizations of the maps, icons and even the splash screen.

    Map updates can be done through TomTom's Map Share community and TomTom guarantees the latest maps with the purchase of your device. When I purchased my 330s, the software informed me the maps it came with were two quarters (six months) old. I was allowed to download the latest U.S. and Canada maps for free (one time only).

    TomTom users can upload corrections, then download corrections made buy other users for easy map updates. You can note corrections while you are using the device, so if you find that a road no longer connects to another street, you can make that note on your device and upload it later to the Map Share community.

    I mentioned the on-screen information as a plus for this unit. I liked the fact I could see everything at the bottom of the screen, including distance to next turn, ETA, speed, GPS signal strength and time of day. I also found that when it came time for me to make an exit, TomTom produced a small green-and-white exit sign at the upper right of the screen that gave me the exit number as well as what was on the exit sign itself. The information was clear and very helpful. I never once used a paper map on this trip.

    This isn't a perfect unit and no GPS units are. I did find on several points of the trip where the 330s wanted to send me around the block instead of making a simple turn, but I believe that is because I did not have time to do the free map upgrade after I bought the unit. There are a lot of new street improvements, bridges and freeway changes in the Tampa Bay area. When I navigated to the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, for example, I couldn't get it to come up on the POI list and the exit to the address off the Interstate was wrong. In all fairness, the Interstate exit had been changed and the roadways were freshly paved with construction still going on. I found the hotel exit through a temporary sign posted on the Interstate.

    The sensitivity of this unit is astounding. I got my satellite fixes quickly and I couldn't believe that I still had a fix after placing the unit in the armrest storage while going in to a store! For grins, I tried it out on the plane ride back to Ohio and it locked on just fine, calculating our airspeed at just under 470 MPH. My friend sitting next to me on the plane had a Garmin Street Pilot. It couldn't find a satellite.

    This is a great unit for the money!

    Garmin nüvi 255 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

    Amazon.com Price: Too low to display (as of 2010-07-30 21:23:45 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
    User Reviews Send this to a friend
    Garmin nüvi 255 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
     
    Manufacturer: Garmin
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $249.99
    Sale Price: Too low to display
    Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
    Free Shipping Available
    Buy Now
     

    Product Description
    For peace of mind on the go, nüvi 255 leads the way with voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions that speak street names and optional MSN Direct to get you there on time and keep you informed. It's packed with millions of destinations and maps for North America or Europe. This portable navigator is priced right and ultra-easy to use.

    Navigate With Ease
    nüvi 255 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and and smooth map redraw rates as you navigate. Its digital elevation maps show you shaded contours at higher zoom levels, giving you a big picture of the surrounding terrain. In addition, nüvi 255 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. With HotFix satellite prediction, nüvi calculates your position faster to get you there quicker.

    Take It With You
    nüvi 255 sports a sleek, slim design and fits comfortably in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot. With its "Where Am I?" emergency locator, you always know your location. Simply tap the screen to get your exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and fuel stations.

    Go Beyond Navigation
    Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 255 includes many travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. With photo navigation, you can download pictures from Garmin Connect Photos and navigate to them. The 255 is compatible with optional enhanced MSN Direct content (subscription and receiver required) and our free Garmin Garage where you can download animated vehicles that show your location on the map. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature. Enhance your travel experience with optional plug-in microSD cards such as Garmin Travel Guides for detailed data on attractions.

    nüvi 255: Simple navigation at an affordable price

    Product Details
    • 3.5-inch Touch Screen Navigation with Turn by Turn spoken Directions
    • Pre-loaded Maps for all North America, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico with 6.5 million searchable points of interest
    • FM Traffic or MSN Direct Traffic/Content compatible (with optional GDB 55 receiver)
    • Easy to Use Interface; slim, pocket-sized form factor; 4-hour rechargeable battery; Vehicle power cable included;
    • Automatically Adjusts Your Time Zone While Navigating

    Video Reviews
    No video reviews found for this product.

    Customer Reviews

    TomTom XXL 540S 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

    Amazon.com Price: Too low to display (as of 2010-07-30 21:13:55 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
    User Reviews Send this to a friend
    TomTom XXL 540S 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
     
    Manufacturer: TomTom
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $199.95
    Sale Price: Too low to display
    Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
    Free Shipping Available
    Buy Now
     

    Product Description
    The TomTom XXL 540·S is complete navigation in a XXL widescreen device. Switch on and go right out of the box. Spoken turn-by-turn instructions including street names will guide you to any address in the US, Canada and Mexico--including more than 7 million preloaded points of interest.

    Complete navigation in a XXL widescreen device. Click to enlarge.

    EasyPort mount folds neatly onto the back of your device. Click to enlarge.

    Advanced Lane Guidance uses photorealistic images to bring even more clarity to complex multi-lane exits. Click to enlarge.

    Complete XXL Widescreen Navigation and Spoken Street Names

    IQ Routes
    IQ Routes Technology* gives you the fastest route every time by using actual average speeds of travel on your route to calculate your trip rather than only posted speed limits, so you'll always travel the smartest route.

    Advanced Lane Guidance
    Advanced Lane Guidance** uses photorealistic images to bring even more clarity to complex multi-lane exits so you can be more confident on the road.

    5-Inch Touchscreen
    An extra-wide 5.0-inch touchscreen helps you find your way, worry-free.

    TomTom Map Share
    TomTom has the most accurate maps and with TomTom Map Share technology you can instantly modify street names, street direction, POIs, road speeds and turn restrictions on your own device.

    Get Help
    With the "Help Me!" menu, there are added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers.

    EasyPort Mount
    The award-winning Fold & Go EasyPort mount folds flat against the device, making it easy to take it with you from car to car.

    The XXL 540·S is complete, widescreen navigation.

    *Feature only available in the United States and Canada
    **Feature available in the United States only

    What's in the Box
    TomTom XXL 540S 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator, Easyport mount, Documentation

    Product Details
    • TomTom GPS navigation with a five-inch, full-color, TFT LCD widescreen touch display
    • Preloaded maps of U.S., Canada & Mexico with TomTom Map Share, Advanced Lane Guidance and 7 Million POIs
    • IQ Routes Technology gives you the fastest route every time by using actual average speeds of travel on your route to calculate your trip
    • With TomTom Map Share technology, you can instantly modify street names, street direction, POIs, road speeds, and turn restrictions on your own device
    • Award-winning Fold and Go EasyPort mount, folds flat against the device, making it easy for users to transport

    Video Reviews
    No video reviews found for this product.

    Customer Reviews
    You'll have no trouble seeing this one!
     
    Review Date: December 3, 2009
    Reviewer: C. D. Hess, Rochester, NY
    I have owned several GPS units, including models from Garmin and Navman. I upgraded to this model from the TomTom 140S. This model has twice the screen size. The screen is brighter, and the sound is louder and fuller. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Routing is excellent. The Points of Interest database is huge. Advanced lane guidance is very helpful. The large screen makes data input easier. Like all TomToms, you can configure it to your liking.

    The only negative is that battery life is reduced because of the larger, brighter screen.
    First opinion of this device is great
     
    Review Date: May 17, 2010
    Reviewer: yogi, Canada
    I just bought it two days back. I was kind of skeptical with the map updates and activation code not working, after reading through so many reviews related with update failure etc.

    So I started with a full explorer backup of the device at windows level. It took about 45 minutes. Then I took another backup using Home software. That was another 45 minutes.

    Then I deleted unwanted voices to free up some space. It probably removed some 30-40MB of space. There was close to 400MB free after this step.

    Then I entered the activation code for lifetime free map updates using the Home software. It worked fine (at least it did not give me any errors).

    Then it detected that there is new versions of map available for download. I downloaded the new maps, which took another 20 minutes or so, and took further 30 minutes to update the device.

    The downloaded size of new maps was about 1.7GB, whereas the previous versions of maps occupied 1.43GB. Now my device has close to 60MB free out of the 1.9GB memory it has. I think if I would not have deleted unwanted voices, I would have come close to filling up all the space.

    I also downloaded the GPSquickfix.

    For the safety camera, when I had entered Canada as the home country, it did not show any information available to download. But after I switched it to US (from within HOME software), then it showed the data for US-Canada safety cameras, and I was able to download them.

    So overall, I did not face any issues earlier reviewers of TomTom XL/XXL series had mentioned.

    Regarding performance, I was pretty impressed with the speed it took to acquire satellite signal. I have a four year old HP-IPaq GPS (which runs TomTom software), and this new one is much faster than the HP one.

    Now before I made this purchase, I had bought Garmin 755T last week. I did not like it for one main reason that it did not have up to date maps of my area (especially it didn't show my home even after 7 years it is on TomTom maps). I updated the maps to latest, and still didn't show my home street. Contacting the customer support for Garmin was a pain, with 30-40 min. of wait every time I tried to call them. It was a breeze to contact TomTom support. First time I was connected instantly, and every time after that, it took only few minutes to get connected. Finally, I did not like the colour schemes and sounds which came with Garmin. May be that is my personal preference. But Garmin is not too much customizable, pretty basic stuff you can configure. So it went back within few days.

    Hope this review will be useful to you all.
    Tomtom vs. Garmin
     
    Review Date: January 23, 2010
    Reviewer: OZ, New Jersey USA
    Tomtom 540s feedback.
    I have 2 portable GPS units Garmin 265WT and Tomtom XXL 540s (Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic). Pros and cons bellow show advantages and disadvantages after using both gps solutions.

    Tomtom does better than Garmin:
    1. Nice big 5" screen.
    2. Lots of customization available. I found nice color combination using my.tomtom service that I like.
    3. IQ Routes allow to avoid local congested streets with lot's of traffic lights. Navigation decisions are way better with this option.
    4. Map share is very helpful. I was able to fix wrong left turn in no time.
    5. GPS receiver is very sensitive. It locks on satelights inside my house (Garmin can't)
    6. Customizable POI allows me to keep all favorites organized by categories. Also, alerts when approaching POI are useful. Warn me when I approach safety and speeding cameras.
    7. The best detour options available. Allows you to avoid road block, part of the road, etc. Garmin has useless one detour option that sends you on different and usually much longer path.

    Tomtom needs to improve:
    1. Where is free traffic updates that Garmin offers? This is very important missing function.
    2. Default color selection looks like cartoon and make unit feels old. However, you can customize it to your likening.
    3. POI are not organized as well as on Garmin (Navteq) GPS. Restaurants are not organized in categories (Japanies, American, French, Berger etc)
    4. Lots of POI with many small shops, but big stores like Lowes are missing. ** See Update **
    5. Tomtom still doesn't know what side of the road your destination is located. Software using Navteq maps know it for many years already.
    6. Garmin knows almost all local road speed limit. Tomtom knows only highways.
    7. This fancy easy-port-mount was a pain to use until I loose 2 screws to let it turn easier. The unit just separated from the mount every time I wanted to adjust it's position or needed to mount it in the car. It almost fell couple of times. The problem disappeared after adjustment. You can find 2 screws under rubber peaces on the mount it-self.

    Update 02-22-2010 -
    1. New map v8.45 has way better list of POI. So far I was able to find almost all big or small POI in my area.
    2. Tomtom works great and offers really good routes - very satisfied with my purchase.
    3. I'm waiting for lifetime map and traffic - hopefully they will be offered for reasonable amount.
    4. Would be nice if this unit had SD-Card slot. Not a deal breaker, but would be helpful. It has only 2GB of memory so map is taking almost all of it.

    Update 05-20-2010 -
    GPS works great, but plastic disc that you glue to the car dashboard is junk. GPS keeps fallen down after couple of hours. GPS holds fine for many days if I attach it directly to the windshield (making sure that windshield is clean).
    Want to go there - it will find the fastest route!
     
    Review Date: March 14, 2010
    Reviewer: T. V. Edwards, Durham, NC, US
    I purchased the TomTom XXL540S before my recent trip to PA from NC. While not that handy on the interstate (over remembering from a map), I was very impressed with the turn-by-turn instructions along the way - to the point of showing water features alongside the highway and exactly following the position on the road with what I saw on the screen.

    After arriving at my destination, I had to ferry my mom from her house to a town some 8 miles away through back roads, none of which had I driven. The TomTom said it was 7.3 miles & 14 min. After 2 miles, mom told me to turn right at an intersection while TomTom told me to go straight. Thus began an arguement between the female TomTom voice and mom. Recalculating TomTom told me to take the first left, recalculating to 15 minutes (so we lost 3 min and a couple miles). Mom argued, NO, continue on straight. We did. TomTom told me to turn right at the next road, to which mom popped "Oh, she doesn't know what she's doing - she's lost!" So we continued on at which time TomTom told me to turn around - against mom's urging to continue on. After two more attempts by TomTom to turn us around, we reached a road that took us even further from our final destination.

    All the while, as I missed more opportunities to turn, TomTom's IQ function continued to tell me to turn around, failing that automatically found the next left turn with estimated time of arrival. We finally reached a turn some 5.6 miles away from where we made the first, directing us back along a dog-leg path that ended up 11.2 miles and 20 min. longer (for a total 18.5 miles one way) than if we had stayed the original 7.3 mile track through back-country roads.

    After arriving 15 min. late (instead of early), mom finally gave in to allowing her (TomTom) to direct us back to home. Some 14 min. and 7.3 miles later (after dark), I pulled into mom's driveway. Asked later why mom took me on such a round about way, she said that was the only way dad knew how to get there - after >20 years living in the same place. He made that trip sometimes more than once a week. If he had the TomTom, they would have saved over 10,000 miles and 20,000 minutes of drive time. I don't know how to put a price on time saved in your lifetime, but I can say it's got to be much more than the price of a TomTom.

    By the way, that 7.3 mile destination was the funeral home. Dad had just passed away. I think I'm getting one of these for each of my boys, so they don't waste their years of taking the long way home.
    Satisified Again
     
    Review Date: December 8, 2009
    Reviewer: Wonderboy, Missouri
    I had owned a Tom Tom before and was satisified but wanted an updated version and also one that spoke the street names. It is everything I had hoped for. I also wanted a larger screen and purchased the 5" screen and it really makes the difference. I also liked the Lane Change feature. I will be honest that the instructions that comes with the unit are not very good but I went on line and got the information I needed. It is an awesome unit and I would recommend it to everyone. I purchased this through Amazon and it was really quick service. I paid the extra $10 bucks to get it quicker and had it in exactly 2 days. My first shopping through Amazon but was extremely satisfied with the service.

    Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with MSN Direct Service

    Amazon.com Price: $335.23 (as of 2010-07-30 20:50:10 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
    User Reviews Send this to a friend
    Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with MSN Direct Service
     
    Manufacturer: Garmin
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $699.99
    Sale Price: $335.23
    Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
    Buy Now
     

    Product Description
    The nüvi 780 adds enhanced MSN direct content to the multi-destination routing and "Where Am I?" features and gorgeous widescreen display of other nüvi 700s to create a superior navigation device for business as well as casual drivers. As with all nüvis, you get Garmin reliability, the fast satellite lock of an integrated high-sensitivity receiver, a slim, pocket-sized design with a gorgeous display, an easy, intuitive interface, and detailed NAVTEQ maps for the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico with more than 6 million name-searchable points of interest. All of the 700-series navigators also feature a rich array of features including spoken directions in real street names, integrated traffic receivers, MP3 player and photo viewer, and an FM transmitter that will play voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle's stereo system.
    slim form factor
    Garmin's nüvis pack top of the line features into a slim form factor.
    Enhanced MSN Direct Content
    An integrated receiver allows you to access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nüvi.
    • Free 3-month trial subscription to MSN Direct services, activation instructions provided
    • MSN Direct Traffic Receiver included in the box
    • Extended MSN Direct service subscriptions available for purchase: 12 months for $49.95 + tax (visit MSN for further details)

    Multi-Destination Routing

    Wider screen lets you see more of what's around. Compare these actual size views of a 3-inch (diagonal) screen
    3-inch screen

    and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen
    4.3-inch screen

    This lets you enter several spots into the device (day care - supermarket-cleaners - office - day care, for example) and it will plot the fastest route. And once you've found the best router, the "Route Planning" feature lets you save up to 10 different routes, Garmin touts the feature for providing, "the most efficient route for errands, deliveries and sales calls." The feature also makes this an instant essential accessory for anyone who shops garage sales (you know what we're talking about).

    A trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you've been on the map.

    Where Am I? Where's My Car?
    The nüvi 700 series is the first to answer two common questions: "Where am I?" and "Where’s my car?"

    At any time, with a single tap of the screen, drivers can display their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. And to help drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or vast parking lot, the nüvis in the 700 series automatically mark the position in which they were last removed from the mount.

    See Better, See More
    The super-bright, 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views.

    The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.

    First Rate Map Data
    The nüvi 780 is preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT road maps for the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.

    Hands-Free Calling
    In more and more places, it is becoming illegal to use cell phones while driving without a hands-free kit. The nüvi 780's Bluetooth capability, microphone and speaker lets match it to any bluetooth-capable phone to make hands-free mobile phone calls. Simply dial the phone number with the nüvi's touch screen keypad to make a call on a compatible phone. To answer an incoming call, just tap the screen and speak into the built-in microphone. Making and taking calls on the road has never been easier, or safer. In addition, Garmin makes it a breeze to look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or even tap into your cell phone's call history log.

    Garmin Lock
    Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location

    Easy To Use Interface
    Garmin's interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.

    Garmin's own navigation is easy to use

    Beyond Navigation

    Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.    		 MP3 PlayerA handy MP3 player lets you play songs stored on SD memory cards. nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger.

    Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 780 features travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, MP3 player, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map.

    This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the  Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs.

    Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.

    Trick Your GPS Ride

    custom vehicle icons
    Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS.
    See more icon option
    Like all nüvis, the 780 supports configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map.

    With this GPS system on board you'll be prepared to steer clear of traffic with the integrated FM TMC traffic receiver. The nüvi is designed to receive alerts about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time.

    What's in the Box
    nüvi 780, Preloaded City Navigator NT for North America*, MSN Direct receiver with integrated vehicle power cable, 9 months free MSN Direct service*, Vehicle suction cup mount*, USB cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual

    Notes

    • Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
    • The FM transmitter feature is only available in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
    • Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me
    • Visit Garmin.com to get the latest firmware updates for your nüvi to keep it current and performing at its best
    Notice: MSN Direct service will be available only until January 1, 2012.

    Which nüvi is Best for You?

    Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.

    Device
    Screen Size inches (W x H)
    Included Maps
    Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names)
    Traffic
    Bluetooth
    Media
    FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)
    Multi-Point Routing
    Battery life (hours)
    Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
    AK and Canada
    Europe
    nüvi 205 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 205w 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 255 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 255w 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 260w 3.81 x 2.25
    		 
    		Photos
    		up to 5
    nüvi 265T 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 265WT 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 275T 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 285WT 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free);
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 465T 3.81 x 2.25
    		FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 755T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 760 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 5
    nüvi 765T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 775T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 780 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 5
    nüvi 785T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 850 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 855 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 885T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1200 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1250 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1260T 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1300 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1350 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1350T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1370T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1390T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1490T 4.4 x 2.5
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1690 3.81 x 2.25
    		NAVTEQ Traffic, 2 years free (Garmin nüLink! service)
    		Photos
    		up to 4

    Product Details
    • GPS navigator preloaded with City Navigator North America NT
    • 4.3-inch diagonal touchscreen display with 2D/3D mapping perspective
    • Turn-by-turn directions with Voice Guidance/Text-to-Speech feature
    • Includes MSN Direct receiver with Version 2
    • Weighs just 1.8 pounds and measure 0.8 x 4.8 x 2.8 inches (W x L x H)

    Video Reviews
    No video reviews found for this product.

    Customer Reviews
    Great Device and Easy to Use
     
    Review Date: June 4, 2008
    Reviewer: Robert Mattes, N. Virginia, USA
    This is my first automobile GPS, and I did a lot of research before settling on the Garmin 780. I live in the Washington DC Metro area, so all of the extra features work here. Upon its arrival, I downloaded and installed the latest Garmin WebUpdater v.2.41 and then updated my 780 from software version 2.50 to 2.90. I also updated the Bluetooth and other firmware, along with the languages that I use. This all worked flawlessly in a Windows XP virtual machine on a Linux host. FWIW, the 780 will charge off of the supplied USB cable.

    The 780 acquired the necessary satellites in just a few minutes when first activated, and does so in less than a minute for subsequent activations. I found the screen brightness to be fine for both day and night. I'm using the 780 with the Garmin Portable Friction Mount. Smashing windows and stealing GPS devices is the sport of choice in the DC Metro area, so I wanted no evidence of a GPS extant when I left the car. The friction mount works perfectly on my Honda Accord dashboard and stores easily in the center console, leaving no trace of a GPS behind. Very cool. The 780 easily fits in a shirt pocket, so it's not necessary to leave it in the car.

    I tested the 780 immediately by driving during rush hour to a residence across the river in a tangle of park roads off of the beaten track, then returning at night. The Garmin had no trouble creating a very fast route to the destination that bypassed most of the heavy traffic during rush hour. On my return, I bypassed a turn on its preferred routing. It recalculated a new route in less than a second which was the exact right answer. The new route wasn't a recapture of the original route, which wasn't possible from that location, but an entirely new route. The routes it picked were appropriate for the times of day traveled, which can be a daunting task here if you don't know which roads go which direction during the appropriate rush hour. DC is a notoriously difficult area to navigate, but so far the Garmin seems up to the challenge.

    I found the volume of the internal speaker to be more than adequate even with the radio, air conditioning, and windshield wipers going. Voice notifications led upcoming turns by an adequate amount, and the voice prompts always helped me get into the correct lanes in plenty of time for upcoming turns. During a particularly tricky section where several major roads converge on a bridge, then diverge on the other side, the Garmin gave almost constant appropriate guidance to ensure that I took the correct forks and turns. I was quite impressed.

    The Bluetooth paired quickly with my Motorola Razr V3. It even provided its PIN code at the appropriate time. The phone functions work great and it's easy to hear over the 780 speaker. The party on the other side of the phone said that I sounded like I was in a tunnel, which is typical for remote devices for autos. I have another BT hands-free device and it garnered the same comments. The Garmin's on-screen phone cues make hands-free easy.

    Activation of the MSN Direct service was simple over the Net. On initial activation of your free 3 month trial, they offer a 6-month extension for $9.95 which gets you to 9 months of service total for less than $10--a very good deal. MSN Direct information took a while to load the initial information, but then it said that in the Quick Start pamphlet. Once loaded, the traffic, weather, and news worked great. Gas prices were behind by several days, which is an eternity these days. My favorite (and cheapest) station wasn't listed.

    Overall, I'm very happy with the 780. I'll be working it out heavily in the coming weeks, including on a road trip to another city with MSN Direct service. I can't believe that I waited this long to take the plunge to a GPS device for my car. Even though I'm a master with maps, the Garmin suggested a clever routing that I did not previously discover on my own. From what I've seen so far, the 780 will be a highly valued addition to my road warrior kit bag. I can recommend the 780 without reservation.
    Sit back and leave the driving to Garmin
     
    Review Date: July 8, 2008
    Reviewer: StevieE, Kissimmee, Florida United States
    LOVE IT. Even my wife loves it. This is porbably the first electronic gadget I've ever bought where my wife wants to use it more. Very easy to use. It only locked up a few times because I was zooming in/out too fast as it was navigating. perhaps if I let it go it might have caught up . It was no big deal to turn it off and on to get me going again. The MSN is great. It actually gave me a thunderstorm warning and asked if I wanted to go around it. Traffic updates were good, gas prices were dead on, most of the time. Weather forcasts were great, The "text to speech" was cool. We chose the Ennglish mans voice and he would read any text messages I received on my (bluetooth) phone. Pretty funny. The FM transmitter isn't great at all. What else can I say, I've owned the Garmin eMap (VW bug)and thought that was nice, but this is like a Porsche. Garmin's website is also great for updates and software. That's all, now I want the voice recognition nuvi880 but really who needs that!!! Enjoy and buy this unit NOW!
    Best GPS available - Wide Price Swings
     
    Review Date: July 14, 2009
    Reviewer: Daryl R. Dunahoo, Atlanta, GA
    I love this thing so much that I just returned and bought my second one. The first one rides on the dash of a 2007 Acura with a built in navigation system with XM Navtraffic. I used the free months of MSN traffic on the Nuvi then paid the Microsoft fee to keep it going for the life of the device. MSN traffic was almost as good as the XM, and a lot more economical. The only advantage of the built in system is that traffic information is always displayed on surface street zoom levels. With the Nuvi, you have to go to a separate screen to check the traffic flow speeds. It is a big disadvantage, but in every other sense the Nuvi wins.

    The Acura navigation system is not even in the same league with the Nuvi. The Nuvi is so user friendly, and intuitive. Although the built in unit has a huge, bright, screen, the Garmin is just so much better. I really hate the Acura system. The fact that I will tolerate a dash mount device that is less than a quarter the screen size as my cars built in navigation system speaks volumes about both devices.

    As to price swings, I bought that first Nuvi 780 on July 7, 2008, from Amazon, delivered for $524. This one 7/14/09 from Amazon was delivered for $199.99, and when I completed my order and returned to write this review, the price had jumped from 199.99 to 238.88.

    It is a good deal at any of those price points, but the newer models are probably even better value. I chose the 780 again because of interchangability with my existing cradle/dock. That lifetime MSN subscription I bought belongs to a power cord, not a GPS so it will work with either unit.

    Update July 2010 - MSN traffic is slated to die in a few months and after the loss/theft of my newer 780 it has been replaced with a Garmin nüvi 1490T 5-Inch Widescreen for just under $200. I don't like the FM traffic advertisements, but it looks like they are here to stay. I stay amazed at the way the GPS units continue to improve, while their price continues to drop!
    So Happy I Returned My TomTom
     
    Review Date: November 27, 2009
    Reviewer: Kev, East Tennessee, USA
    Last

    Magellan Maestro 4700 4.7-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

    Amazon.com Price: $149.99 (as of 2010-07-30 21:06:17 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
    User Reviews Send this to a friend
    Magellan Maestro 4700 4.7-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
     
    Manufacturer: Magellan
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $299.99
    Sale Price: $149.99
    Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
    Free Shipping Available
    Buy Now
     

    Product Description
    The premium Magellan Maestro 4700 GPS device boasts the acclaimed and exclusive OneTouch favorites menu and an ultra-slim 4.7-inch color touch screen. Preloaded NAVTEQ maps and six million points of interest for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico make the Magellan Maestro 4700 GPS product ideal for both business trips and vacations. Easy-to-use premium features, such as AAA TourBook, voice command, highway lane assist, predictive traffic, and Bluetooth compatibility for hands-free calling, give you confidence on the road and deliver an exceptional navigation experience.

    Exclusive OneTouch Favorites Menu
    Easily bookmark favorite destinations and searches with personalized bookmarks so you can find them anywhere you travel. Find your favorite cafe or restaurant in any city with a single touch. The Magellan Maestro 4700 device definitely delivers "your favorites at your fingertips."

    Exclusive AAA TourBook Guide
    No membership required. Invaluable to anyone who travels, the AAA TourBook guide, which contains information on all 50 states and Canada, is built into your Magellan Maestro 4700 and provides ratings and descriptions on AAA approved places to stay, play, dine, and save.

    4.7-inch Touch Screen
    The wide, ultra-slim 4.7-inch color touch screen shows your position on the unit including map route, destination, ETA, Points of Interest (POI), OneTouch favorites, street names, and more--all at a glance. The large 4.7-inch screen is 16% larger than a 4.3-inch screen.

    6 Million Points of Interest (POI)
    Easily find whatever service you need. Gas stations, restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and hundreds of other businesses are intuitively categorized and searchable from the built-in POI database.

    Voice Command
    Safely navigate hands-free by speaking a variety of commands to control the Maestro 4700. You can "Go Home" or find the "Nearest Gas" just by using your voice.

    Highway Lane Assist
    Realistic highway signs point you in the right direction when approaching interchanges and exits, ensuring that you'll choose the correct lane well before your next turn.

    Bluetooth Compatibility
    Easily make or receive calls using a compatible cell phone and even synch up to 1000 numbers directly from your phone. Plus, the noise cancelling microphone keeps road noise down so you are heard clearly.

    Predictive Traffic
    It automatically analyzes past traffic patterns when creating a route to help you avoid known delays, saving you time and making your journey less stressful. Choose to stay on your current route or go with the new less-traveled route.

    Highway Exit POI Search
    Search for gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more near upcoming highway exits.

    QuickSpell with SmartCity Search
    Enter destinations with only a few touches. QuickSpell with SmartCity search
    helps you quickly enter addresses and narrow location searches, making destination entry easy.

    Multi-destination Routing
    Plan a trip with multiple stops in the order you want, or have it optimized for the most efficient route. Easily reorganize, add, or remove destinations.

    Spoken Street Name Guidance
    Hear street names and directions for a clear understanding of when to make the next turn, while you keep your eyes on the road.

    		  

    3D Landmarks
    Visual cues, such as stadiums and bridges, let you navigate safely and easily.

    Find your Car
    Easily remember the location of your car in parking lots, airports, malls, universities, amusement parks, or stadiums. When your day is done, the Maestro 4700 will automatically guide you to your car.

    		  

    NAVTEQ Maps
    Travel the entire United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada with all the maps you need, pre-loaded on your device.

    What's in the Box?
    Magellan Maestro 4700 GPS receiver; pre-loaded maps of United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico; windshield mount; adhesive disc for dash mounting; vehicle power adapter; USB cable; user handbook.

    Visit MagellanGPS.com for the latest software update for your Maestro 4700 to keep it current and performing at its best.

    Product Details
    • Ultra-slim GPS device with 4.7-inch color touchscreen, personalized OneTouch search, spoken street name guidance, Bluetooth capability, voice command and more
    • Multi-destination routing with route optimization lets you plan the most efficient trip
    • Highway lane assist points you in the right direction when approaching interchanges and exits
    • QuickSpell with SmartCity search narrows your address and city searches Highway exit points of interest (POI) search lists upcoming gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more near highway exits
    • Includes maps of United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico

    Video Reviews
    No video reviews found for this product.

    Customer Reviews
    Lookout Garmin !!
     
    Review Date: August 4, 2009
    Reviewer: dbeofam, Owings, MD United States
    In addition to this Magellan, I also own a Garmin Nuvi (200W series). The Magellan simply is better in every category I can think of. Much more customizable map display options, better speaker, bigger screen, "one touch" programmable buttons, much faster satellite aquisition, and more. I just came back from a 1500 mile round trip that had a destination of a remote lake house outside of Atlanta. My wife's built in Toyota GPS didn't even recognize the address. This unit brought us to the driveway! This is a very advanced unit at a rediculous low price. The lane assist was great on a trip like this, as was the highway exit information button. I've had a number of GPS units and this one is by far the best so far. Highly recommended.
    It's a winner!
     
    Review Date: November 13, 2009
    Reviewer: Jim, Houston, TX USA
    This GPS gives intelligent routing and is very easy to use. I compared it in road tests with a Garmin 765T. I'm returning the Garmin.

    I am not intending to try to disparage Garmin here. I'm hoping to let you know with what I am comparing this GPS when I say it is excellent. After all, only these two GPS'es comprise my hands-on experience with such units.

    The benefit I want most from a GPS is accurate navigation assistance. Magellan delivers on this and the Garmin does not. That's about it and that's my main point. The Magellan excelled at keeping me on the best roads and getting me to my destinations with minimal stress and frustration. The Garmin 765T often told me to turn one way while the arrow pointed the other way and seems to prefer looping FAR around cities regardless of the chosen routing options and traffic conditions. The Garmin even took me off interstates for no reason and then put me back on the same road 20 miles later to continue the trip.

    Garmin support told me to set "via" points to stop this problem but I prefer to just send it back and stick with the 4700 that requires less fiddling.


    a REALLY good/great GPS, a great value for the money!
     
    Review Date: December 27, 2009
    Reviewer: Radio Man, NY, USA
    I want to first say that I have had three Garmins prior to this Magellan 4700. I have always been curious about Magellan but somehow always heard Garmin was the leader in GPS. The reason I bought this 4700 is I had/have the Garmin Nuvi 880 which about a year ago was the top of Garmin's line and SUPER expensive. I like the Garmin very much but from day one it was a bit unstable...freezes a lot..need to take the battery in/out. The Garmin gave very little notice when quick turns were coming up..I missed SO many exits with the Garmin..I finally decided to try a Magellan,the 4700. WOW, I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of use of this Magellan. The quick spelling THING works amazingly well and FAST! Most importantly the Magellan compared to the Nuvi 880 is just better for navigation and NOT missing exits..and NOT freezing. The Magellan gives a lot of notice before a turn is coming up..lane assist is quite helpful..and that little bell that will chime before a turn is also quite helpful. Really the only thing I miss most on the Garmin are the custom favorites YOU input will show how far they are from your current location and OTHER FAVORITES!. I am in sales, and had a new sales route given to me in the last year. I saved about 80 customers into the Garmin. Once on the road I could see how far customer A is to customer B and so on. The Magellan can NOT do this. You save your CUSTOM favorites to the address book in the 4700. But in the address book it never shows how FAR "each custom favorite is to the NEXT one". It can only show your custom favorite's location to your current location Not how far to the OTHER favorites you saved. Other than that missing feature..I LOVE the Magellan...it is stable and has been very accurate, gets a gps signal MUCH faster than all my Garmins did. One last thing..the voice in the Magellan is not as clear as Garmin's..BUT it's quite understandable and it TALKS much more than the Garmin. For the money I feel this Magellan is GREAT and = to the best Garmins or BETTER yet WAAAAY easier to use and in my case MUCH more stable. You really can't go wrong with this GPS in my opinion.. I highly recommend this Magellan overall!
    (PS if anyone knows how to transfer Garmin waypoints .gpx(favorites) into this Magellan I would love to know how...
    Everything I expected and more!!!
     
    Review Date: November 5, 2009
    Reviewer: David Kurisu, Robins, IA, US
    ***First Impressions***

    This is my first GPS unit and I am loving it. I reviewed several devices (Garmin, TomTom, etc) through various websites and user reviews. I happen to come across the Magellan Maestro 4700 by accident. I was actually ready to purchase a Garmin unit at Best Buy and the sales rep turned me to the Magellan units. Needless to say, I held off on my purchase and came across this site which had a great price tag versus Best Buy.

    Out-of-the-box:
    The Maestro 4700 is well packaged versus some of the horror stories I've come across on the TomTom units. The only gripe I have is there's no home outlet charger for the Maestro 4700. They are sold separately.

    Features I Loved:
    (1) Multi destination option
    (2) Loud voice (some people have said they have a hard time hearing the voice while listening to the car radio. I have no problems when it comes to hearing the voice prompts and have yet to maxing out the volume setting.
    (3) Route tells you on which side of the road your destination is located(this was a major selling point for me on the Garmin units)
    (4) Adaptive routing selection (my first chance to test the routing feature was from work to home and the 4700 had me turn on a street before the one I lived on. I continued past that street and in 1-2 seconds it had updated itself to turn on my street. The next day coming home from work it routed correctly and hasn't been a problem since.
    (5) There is a pedestrian mode
    (6) Extensive POI database
    (7) POI icons can be displayed on the screen, such as Starbucks in the area.



    <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
    Setup was very easy and there is a firmware update which took me less than 10-minutes to add. The display is a nice size and is not difficult to see or watch while driving. Some reviewers mentioned the brightness of the Home screen while in night mode. I didn't find this to be a problem at all. It picks up satellite reception quickly and re-routes in 1-2 seconds after missing your turn.

    My first real road test will be this weekend and a major road test will be next month when I drive to Chicago, IL. My only unanswered concern deals with reception... reception in a major city and reception in poor weather (heavy rain, over-cast day and heavy snow). I'll be sure to provide updates on what I come across. Feel free to chat me at [...], if you have questions on whether the Maestro 4700 is for you.
    Works great
     
    Review Date: October 2, 2009
    Reviewer: Hellen Mae Gisclair, CA, USA
    I don't know what i would do with out this GPS i'm in the Air Force and move around alot or go on road trips. I love how it has AAA info. on it i thnk that's what like the best about it. Also i can type in walmart with a space or with out one and it pulls it up. it's so easy to find what i'm looking for and the maps are great on it too.

    Garmin nüvi 205W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

    Amazon.com Price: Too low to display (as of 2010-07-30 21:13:51 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
    User Reviews Send this to a friend
    Garmin nüvi 205W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
     
    Manufacturer: Garmin
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $249.99
    Sale Price: Too low to display
    Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
    Free Shipping Available
    Buy Now
     

    Product Description
    Garmin's nüvi 2x5 models improveupon their 200-series predecessors by adding top-of-the-line features such as FM traffic updates or MSN Direct content capability to an entry-level line. But Garmin is also introducing some significant improvements with this new series, like a predictive technology that provides faster satellite lock, a redesigned screen with more information, terrain maps, and an exciting new photo navigation feature. The 205W also offers a wide 4.3-inch (diagonal) screen that displays 70% more of the road around you.

    Garmin 205WThe nüvi 2x5 models sport the slim design that Garmin introduced with the 200-series last year, so they all fit comfortably in your pocket or purse, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that makes them convenient for navigation by car or foot.All of the models include useful travel tools like a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.

    Important Product Information: This device features a "screen lock" feature. This is a standard feature on all nüvi 2x5 and 7x5 Garmin units. If you slide the "Power" key to the right, it will lock the screen and prevent any accidental touches. Once the screen lock feature is engaged, the screen will go black/gray after about 15 seconds to save power on the device. To unlock the screen, just slide the "Power" key to the center position. This feature is really targeted for "Pedestrian" mode so that a user can put the device in his or her pocket/purse and quickly unlock the screen instead of powering on/off continuously. For more information, see page 5 of the product manual.

    Key Features/Benefits for all 2x5 Series Navigators

    • HotFix (Long Term Ephemeris Prediction) finds satellites faster (Learn more)
    • Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Basemap shows 3D shaded terrain features (Learn more)
    • Faster 333 Mhz processor offers faster, smoother map drawing and vehicle icon motion through turns
    • Redesigned user interface offers more information (Learn more)
    • Photo Navigation lets you upload geo-coded photos from a phone, geo-coding camera or photo site and navigate to them. (Learn more)
    • Add Dynamic MSN Traffic and Content with the optional GDB 55 antenna and charger (Learn more)
    • Send addresses directly to your Garmin from Google Maps or Mapquest 
    • Automatic Time Zone Transition
    • 4.3-inch Widescreen shows you more of what's around you as you drive (Learn more)
    • Memory Card Slots so you can add maps and travel guides, or store photos (MicroSD card slot on 3.5-inch units; SD card slot on 4.3-inch units)
    • Preloaded Maps with Navteq data of the Lower 48 States + Hawaii + Puerto Rico
    • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for easy portability (up to 4 hours per charge)
    • Custom Vehicle Icons let you personalize your navigator (Learn more)
    • Integrated Antenna for a slim form factor
    • Where Am I? -- instantly shows you all of the emergency services nearby (Learn More)

    Which nüvi is Best for You?:
    Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators

    Learn More

    Improved Interface

    One of Garmin's key product philosophies is to make extremely complex technology easy to use for anyone right out of the box, and perhaps nowhere is that better exemplified than in the user interface for Garmin's portable navigation devices.

    Garmin's interface is a key to their success part of what makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate.

    This year, Garmin has redesigned its interface to include much more useful information.

    Old Interface

    200 series ui

    New Interface

    2x5 Series UI

    HotFix™ – aka: Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction

    hotfix
    		 Your GPS device locks onto transmissions from a dedicated network of Satellites in order to determine its position. Until the device gets a "lock" on three satellites, it can't effectively navigate, so decreasing the time it takes for your device to get "satellite lock" is always a goal of GPS manufacturers. With Garmin's new HotFix technology, your Garmin GPS remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. This gives the device an idea of where it should look for satellites, and dramatically decreases the time it takes for your Garmin to get its position and start navigating. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off.

    Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.

    Navigate by Photo


    		 Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
    • Choose from Panoramio's collection of photos from around the world.
    • Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps.
    • Search for photos by location name or map area boundary.
    • Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator.
    • View photos in Google Earth.
    • Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

    3D Terrain Maps

    Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D "birds-eye" view.



    Traffic-Capable FM Traffic


    TMC traffic service coverage map
    		 With an optional receiver, you can get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time.

    In most areas, TMC Clear Channel traffic broadcasts are continuous — there's no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a "silent" FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.

    Widescreen -- See More of What's Around

    The super-bright, 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views.

    The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.
    Wider screen lets you see more of what's around. Compare these actual size views of a 3-inch (diagonal) screen
    3-inch screen


    		 and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen
    4.3-inch screen

    Where Am I?

    On any nüvi, just tap "Where Am I?" to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates.

    First-Rate Map Data


    nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger.
    		 The nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.

    In addition, nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs

    Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.

    Garmin Lock

    Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location

    Beyond Navigation

    Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.


    Navigation is just the beginning. The nüvi 2x5 models features travel tools including a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.

    This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via microSD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs. For Accessory Map Cards and Travel Guides the Units Feature: a MicroSD Card Slot on the 3.5 inch Units, and an SD Card Slot on the 4.3 inch Units.

    Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.

    Trick Your GPS Ride

    custom vehicle icons
    Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS.
    See more icon option    		 All Garmin nüvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map.

    Notes

    • Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
    • Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.

    Which nüvi is Best for You?

    Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.

    Device
    Screen Size inches (W x H)
    Included Maps
    Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names)
    Traffic
    Bluetooth
    Media
    FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)
    Multi-Point Routing
    Battery life (hours)
    Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
    AK and Canada
    Europe
    nüvi 205 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 205w 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 255 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 255w 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 260w 3.81 x 2.25
    		 
    		Photos
    		up to 5
    nüvi 265T 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 265WT 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 275T 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 285WT 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free);
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 465T 3.81 x 2.25
    		FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 755T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 760 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 5
    nüvi 765T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 775T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 780 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 5
    nüvi 785T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 850 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 855 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 885T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1200 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1250 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1260T 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1300 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1350 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1350T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1370T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1390T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1490T 4.4 x 2.5
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1690 3.81 x 2.25
    		NAVTEQ Traffic, 2 years free (Garmin nüLink! service)
    		Photos
    		up to 4

    Product Details
    • 4.3 in Touch Screen Navigator with 2D/3D Maps
    • Turn by Turn Voice Directions and Optional MSN Direct Services
    • Where Am I Emergency Locator / You Always Know Your Location
    • With HotFix, It Calculates Your Position Faster to Get You There Quicker
    • JPEG Picture Viewer, World Travel Clock, Currency Converter, Calculator and More

    Video Reviews
    No video reviews found for this product.

    Customer Reviews
    Back to Great Navigation ... at its BEST
     
    Review Date: September 3, 2008
    Reviewer: W. Engelken, Houston, TX
    I agree with others that mp3, bluetooth, fm, announcing street "names," etc., is overboard and is NOT what makes a good GPS. Certainly Garmin has to make those for persons who want them; but for really just GOOD AND FAST navigation, the new series (205W etc) is all that's necessary and is awesome at that. What is a good GPS ... the Garmin handheld 60CSx ... which I have! So I compared the two which isn't really realistic since they both have different purposes, but both do navigation extremely well. Only the 60CSx will maintain its connection in extremely difficult areas (sky scraper buildings, overpasses, canyons, forest canopy, etc); but the 205W is not a slouch here either.

    Satelite information ... Speed: the 205W is every bit as fast as the 60CSx, if not just a tad faster, and that, in itself is amazing. It gathers satellites easily and once obtained, reconnects almost instantaneously after being turned back on. Get off Interstate 35E in Dallas and try to get back on ... it's a nightmare. But for the Nuvie 205W it was easy and very clearly described and stated ... a great GPS.

    I was skeptical at first about the new series until I read what Garmin accomplished here and other comments from reviewers: fast chip, storage for 1000 favorites, trip minder, clear directions and markings with distances given, road mph and your current mph (on screen) and time arrival at the objective (waypoint to go to), beautiful wide screen, easy mount dismount, etc. I could go on and on but ... if it is toys you want (mp3, bluetooth telephone, fm, etc.), don't buy this one. BUT if you want the absolute BEST for the BUCK navigation ... this series has it. The reaction speed of the unit is really impressive.

    My wife loves this unit and how easy it is to do what she wants (that, my friend, is a good sales talk ...).

    Garmin's back to great navigation is ... great and at a great price. Your friends will be impressed.

    Only complaint ... no online operators manual ... yet? But since I already had the 60CSx, it was easy to figure out and Garmin menus are easy and direct you to what you need to know. I have owned and used the 205W Nuvi since July 14, 2008. Very satisfied!
    Best value in wide-screen GPS... plain & simple.
     
    Review Date: September 2, 2008
    Reviewer: Rav, New York
    The Garmin nuvi 205W is simply a great GPS and the best value of any widescreen GPS. It has a no extra bells and whistles (no MP3 player -LOL, doesn't speak road names - annoying, no maps of Alaska or Canada - not needed, no FM transmitter to listen to MP3 - useless gimmick, etc.). The 205W is a useful widescreen GPS - plain and simple. It has over 6 million POIs (restaurants, lodging, shopping) and can be customized to add your own POIs. It has a trip computer which I used last week on a road trip to Hershey Park which was pretty neat (tracks time traveled, speed, distance, etc.). This newly released Garmin GPS has the new user interface which shows the road speed limit, your speed, next turn arrow and distance to next turn all on the main screen. The mapping information is the best available on the market and will provide you with clear directions on where you want to go. The Garmin 205 (regular screen) and the 205W (widescreen) are both highly recommended - just a matter of preference in screen size.
    Nice Choice
     
    Review Date: September 11, 2008
    Reviewer: G. Carlson,
    I am very impressed with this product and it sure is nice knowing I will never be lost again as I have in the past (just ask my wife).

    If you could afford the extra expense, I would recommend choosing the larger 4.3 display (205W). The 205W's only drawback is the street name is not announced which is something I thought I might regret but it is easily seen at the top of the display.

    A GPS power supply for the car is included. I mention this because it is not clearly stated in the product details.

    This 205W model would be what the majority of customers would need in a GPS without all the useless features that the more expensive models offer.
    Good value, great product!
     
    Review Date: July 4, 2008
    Reviewer: D. Arava, NYC
    I bought the Garmin nuvi 205w after experience and return of two Magellan products for about two weeks, the two Magellans, Maestro 3225 and Roadmate 1412 were buggy and felt cheap compare to Garmin.
    The Garmin nuvi 205w is just great, responsive, clear maps, extremely quick satellite reception from a cold start, you don't even have to be outside, just standing next to a window will do the trick. Built quality is superb, it feels like a little brick, the PC software to load IPO's is great; you can also look for an address on Google maps and click "send" to load the location to the Garmin.
    Accuracy in busy NYC streets is amazing, it will recalculate after half a block when you miss a turn, also, on the Henry Hudson Pkwy it will detect if I'm on the main road or the service road, and they are really close to each other.
    So far I'm very satisfy, easy to use, responsive and does not have anything that I don't need !


    Replacement for the Tom Tom 330S-Couldn't be happier!
     
    Review Date: September 18, 2008
    Reviewer: A2K, Northwest Iowa
    I recently purchased a Tom Tom 330 S and was extremly dissatisfied with it so I sent it back. I decied I really didn't want to pay and extra $50 for spoken street names so this GPS had most of the features that the Tom Tom did for less money! It doesn't have Mapshare, itinerary route planning, or spoken street names but so far I love it! The thing that sold me was that most of the points of interest were in the right place (which is more than what the Tom Tom had) and the volume, if prefered, could be turned up very loud which was also not true for the Tom Tom. I am definitly buying a Garmin next time and I would strongly recommend it to anyone. The only thing that bothered me just a little is that I had to buy the car charger separate as an accessory because it didn't come in the box but it wasn't a deal breaker. The total price was still less than the Tom Tom!

    Garmin nüvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

    Amazon.com Price: Too low to display (as of 2010-07-30 21:23:50 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
    User Reviews Send this to a friend
    Garmin nüvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
     
    Manufacturer: Garmin
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $209.99
    Sale Price: Too low to display
    Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
    Free Shipping Available
    Buy Now
     

    Product Description
    Garmin's nüvi 2x5 models improveupon their 200-series predecessors by adding top-of-the-line features such as FM traffic updates or MSN Direct content capability to an entry-level line. But Garmin is also introducing some significant improvements with this new series, like a predictive technology that provides faster satellite lock, a redesigned screen with more information, terrain maps, and an exciting new photo navigation feature.

    The nüvi 2x5 models sport the slim design that Garmin introduced with the 200-series last year, so they all fit comfortably in your pocket or purse, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that makes them convenient for navigation by car or foot.All of the models include useful travel tools like a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.

    Important Product Information: This device features a "screen lock" feature. This is a standard feature on all nüvi 2x5 and 7x5 Garmin units. If you slide the "Power" key to the right, it will lock the screen and prevent any accidental touches. Once the screen lock feature is engaged, the screen will go black/gray after about 15 seconds to save power on the device. To unlock the screen, just slide the "Power" key to the center position. This feature is really targeted for "Pedestrian" mode so that a user can put the device in his or her pocket/purse and quickly unlock the screen instead of powering on/off continuously. For more information, see page 5 of the product manual.

    Key Features/Benefits for all 2x5 Series Navigators

    • HotFix (Long Term Ephemeris Prediction) finds satellites faster (Learn more)
    • Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Basemap shows 3D shaded terrain features (Learn more)
    • Faster 333 Mhz processor offers faster, smoother map drawing and vehicle icon motion through turns
    • Redesigned user interface offers more information (Learn more)
    • Photo Navigation lets you upload geo-coded photos from a phone, geo-coding camera or photo site and navigate to them. (Learn more)
    • Add Dynamic MSN Traffic and Content with the optional GDB 55 antenna and charger (Learn more)
    • Send addresses directly to your Garmin from Google Maps or Mapquest (Learn more)
    • Automatic Time Zone Transition
    • Memory Card Slots so you can add maps and travel guides, or store photos (MicroSD card slot on 3.5-inch units; SD card slot on 4.3-inch units)
    • Preloaded Maps with Navteq data of the  Lower 48 States + Hawaii  + Puerto Rico
    • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for easy portability (up to 4 hours per charge)
    • Custom Vehicle Icons let you personalize your navigator (Learn more)
    • Integrated Antenna for a slim form factor
    • Where Am I? -- instantly shows you all of the emergency services nearby (Learn More)

    Which nüvi is Best for You?:
    Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators

    Learn More

    Improved Interface

    One of Garmin's key product philosophies is to make extremely complex technology easy to use for anyone right out of the box, and perhaps nowhere is that better exemplified than in the user interface for Garmin's portable navigation devices.

    Garmin's interface is a key to their success part of what makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate.

    This year, Garmin has redesigned its interface to include much more useful information.

    Old Interface

    200 series ui

    New Interface

    2x5 Series UI

    HotFix™ – aka: Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction

    hotfix
    		 Your GPS device locks onto transmissions from a dedicated network of Satellites in order to determine its position.  Until the device gets a "lock" on three satellites, it can't effectively navigate, so decreasing the time it takes for your device to get "satellite lock" is always a goal of GPS manufacturers. With Garmin's new HotFix technology, your Garmin GPS remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. This gives the device an idea of where it should look for satellites, and dramatically decreases the time it takes for your Garmin to get its position and start navigating. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off.

    Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.

    Navigate by Photo


    		 Using Garmin’s unique Web site — Garmin Connect Photos — users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.
    • Choose from Panoramio's collection of photos from around the world.
    • Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps.
    • Search for photos by location name or map area boundary.
    • Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator.
    • View photos in Google Earth.
    • Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

    3D Terrain Maps

    Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D "birds-eye" view.


    Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest

    tching to try out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to locate the best toffee apples on the east coast? Now, it's easy to search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest, then transfer the addresses directly to your Garmin GPS navigator.
    1. Hook up your Garmin to the computer via it's USB port
    2. Search for the location you want
    3. Click the Send link in the info window for the address. That will bring up a popup "Send to" form.
    4. Pick GPS, then pick Garmin and hit the "Send" button. 
    The address will instantly transfer to your Garmin device, The point will be saved as one of your favorites, and you can navigate to it or view it on a map just like with any other favorite.

    The process does require a small plugin, which you can get at Garmin's website at http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3739. You can send business addresses to your Garmin device from these countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
    Search for the location you want.


    		 Pick "Send to GPS".


    		 Go!

    Traffic-Capable for Either FM Traffic or Enhanced MSN Direct Content

    MSN Direct Enhanced Traffic and Content

    traffic reports With an optional receiver, you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nüvi.

    Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services.

    A 3-month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the receiver. After that, subscription fees are $49.95 per year, or $129.95 for a lifetime subscription.

    FM Traffic
    TMC traffic service coverage map
    		 With an optional receiver, you can get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time.

    In most areas, TMC Clear Channel traffic broadcasts are continuous — there's no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a "silent" FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.

    A 3-month subscription to TMC Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network is included with the receiver. For more information on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin website.

    Where Am I?

    On any nüvi, just tap "Where Am I?" to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates.

    First-Rate Map Data


    nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger.
    		 The nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.

    In addition, nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs

    Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.

    Garmin Lock

    Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location

    Beyond Navigation

    Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.


    Navigation is just the beginning. The nüvi 2x5 models features travel tools including a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.

    This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via microSD card, such as the  Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs.  For Accessory Map Cards and Travel Guides the Units Feature: a MicroSD Card Slot on the 3.5 inch Units, and an SD Card Slot on the 4.3 inch Units.

    Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.

    Trick Your GPS Ride

    custom vehicle icons
    Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS.
    See more icon option    		 All Garmin nüvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map.

    Notes

    • Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
    • Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.

    Which nüvi is Best for You?

    Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.

    Device
    Screen Size inches (W x H)
    Included Maps
    Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names)
    Traffic
    Bluetooth
    Media
    FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)
    Multi-Point Routing
    Battery life (hours)
    Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
    AK and Canada
    Europe
    nüvi 205 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 205w 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 255 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 255w 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 260w 3.81 x 2.25
    		 
    		Photos
    		up to 5
    nüvi 265T 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 265WT 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 275T 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 285WT 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free);
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 465T 3.81 x 2.25
    		FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 755T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 760 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 5
    nüvi 765T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 775T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 780 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 5
    nüvi 785T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 850 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 855 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 885T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos, MP3s
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1200 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1250 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1260T 2.8 x 2.1
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1300 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1350 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1350T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1370T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1390T 3.81 x 2.25
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1490T 4.4 x 2.5
    		MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic)
    		Photos
    		up to 4
    nüvi 1690 3.81 x 2.25
    		NAVTEQ Traffic, 2 years free (Garmin nüLink! service)
    		Photos
    		up to 4

    Basic MSN Direct Content Features
    traffic reports Traffic Reports
    • Find the best route through traffic. Your GPS device uses MSN Direct traffic data to select the best route for you to avoid traffic congestion.
    • Check traffic flow. Know at a glance where to expect slowdowns in traffic.
    • Get accident warnings. Receive warnings about accidents, road closures, and construction in the area that may affect you.
    Gas Prices Gas Prices
    • Compare local gas prices. See a list of recent gas prices in your area and an indication of how recently the prices were reported.
    • Find your way to the savings. Once you find the best price in your area, use your navigation system to guide you to the gas station.
    Weather Reports Weather Reports
    • Stay on top of current conditions. View the current weather conditions in your area, including today's high and low temperatures, chances of precipitation, and more.
    • View the three-day forecast, Plan ahead by checking the three-day weather forecast for your area.
    • Check weather in other cities. See current weather conditions in major cities across the country.
    movie times Movie Times
    • Search for a movie. Find the theaters in your coverage area that are showing the movie you want to see.
    • See which movies are playing. View which movies are playing in your coverage area or at your favorite theater.
    • See show times and get directions. Once you find a show you want to see, check the show times and use your GPS device to guide you to the theater.
    Enhanced MSN Direct Content
    Web Favorites Web Favorites (Send custom destinations to your GPS with Live Search Maps)
    • Powerful trip planning: Use Live Search Maps on your computer to look up an address, search for a business, or plan a trip
    • Choose your favorite location, and then MSN Direct delivers the address, phone number, and more straight to your navigation system.
    • Visit Live Search Maps at http://maps.live.com.
    Local Events Local Events
    • See what's happening near you. Find nearby events to see what's happening in your area.
    • Find the events that interest you. Browse events sorted by category.
    • Search for an event. Get details about a particular event.
    Stock Quotes Stock Quotes
    • Watch the stocks that interest you. Select stocks that you want to keep an eye on, and then see regularly updated stock prices and daily changes.
    • Get a little more detail. Touch a stock in your list to see daily highs, lows, and trading volume.
    News Headlines News Headlines
    • Browse the headlines at a glance. See breaking news and other major news stories of the day.
    • Read more details. Select a headline to read all the details about the news story on your navigation system.


    MSN Direct Coverage Map

    Get detailed info for your Zip Code at the MSN Direct website    .

    MSN Direct Coverage Map

    Product Details
    • 3.5-inch Touch Screen Navigation with Turn by Turn spoken Directions
    • Pre-loaded Maps for continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico with 6.5 million searchable points of interest
    • FM Traffic or MSN Direct Traffic/Content compatible (with optional GDB 55 receiver)
    • Easy to Use Interface; slim, pocket-sized form factor; 4-hour rechargeable battery
    • 3D terrain views, navigate to photo, and automatic time zone adjustment

    Video Reviews
    No video reviews found for this product.

    Customer Reviews
     Page 1 of 6  1  2  3  4  5 » ...  Last »