5 comments about Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator.

1. This little device has already paid for itself in the month we have used it. No more guessing when your turn is coming up or which lane to be in. This little baby gets you there.



2. I had a MIO C230 that I loved, but I dropped it and it broke, so I bought this through Amazon for $250, about $100 less than it was selling for at my local stores.
   
   I have been very pleased with it. Works just as well as the MIO. It took a little time getting used to it. But now I don't have any problem. I just signed up for the 1yr traffic alerts, don't know if I like it yet. I was on a road that was closed for construction and it didn't warn me. It may only be good on highways.
   
   Also, the voice command is very limited unless you just want to go home.
   
   Quick tune in to GPS



3. Amazon had the least expensive price on the Magellan 4250. It came with everything I needed included a carrying case. The Traffic notification was free for 1 year. I used it on a 633 mile trip. Road construction was taking place on 3 exits in Knoxville, TN, and the Magellan directed me through the detour without my having to reprogram or do anything, both toward my destination and on the return trip home. I used it to get to a second destination and it worked great there as well. It gave me plenty of time before getting to my exit, and told me which lane I needed to be in for the correct turns. It recalculated my route with each stop for gas or bathroom break. I can't say anything negative about my experience with this product, and would recommend it to anybody who travels.



4. Unit looks great, but performance is terrible for a high end unit. On long trips it would try to make me get off exits just to get back on the expressway.
   
   Do not recomend.



5. If you want a device to navigate you, Magellan is the best. I bought this 4250 couple of weeks ago, I love it so far. My friend bought a Garmin which has similar features (with some more bells and whistles), but when it comes to mapping and navigation this beats the Garmin hands down.
   
   You can select POIs of your interest to show on the map. You just tap it to get the full information and route to that POI (which you can't do on a Garmin). Talk about "Exit POIs", you can't praise the people enough who put this idea in to this unit. When you are on a freeway, tap this icon to list all the restaurants, gas stations and hotels on the forth coming exits. This is the best I can say, which saves lots of time finding a restaurant or hotel of my choice.
   
   As some people mentioned, I too agree the device had some glitches initially. After I updated with the latest firmware available on Magellan website, it works flawlessly now.
   
   Bluetooth is a so so. It works, but the volume is not loud enough as the map announcements. After pairing with the phone first time, when you switch it on next time it doesn't show it is connected to the phone even though it IS connected. I accidentally found this when I received a call immediately after I switched on the device. So, actually I don't need to push 'connect' as someone mentioned here. It DOES connect to the phone each time I switch on the device.
   
   Another nice thing is 'Smart Detour' (even if you are not subscribed to traffic alerts, this works) this device alerts with an icon blinking on the left asking if you need a detour when it detects the high way speed suddenly drops to a single digit speed.
   
   People, please stop complaining about customer service. For any technology device, you can't expect anything more. YOU as a consumer, know better than those folks. You must be talking to a guy who never saw a device that he gives support for. So better find your answers elsewhere. If I need support for a device, I Google it first. Calling customer service is the last option (if I want to return it)!!
   
   I strongly recommend this device. You can't go wrong.

5 comments about Garmin Streetpilot c550 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

1. I just got the C550 yesterday at a great price from Amazon. The signal initialization seems much faster and stronger than the C330 I had. The screen is clearer with more detail. The Bluetooth hands-free feature is great and the speaker is much better than my old Blue-Ant Bluetooth device. Also allows you to use the phone list via the screen, and the voice dialing if you phone offers that feature (mine doesn't). Although the speaking of street names feature wasn't top on my list I do find it more convenient than not having it. Also, came preloaded with North American maps (c330 only had US).



2. Ive had this item for a couple of weeks now, and I MUST say its a really good device. It works like a charm and the bluetooth compatibility makes it much more easier to talk in cell while driving. I for one dislike to use the handsfree head sets because they are usually uncomfortable to the ear. But the c550 resolves that problem. I strongly recommed this model, while its not as stylish as the Navi models, it still works for a Car GPS and the price makes it affordable



3. This is my first GPS, but I consider myself pretty tech-savvy, so I knew basically what to look for when I opened the box and started using it. What a great product! I saw June, 2008 issue of Consumer Reports after ordering and it rated this one (it gave a combined rating for the c580/c550) 8th out of 39 models, and gave a list price as $450... what a great price this is!
   
   This model is very quick to acquire a signal and very quick to calculate directions. I live just 2 miles off a major interstate, but some of the places I go from home don't take me to the interstate and sometimes mapquest.com, google maps, etc. don't always take me the best way, adding 20 minutes to some 60 minute drives. I have "tested" this model by asking it to take me from home to some of those places, and it always gets it right! Obviously I didn't buy the model to get me to places I already know how to get to, but it's good to know we're on the right track!
   
   I love the fact that when I registered at Garmin.com, I was prompted to update the map for free! It was a very large file, took about an hour to download via Cable modem, but great to know I'm up to date. My wife's office building is in a very new development, and they were listed already on the update.
   
   Also, the item is more compact than I thought it would be. The pictures make it seem that the item is very deep and will be bulky to pack or when on your windshield. Not so!
   
   No complaints yet!



4. I went thru this twice: it died after short period of use, could not turn on. When it was working, it's a great device, but quality and reliability is a big issue.



5. i bought the garmin because i needed the option of hands free - i live in California and there is a new hands-free law. the streetpilot works well as a bluetooth phone device and also is great for navigational purposes.

5 comments about TomTom ONE 3rd Edition 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator.

1. I am pleased with this device so far. It's my first adventure into GPS units. I moved to Boston and realized why GPS devices were invented, so I grabbed one quickly. I think the TomTom ONE is a good deal for the price. Having true "text-to-speech" (by which I mean having road names voiced aloud) would be the extra feature I would wish for this device. Otherwise it holds its own.
   
   For any Linux users, I tried the HOME software with WINE, which installs, but the device isn't recognized as anything but Mass Storage Device. So you can't use all the fun features provided by the HOME software.



2. PRO's
   - If you are travelling in new territory, or need to plot your way around town for yard sales on saturday morning, this device can be useful! I loved it for driving around Toronto, Chicago etc.
   - It is a nice size, the voice is loud enough, and it finds satilites and routes quickly.
   
   CON's
   - The rural Canadian maps are pathetic! 25% of the time the arrow representing my car is in some forest or field, and the unit is trying to figure out how to get me back on the rural Hwy that I am already on.
   - TomTom need to improve the software for sharing map updates. There should be a mode where I (and others) record where we drive so they can fix the coordinates on maps.
   - I should also be able to add a street by pressing a button and driving down it! I would love to hand my TomTom to a friend so they can use it to find our cottage, but since the road does not exist, I am out of luck.



3. If you're a bit of a computer geek, you can do a lot of easy customizations to the pictures, voices, and distinations. The screen is also comfortable to view. The one minor problem with this unit is that it can take a couple of minutes to achieve a satellite signal, which is rather annoying, otherwise everything works well.



4. TomTom ONE 3rd Edition 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator
   
   I've had a TomTom ONE 2nd Edition for a bit over a year. Have used it extensively on the West Coast and a bit in Florida and New England. It has recent but not the very latest maps.
   
   In short, it's a disaster. I've used it to navigate to popular tourist destinations in Florida (the Everglades) and Oregon and to many other destinations. The only reliable navigation I get is going to a built-in POI. When I enter addresses (for buildings that have been in their location for 15-100 years), TomTom misses by 0.1 mile to as much as 2.6 miles! Once it sent me ("fastest route") over rough gravel forest roads, ultimately ending in a closed road that forced me to retrace my track for 10 miles.
   
   The routing engine seems to have problems as well. It will go out of its way (that's my gas and time) to avoid some left turns. It also doesn't consistently know when [old] center dividers prevent turns (wasting more of my gas and time). Also, the unit is off by a factor of 1.5-2x when estimating trip times greater than 15-30 minutes. It's as though the unit assumes you always travel at exactly 30mph, even on interstate highways and freeways. Miserable for planning trips.
   
   TomTom support offered a solution: Take a chance and buy some new maps...
   
   Best way I've found to navigate with TomTom ONE: Go to Google Maps and get a map, then use TomTom to get you close and finish up with your handy Google map. Once you're at the destination, you can create a Favorite by marking your current location, and TomTom will navigate there reliably from then on.
   
   On the good side, I like its graphics and the fact that I can create my own POI categories. This is something important that I wish Garmin offered in their Nuvi. Also, satellite acquisition is very fast and route recalculations are acceptably fast.
   
   My TomTom also requires hard reset every several times it's used. TomTom's support had a good solution for me: buy a new TomTom.
   
   I'm sort of taking their advice: am buying a new unit, but it's going to be a Nuvi... I'd recommend the same for anyone considering a TomTom ONE.



5. This GPS is very much worth the price. It is probably the best GPS available for under $175 and I am VERY satisfied with the product after using it for about three months now.
   
   Why only four stars? Because this GPS does NOT read street names out loud. This means that instead of saying: "Turn left at Elm Street in 200 yards," it will say: "Turn left in 200 yards." Most GPS systems that read street names out loud cost over $200. TomTom does make GPS systems that can read street names out loud but they cost significantly more than this one. While this particular model does NOT read street names out loud, you can look at the screen to see the street name. While spoken street names certainly makes navigation easier, I have not found the lack of this feature to be too much of a problem (and I have been navigating completely new territory having just moved to a new state.).
   
   Other than the lack of spoken street names, I have nothing but praise for this device. It works great. The user interface is an extremely easy and intuitive touch screen menu. You can save favorite destinations, it automatically saves recent destinations, it calculates routes quickly, and you can change the voice. There are several cool voices available including a hilarious Austin Powers voice.
   
   All in all, I would highly recommend this GPS model because you simply won't find a better one for the price (believe me, I looked). If you absolutely need spoken street names, then this is not the model for you and unfortunately, you'll have to spend a bit more money.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 650 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator.

1. I was looking for three must have features in a GPS. A 4.3" screen, text to speech and full North American coverage including Canada. The Garmin Nuvi 650 offered these must have features at an attractive price. The 4.3" screen is a must and the text to speech is not perfect but amazing clear. It recognizes Canadian Postal Codes which are more specific than 5 digit Zip Codes. One plus on the Nuvi 650 is the fold out antenna which allows better satellite reception. I consistently receive full signal strength indoors! Lack of an AC adapter is not an issue. You can charge the unit via the supplied USB adapter or the DC car adapter.
   
   I highly recommend immediately registering the unit at the Garmin website while it's connected via the USB adapter. The first thing it did was update the firmware in my GPS to the latest version. These firmware updates are free for the life of the unit. The next thing it did was offer to update my 2008 mapping software to the latest 2009 version for free for the first 30 days. Both of these updates were effortless and I was assured I had the most current version of all firmware and mapping updates available. This is a major advantage of Garmin over its competitors.
   
   Garmin has the most intuitive menu system. A novice can be using all of its powerful features immediately. I did a quick check of all the local Points of Interest (POIs) in my area and was amazed at the depth of the database. I discovered things in my local area that I didn't even know existed. It's reassuring to know that anywhere I travel the POI database is both extensive and current.
   
   As a general observation, these GPS units are a marvel of miniaturization! The incredible amount of information stored in this tiny package is absolutely astounding! I can't imagine traveling without a GPS guiding the way. The Garmin Nuvi 650 is an excellent choice for someone not needing all the bells and whistles but still insists on all the must have features at an outstanding price.



2. this unit does everything I wanted.
   
   Easy to use.
   
   Clearn directions.
   
   Nice screen.
   
   A good choice to buy.



3. Works great, even finds most of our obscure places - a little confusing on some town intersections - so watch your signs don't assume it's right!



4. Device provides excellent service with plenty of options. Voice provides polite, good and timely directions. Screen is easy to read and use. I highly recommend this product.



5. I just drove from Aridzona to Wisconsin and although I have driven back and forth many times it was very comforting to have the "navigator" always on duty. It did an excellent job except one area where it was not up to date but that was not a problem. It also made the trip more interesting with an active map. Will be a big help finding places that I have not been to bdfore.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator.

1. Bought it, plugged it in and took off on a 2400 mile round trip. Absolutely no problems. I found it very intuitive as I didn't even bother to read the manual. I'm sure it does more than I used it for, but as a navigator it was terrific. Glad I paid a little extra to get the voice guidance model - nice to be reminded when turns are coming up. Only complaint is that the price dropped 2 weeks after I bought, but I guess that's the way it goes with electronics. Highly recommend.



2. I've had my 260W on a long trip now. Nice display, enough detail, and good local directions. I found long routes a little frustrating since the chosen route wouldn't always be the one I would choose because of known congestion. Only stores one waypoint ("Via") for a destination. Not able to download routes, trips or waypoints. I wasn't ready to invest in more features without trying out the technology. It does whet my appetite for a more capable GPS. Excellent for basic navigation.



3. This unit takes a very, very long time to find the satellites. On a recent trip to California, I sat in the rental car for 15-20 minutes while the unit searched for satellites. I must say that it worked perfectly once it was in touch with the satellites, announcing every street name and turn. If I missed a turn it recalculated my route very quickly, I never got lost. It was a minimum of 10 minutes every time I turned it on for satellite communication.



4. Excellent. Almost immediate signal acquisition, works beautifully. Only drawback (and not for me, since I already had a cable from another GPS) was the fact that the USB cable to connect it to the computer was necessary for product registration (and, of course, software updates). I think this item should be included with the unit, or at least the necessity of it disclosed before purchase.



5. It's an easy to use gps with great support. I down loaded the newest maps and other voice and vehicle icons. I have not had any problems. It was recommended to me and I recommend it to others.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 760 Portable GPS Automobile Navigator.

1. I've been using GPS since it was a very simple device to make waypoints and to know which was the right way to go directly to any place, not preloaded maps of cities, don't talk about voices telling you streets names, etc. In my case I've started to use it at the sea with a boat. Then I've used it in land and one day I went to Miami which is a very large city with many same looking places and took it with me and marked waypoints at different places I've went including the house of a friend of mine who was laughing at me because of it, but since this very moment I've found it useful cause I've saved a lot of time, gas and money in the car trying to find out the right way or asking people at the street. After it, I've been buying newer versions of Garmin GPS and growing up with it's use, but what I've found with those latest versions of Nüvi series is not only to shut my Miami's Friend's big mouth up, but that they are what I call "Foolsproof", it means, anyone can easily handle it, so far that they did not include in it's software the possibility of handle routes, waypoints and tracks through the PC, maybe because the designers thought that it was unnecessary for ordinary people. I inquiered about it to Garmin's support and they inmediately gave me an answer sending me for free, the Nüvi series software update for 2009 which includes the handeling of the 4 things through the PC: Maps, Tracks, Routes and Waypoints, and it makes my Nüvi 760 perfect.



2. I have only had the Nuvi 760 for one day, so this review is about the setup and initial impressions of the out of the box settings.
   This is my third Garmin. I started with the Street Pilot C530, followed by the C550 and now the Nuvi 760. Garmin discontinued support for the C530 about one year ago. That means that there are no new firmware downloads. The C550 which is top rated is still supported but its technology is outdated and it takes a while to lock onto the satellites. On the other hand the Nuvi 760 locks onto the satellites within a few seconds and has added features that makes the C550, in my opinion, not competitive given that its price and the Nuvi 760 are so close.
   OUT OF THE BOX:
   The unit cannot be used without visiting the Garmin website to unlock it.
   At the website you will be required to insert the serial number. That's not unusual, but the serial number is printed in such small type that a magnifying glass is recommended if your eyesight is not perfect. It is also difficult to find. (It is directly above the car power adapter plug located on the unit's upper rear side.) Next, Garmin requires the downloading of a couple of programs necessary for the downloading of firmware and maps. Since browser windows need to be closed as a conditon of installation, after installation one must start the registration process over again. I could not download the preliminary softwar or register my unit using my Mozilla browser (Not sure if that is true for everyone). It took a while to figure that out. Once I switched to my IE browser, the registration and unlocking went smoothly but there is an extensive firmware update that took quite a bit of time to download and install.
   
   Garmin has fixed the problem that prevented recent purchasers from immediately downloading the latest N. America Maps. After registering and downloading the new firmware, one must click on the Maps section of the Garmin menu. If things are working correctly, it will take you to a screen for updating maps. If not it takes you to a screen with a lengthy listing of all of its maps. If that happens go back to the menu and search around until the map update page appears. Purchasers are allowed to update to the 2009 North America map for free within thirty days of registering. Note: During the process you will be provided instructions that state "Connect Unit". My unit already was connected to the computer and and despite several tries, I kept circling back to the same page. Finally I disconnected and reconnected the USB cord and everything was fine. Although I was using a relatively new laptop with a Core Duo processor and 2GB of Ram, the map download took a several hours. That may be a function of the number of other users downloading at the same time.
   
   When the unit was fully updated, it was impressive on its first trial. I still need to make adjustments to the screen brightness. the volume is set by the factory at 80% but on my unit Jill is hard to hear. The pronuciation of street names is flawless. I live in Louisiana and I am interested to hear the pronuciations of some of our Cajun / French names. Finally, I own an LG CU500 cell phone that is not on Garmin's Bluetooh compability list. No problem at all. I went into the bluetooh tools section of the LG phone and found the screen that allowed me to name my unit. As directed by the online instruction manual (none comes with the unit, you must access it at the Garmin website) I enabled the bluetooth option and named the unit "Nuvi 760". I then went to the Nuvi 760 tools section where there is a button to search for bluetooth devices. It found my phone in about one minute and I was connected.
   
   For those of us who are inherently technologically challenged, the registration,firmware updating, unit unlocking, bluetooth connection and map updating process is a humbling but absolutely worthwhile experience. I am thrilled with the unit and I have high expectations that it will exceed the "Best of Class" rating of its predecessor Nuvi 660.



3. The Garmin Nuvi 760 is all I thought it would be. The bluetooth works well, the speaker is loud enough to hear over the music (with an option to listen through my FM radio), and I have been able to find all locations that I have searched for. The only CON is that it keeps the name of crossing streets on the screen about 50 feet or so past the actual street. Once you get used to that quirk, it's all good.



4. Works as advertised. Especially like the route recalculation feature. Would recommend this GPS to anyone.



5. Lots of reviews here that cover the bases. So I'll limit this to a bullet list of some items I found annoying:
   
   1. Hands free calling is not as good as my BlueAnt gizmo. Callers on other end said my voice sounded muddy and uneven. When I tried the Garmin 670, callers on the other end preferred it. But overall the Blue Ant was best.
   
   2. The speaker on the 760 is tinnier than on the Garmin 670 and annoying. The 670 is a thicker model, and I suppose they were able to fit a better speaker. If you're just using maps and guidance this is not a big deal. But if you use hands free dialing, it is terrible.
   
   3. I disagree with another post about the font. I think the font on the 670 is sharper and easier to read than on the 760 model. Much of the time (not always) the font is larger on the 670 model.
   
   4. The MP3 on both models is rudimentary at best. The playlist function does not work very well.
   
   5. The supposed ability to play sound through the FM is a joke. Neither unit works well enough to use...ever. Sometimes nothing comes through. When sound does show up, it is scratchy and irritating beyond belief. If Garmin is going to list this as a feature, they need to go back to the drawing table. As of now, the implementation of this feature is pathetic.
   
   6. Both the 760 and the 670 lock GPS about the same speed...perhaps the 760 is a touch faster...but not to the extent anyone would really notice.
   
   7. 760 is thinner and doesn't need to open the antenna. So it is much easier to use in pedestrian mode. On the 670 with the GPS antenna up, it's tough to fit the unit in your pocket. So pedestrian mode isn't realistic on the 670.
   
   8. Garmin got ridiculously cheap on the 760 with respect to accessories. NO AC Adapter; no disk for PDF Help file; no case. All three are standard on the 670 model.
   
   Garmin's Maps and POI are both great. The guidance works very well. So bottom line, is that it is the hands free phone use, playing sound through FM and MP3 that I'm critical of.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 360 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth and Text-to-Speech.

1. I like this very much. I took this one for my vacation a couple of weeks back. No more printed maps with me. Maps are accurate and satellite connection is good. I have some concernt about the Dash board mount. It is not holding on very well. The MP3 player is good.
   I was able to download the latest 2008 MAP for free and install it. Took about 4 hours to all this.
   
   Over all satisfied with the purchase.



2. We bought this Garmin last month before a long trip from FL to VT with stops in Ashville, NC, Long Island, NY, Yorktown Heights, NY and CT. It never failed to get us where we wanted to go. (New York traffic is tough.)The screen is small and hard to see if in direct sunlight, but I, as navigator and not driving, often handheld it when crucial turns were coming up. It came with every attachment you will need and we set it up right out of the box.
   Very pleased with this unit and would certainly recommend it.



3. This is all anyone could ask for in a GPS. I bought it because my daughter bought one, demonstrated it to me and recommended it highly. I'm truly happy with it.



4. This is my first GPS. After a decent amount of research, I found Garmin received high marks from most people and magazines. This unit is compact (being a Nuvi) and extremely user friendly. I have elderly relatives in the market for a GPS, and am perfectly comfortable in recommending the Garmin Nuvi 360 to them.
   
   If I have any complaint, it's that I was "sure" the 360 spoke street names, which turns out not to be the case. Otherwise, this unit is pretty darned accurate, has a vivid display, easy-to-understand vocab, and seems to be all my family needs in a portable GPS.



5. I bought this for a Father's Day gift but managed to play around with it some before I gave it away. If you're looking for a reasonably inexpensive NUVI, this is a great buy. You see why Garmin is pretty much regarded as the best in the biz! My only complaint was that I could never get the Bluetooth to stay in sync with either my RAZR phone or my dad's Blackberry. Each time one of the devices was turned off, you'd have to go through the whole process of re-syncing the NUVI with the phone. So basically I paid about 25-bucks extra for a feature (vs. the Nuvi 350) that might not ever be used....because my dad is not tech-savvy enough to do that over and over again. It could be we weren't doing something quite right and troubleshooting the issue could have solved it. But I was hoping it would just work, which was not the case.
   
   All the other features are great....so I might just be buying the Nuvi 350 for myself, and then stick with an earpiece bluetooth device, which you can pick up pretty inexpensively now.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

1. Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
   I ordered the Garmin GPS for my husband after recommendations from some friends. It is very user friendly and my husband is very satisfied as he had no prior experience with a GPS. He found this very easy to use.



2. I have no complaints. I love my garmin. Sometimes it takes a while to find a sattelite but I would imagine that happens sometimes.



3. Just bought my garmin 200. Has all the features you really need from a GPS. Does nto have text to speech which would be nice but you can read clearly the name of the street on the Garmin. Speaker is loud screen is beaituful. Very fast at picking up coordinates. A great deal.



4. I Purchased 9 of these for a small fleet of Service Electricians. They have all told me "wow I couldn't have found that job with out this thing" and "I don't get lost any more". I am very satisfied with this purchase. Thank you Garmin!



5. I helped pick the Garmin Nuvi for purchase by our company in order to provide staff with a more efficient way of making field visits; the goal being to reduce the amount of mileage and time incurred by faulty online directions or poorly planned trips. So far, I've been very impressed with accuracy of maps/directions, quick response time and especially the battery life.
   
   For the price, this unit provides great navigational capabilities. The Nuvi is pretty stripped down, but I don't think anyone needs a lot of bells and whistles to fool around with when they're supposed to be paying attention to driving. In response to one post that stated it does not come with a wall-charger - I agree that would be a downside, but I have found that plugging it into my computer with a USB cord works perfect for charging the GPS away from the car.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 660 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator.

1. After reviewing Consumer Reports on GPS units, I found that Amazon had the best price. So far the product has performed very well. We have only had it for a month though. Like the larger screen very much and would recommend that anyone interested in getting a GPS go with the one that has voice/street name option. Very useful.



2. Bought this as an open box item. It is real nice, the map data required updating, and it still doesn't have some major roads. the screen is nice sized it came with all the needed cables and mounting hardware



3. I was looking for a navigation unit to carry in my Honda Element. I found the extensive number of units on the market somewhat overwhelming. I decided to get a unit that had been available a while but not too long so it would be up to date and well reviewed. I have used these units in rental cars so I knew how they work. I love the 660 and I would have given it 5 stars if the Garmin company had made their stand compatible to both windsheilds and dashboards or made a California dashbord edition. My solution? I just bought some Extreme Velcro at Home Depot and cut it to fit the back of the windshield mount, soft side on the mount. On my dash between my speedometer panel and the airconditioning/radio panel, next to my steering wheel I doubled the velcro rough strips and the unit sets up there perfectly well within reach, easy to view, out of glare. You have to take alcohol and orange goo cleaner to make sure the dash is really clean for it to stick but if you do it right it works fine. This unit comes with ac adaptor, carrying case, windsheild mount and cord, full manual on CD and a hardcopy quick reference guide, also a free trial 3 month FM traffic service. Like all GPS units I have tried this one does not always go the shortest way and occasionally makes mistakes about turns and pronounciations, but they are minor errors. This is a good product and very useful in the car when shopping and traveling.



4. It works great but loses reception easily while going under a bridge or overpass. It doesn't acquire location easily.



5. Awesome GPS, especially for the price. Directions were spot on and never missed a turn throughout a recent trip through the northeast and Canada. Bluetooth worked flawlessly picking up and displaying all calls. Definitely get the dash friction mount instead of the windshield mount. Easier to move from car to car and you can position the GPS where you want.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Text-to-Speech.

1. I purchased this one month ago and love it. Family member purchased one 2 weeks ago and loves it. But why is the mapping information two years old? The garmin website offers free download of 2009 version but it takes about 4 hours (NOT an exaggeration) to download. In this era of just-in-time inventory, have these things been sitting on a shelf for two years?



2. An excellent value for a GPS. It isn't perfect, but then what is! I have noted it seems to want to route me to an address or two (in town) via street names that simply do not exist in that part of town - in other words, it seems to properly identify where to make a turn, but sometimes will incorrectly identify the name of the street to turn onto. As long as you are aware of this quirk, then it works just fine. For "on the road" use it seems to work perfectly. I would recommend this unit to anyone who wants a good solid value.



3. Consumer alert: The Nuvi 350 is discontinued. I learned this today from a Garmin support specialist, who was trying to help me solve some technical issues. His software suggestion for the remedy is not available from the Garmin website for this model. I called Amazon, who informed me they have not received any notification from the manufacturer about discontinuing this product, therefore, they cannot alert consumers until they do.
   
   It took me 3 hours to download the software. I've spent hours reviewing the PDF manual. Street names are incorrect. Arrival times are way off by hours (the additional software was supposed to correct this.) The most current map will cost an additional $63.99 (DVD). So, I'd say: Buyer Beware!



4. The Garmin nuvi 350 has been perfect with directions and has recalculated the route quickly whenever I have missed turns. I found its "Points of Interest" database very useful to find restaurants and gas stations on road trips. It is great value for money and very very reliable. However, I have noticed that unless it has power input, the device is unable to catch satellite signal. Anyhow, overall I have found the Garmin nuvi 350 very reliable and would recommend it any day.



5. I recently bought the Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS. It is great. I don't know how I lived without it. So far I have encountered zero problems with it. It is very accurate and the voice is great to let you know when you are approaching a turn. If you get lost easily like me then I definitely recommend this product. It is easy to use and the satellite is fast and reliable. It takes only a few minutes to get setup too!