5 comments about Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator.

1. 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!



2. I travel in a major metropolitan area and should have no problem getting a signal for the live MSN content with this device, however its performance is extremely erratic and therefore unreliable. Who needs stock quotes that haven't updated in three days? I've made numerous phone calls to both Garmin and MSN and of course each blames the other. My last interaction with Garmin they told me it must be the tinted windows in the car that is blocking reception and I should be getting a good signal based on my location. Of course that doesn't help me. Then they said I could get better reception using the device outside the car, which is just stupid to suggest. Finally they replaced the power cable which houses the received for MSN, but it still doesn't work. You may not experience the same issues, but based on my experience I would recommend a less expensive model without the MSN feature to save money and frustration.



3. I bought the 780 for the MSN service only to discover that I barely need it. The fuel price updates are nice, but there is no way to sort the prices so I am stuck looking at them sorted via distance. Sometimes that gas station is behind me, and when I am traveling, I do not go backwards unless I must.
   As far as finding movies, and the other features, they are fairly useless to me. I can find Starbucks and WalMart and all my favorite restaurants without that MSN service.
   As far as gps technology goes, it is pretty good. Sometimes it tries to take me through gated communities or closed roads, and a couple of times, it has taken me in directions that make no sense whatsoever, but most of the time it gets me right where I am going. Sometimes it has directions that are better than the way I normally travel.
   I don't trust it to plan critical trips without reviewing what it is going to do before I leave. I wish I didn't have to do that, but I think this is a reality with any gps.
   There are several things I love about this gps above others:
   1. Google maps lets you send points of interest to your gps. This is only available for Garmin or Magellan gps owners. This feature alone has made me love owning a Garmin. Nothing beats finding your location on satellite and sending it to your gps. Especially if you don't have an address. I found a friends property in the mountains via satellite imagery and sent it to the gps. Once you give the 780 your Google point, it takes you right to the door.
   
   2. The audio out connects right to the aux plug on my stereo. While the audio is tolerable for navigation direct from the gps speaker, when I connect it to my stereo, the bluetooth phone conversations are crystal clear and the directions are pristine.
   
   3. The database of poi's is amazing. I have yet to look for a store or restaurant that it could not find. While camping recently, I looked for a Wal-Mart in Flagstaff, AZ. It not only found one that I would not have been able to spot from the highway, but it took me through all sorts of streets to get to it so that I looked like a local in a town I have never driven in.
   
   4. When navigating complex intersections, the 780 always tells me what side of the highway to be on. This has saved me many a frustrating experience of not being able to make a turn because of being in the wrong lane position.
   
   5. The traffic monitor, which may or may not be related to the MSN feature, is pretty cool. When it is issues a traffic warning, clicking on the warning button gives you the option of rerouting. If rerouting does not save time, it warns you of that. So far, I have never rerouted. I have realized, unfortunately, that sometimes the traffic info is outdated. It has told me that I was going to have delays, only to arrive and find the roads crystal clear on more than one occasion.
   
   After having had the 780 for almost 3 months and having put it through most of its paces, I am a very satisfied customer. I would have probably been just as happy with the 680, but I guess I will never really know.



4. I've had several Garmin GPS units which I used mostly for hiking and offroad navigation -- for the most part Garmin has kept offroad and onroad units separate, you could have one or the other but not both feature sets in a single unit. My 60csx is an exception, it was the first unit I had that also included on road routing and I quickly became addicted to it. But the 60csx's screen is small and not terribly bright and it doesn't talk, so it's not great to use on the road unless you have a passenger to relay along the information. And it doesn't know anything about traffic, which I've been dealing with a lot recently. So I decided to try a nuvi -- I saw the 780 on sale and went with that. For the most part I've been quite happy with it -- it's not perfect, but it's a big improvement.
   
   The good: overall I love it. I'm going to mention every little thing I've noticed that bugs me in this review, and I might end up sounding negative, so just remember that -- I have no regrets, I'd happily buy it again.
   
   The screen is large and bright and easy to read, and can be read in full sunlight, although it doesn't seem to be the sort of reflective screen the 60csx has. With the spoken directions you don't need to look at it much while you're driving (although see my comments below about routing quirks). The interface is fairly easy to use, a lot easier than the handhelds. The speaker is loud enough that I haven't had any trouble hearing it, although I have to turn the radio down sometimes. The bluetooth is great for accessing my phone, and I've had no complaints about call quality from the people on the other end. Overall the routing engine seems much improved from the 60csx, although like all systems it has its quirks, and you should take a look at a real map once in a while just to make sure. What's nice is that you can easily add a via point to force a better route if you know better. I also like several of the MSN direct features, like movie times and local events, and the traffic flow information is really handy, especially in a city you're not intimately familiar with. For getting from point A to B on roads, this thing is great.
   
   The not as good: the MSN traffic service is really not all you would hope it would be -- driving around both the San Francisco Bay area and LA, I have yet to drive by an incident it was reporting and actually find anything there, the incident data seems to be so far behind that it's useless. Possibly related, it seems to take the traffic data a long time to update -- in the SFBay area I'm often half way to work before I have any traffic data, and when driving into the LA area from the north on I-5 I'm also well into traffic before the traffic data starts to appear. The traffic flow data on the other hand seems reasonably accurate, and it has done an admirable job of getting me across LA far faster than I would be able to do on my own, occasionally even directing me onto surface streets to avoid traffic (or maybe non-existent incidents). However it's quite slow to decide things are bad enough to recalculate a route, I once saw the delay time go over 90 minutes (as in 2.5 hours for what should have been a 1 hour long trip) before it decided to find a new route. Yet in most cases when the delay listed is over 20-30 minutes if I force it to start from scratch it's immediately able to come up with a much improved route. So now I just do that.
   
   One glitch in the routing engine that I run into occasionally is that it will tell you to get off and back on your route when you should just keep going. For instance at intersections it will sometimes tell you to turn left, then immediately right, when what it really wants you to do is go straight through an intersection. Or it will tell you to take an exit ramp only to tell you to get right back on the interstate when you should just stay on the interstate. When this happens it requires staring at the screen more that you should to avoid getting offroute.
   
   When you're searching for something the categories are not always the best, they are often far too general. Maybe they do that to keep it simple, but finding a grocery store for instance can be a pain.
   
   I've seen people complain about lockups, mine has only locked up once, when trying to display topo maps loaded onto a card zoomed far out. I haven't done this very often so I don't know how repeatable it might be, and whether it's a problem with the unit or the card. A power cycle cured it.
   
   And I wish it came with a better mount, or that the mounts with arms (like they have for the handheld units) worked with the nuvi's. The windshield mount is useless to me (both in that it would not make the nuvi easy to use and in that it's illegal in California) as are any of the mounts Garmin sells for the nuvi. For now I'm using an aftermarket vent mount and working on my own adapter so that I can use one of the arm mounts, I'm not sure yet if that will work. But Garmin should be making those.
   
   Finally, what's missing: first, more user configurable options. On the 60csx, on nearly any screen that displays numbers I can configure at least what numbers are shown, and on the map screen how many are shown. I'd love to be able to display elevation (which apparently this unit doesn't display anywhere?) and time on the main map screen, and be able to choose what numbers are shown on the speedometer screen.
   
   Next, a compass on the main screen would be nice!
   
   I'd also like it if some selection of points of interest could be displayed on the 3D map. Like if I'm looking for a gas station, or a movie theater, etc.
   
   And finally, why do the nuvi's have to be limited to on road navigation only? What I really want is a more all in one/outdoor themed nuvi -- coming from the 60csx this feels like a dumbed down or crippled GPS. It could easily be so much more. For driving to work or finding my way around a city the 780 is really good, but when the weekend comes I'm left needing two GPSs. For instance, say I want to drive down to the beach, and I'm wondering what the tides are doing -- the 60csx will tell me that. Or if I'm driving down a long 4WD trail to get to where I'm going to start a hike -- I have to switch to the 60csx as soon as I leave the pavement. (The 780 will display topo maps, sort of, but it's not really meant to do that and doesn't do it terribly well.) And my earlier comments about wanting to know elevation and direction are along the same lines. I know a lot of people who would love to have a nuvi with the feature set of a 60csx, a nuvi for people who don't spend their entire lives in cities. If they made one tomorrow I'd buy one tomorrow, and I know a lot of people who would do the same. This and the iffy traffic data are the main reasons I'm only giving it 4 stars instead of 5.



5. Pretty accurate with GPS, I have only found one local road in which the speed limit was off, and it was listed lower than the actual. There was construction in the area a while ago and not sure if it ever incrreased after they were done, but it is on the roadway. Great to have gas prices, and they are fairly accurate. Nice to have weather, news and traffic too. All the things that TOMTOM 930T have, but cheaper

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 270 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

1. I have only used the 270 a few days in the US, and it seems to work as advertised. They only suggestion is that you also purchase a necessary USB cable for the unit. Without it, you can't register it online, and receive any updated software. This is something that was missing in the Amazon description and needs to be added.



2. first i have an older Garmin i5 GPS. it was smaller in screen size, but bulky and you had to rotate a dial to spell addresses out, etc. that was really crummy. but the nice thing about it is that it could acquire the satellites very quickly -- perhaps within about 30 seconds. the Nuvi 270 is slow to acquire satellites. i regularly drive about 2 minutes before it finally figures out where i am to give me directions. if i know i am going to be using it i guess i should turn it on before i start the car if i really don't know which way to go from my starting point.
   
   that being said, everything else is really, really well done. you can type right on the screen and you can do it while driving. i purchased the weighted stand for keeping it on the dash and the combo can't be beat. we're off to Europe for a few months soon so i'll likely have more to add to this review once i've tried this GPS from Italy to Amsterdam.



3. I used my Garmen in centeral and northern germany this summer and could not have asked for anything better it found all locations I asked for and listed all roads. It found places to eat and gas stations and hotels. Absolutely fantastic



4. Works wonderfully except in tight places where the traffic is awful- no fault of the navigator though. We loved it in England and Ireland. It even backroaded with only a few mistakes which could have been our fault in programming. Very helpful on roundabouts!



5. I bought this nuvi mainly because my wife is from Germany and I always have a terrible time navigating around these towns. I didn't want a unit that I would only use for a few weeks a year when we are in Europe so I sought out something with a database in the USA as well.
   
   This is a simple unit. It doesn't upload traffic or current construction delays. It doesn't play music. It doesn't bluetooth. It doesn't play videos. It doesn't wash your socks. It just navigates and it does it very well.
   
   We travelled all over Germany, over to a small town in Poland, back to northern Germany, over to Norway (and all over the country), and then back to Germany. It found everything without a hitch. It even found these obscure little dirt roads in the wilds of Norway. Took us directly to airport terminals and ferry terminals. I am hugely impressed by this little unit. Nothing but good to say so far...

5 comments about Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS.

1. This is the best trail GPS I have owned. I have been using it for a few months now and here is what I have observed:
   
   1. Battery power is a big one for me. This gets the 25 hours that is says it gets. I often backpack camp for a few days at a time and don't like changing batteries all the time.
   
   2. Size is great. If you have a case with a clip you can attach this to your pack or straps and it's barely noticeable.
   
   3. The software and programming is a plus. You can easily make waypoints with the waypoint manager software. The on board software has many features as well. I tend to use tracking a lot. Geocaching management is built in. Maps are expandable if you use topo of street maps purchased seperately and are stored either on board or on the optional sd card card that can be put in.
   
   My recommended additions for this product:
   
   1. Get a solid case like the case from foarm. The one that comes with it is ok but if you do a lot of bushwhacking you'll was a more protective case.
   
   2. Get a screen protector like InvisibleShield. It's worth the investment.
   
   3. Since this is a trail GPS, buying the Topo 2008 DVD or whatever is current from Garmin is a plus and you won't regret it.
   
   So overall an excellent product with room for expandability and is very durable. This is a perfect companion for hikers and backpackers.



2. If all you want is a GPS, sure it works fine, even with reasonably heavy tree cover. I've only seen one glaring track error, on a recent ride out and back along a shoreline trail, where two miles of one leg is shown a few hundred yards out into the lake.
   
   However, the UI is non-sensical and the "get started guide" useless. I don't get why Garmin supposedly has a reputation for good UI.
   
   Take the back-light button: who in their right minds makes a back-light button bring up the back-light UI and not the back-light?
   
   The clock is even funnier. You'd think a GPS would know where it is, and thus the time zone, but no, on the Idaho Panhandle twenty miles west of the Montana border the clock will be off not one, but two full hours.
   
   By the way, the top right button is the primary button you're supposed to use, and you'll just have to circle through 8 UI screens to go back and forth between the two screens you want.
   
   Finally, the MapSource Topo software is well past useless: it can't even provide driving directions to trail heads for the small fraction of logging roads it knows about (only some of which actually exist.)
   
   When you're in the woods you'll really wish the topo lines were distinguishable on screen from fire roads and you could toggle between a zoomed in and a zoomed out version of the map.
   
   The good news is I have yet to be eaten by a grizzly bear or any of the theoretically endangered wolves who've taken to howling at all hours of the night just up the hill from my house.



3. Great product. It's simple to use but finding cities and other locations (not waypoints) not within your area is difficult. Other wise, a great product. Very good for geocaching, allthough it seems to jump around when near buildings. I like how it fits in one hand and how I can use that hand to press the buttons.



4. I bought this GPS mainly for use while kayaking in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The GPS itself is very nice, with tons of usable features, and is an excellent value. The color screen works great, and a lot of thought went into making this fine handheld GPS. Of course the GPS is only minimally useful without the optional maps, as are almost all similar GPS units, and I have no complaints about that, but the fact is, their Inland Lakes software is not up to par, and that flaws an otherwise excellent GPS unit.
   
   The first thing that's missing from the software is that only 1200 Minnesota lakes are included. I'll give them credit that the lakes they do include are the major ones, but they could at least provide a simple outline of most of the rest.
   
   Another problem I have with their lake maps is that they don't show where many lakes link to each other, such as where Lake Calhoun connects with Lake of the Isles via canal in Minneapolis. This seems true of every lake that doesn't have a half mile wide connection with another, and makes exploring new lake chains more difficult, since you would have to guess whether or where there is a connection, and that is a serious flaw in the software.
   
   The final problem I found was missing sections of rivers and creeks, including sections that connect to lakes. It's puzzling that the software wouldn't show the entire river if they show a part of it.
   
   These flaws make me consider selling my new GPS and buying a DeLorme PN-20 which comes STANDARD with Topo USA including topographic, lake and street maps, and comes with a $100 credit for USGS Quad maps, aerial and satellite maps for about the same cost as the Garmin Vista HCx and one set of flawed optional maps. I really like my GPS unit, but the maps aren't in the same league as the GPS is, and that's not good enough. Besides, Garmin doesn't even have USGS Quads, satellite or aerial maps.



5. I haven't had any freeze-ups or lock-ups with my unit. I wanted the high sensitivity, the mass storage capability, and I thought the compass would be nice. So the Vista HCx fit the bill. Everything has worked as expected. I know the compass is a small feature, but I really like it, and my wife will like it when trying to tell me where to go. Occasionally, I can even get satellite signal in my office at work, which is like a cement basement with no windows. I knew that the mapping software was going to cost extra, so that wasn't a surprise. I recently found some legit and legal free road maps that work on this device though. The free maps won't offer nearly as much as City Navigator does, but it will work until I want to spend another $100. Cloudmade offers OSM maps in the img format. Create a folder on your MicroSD card called Garmin, download the map into the folder, then rename the map "gmapsupp.img" Then load the MicroSD card back in. I think doing it this way only allows for one map at a time. I don't know much about computers and have a mac so this was the easiest way for me to do it. It does take some playing around with to get used to all of the features. But I bought this as a toy not as something I need, so it's fun. This manual is pretty useless, but I have heard that some of the other manuals for different models that you can find online are much better. If I start experiencing lock-ups I will definitely add to my review.

5 comments about Garmin Forerunner 301 Wrist-Mounted GPS Fitness Computer with Heart Rate Monitor.

1. Nice little gizmo for training purposes. Little big and clunky for the wrist. Will not work until satellites are collected, so turn on early if you are trying to record exact distances and time. Lots of features, don't use all of them yet, still learning, but would be very handy for serious training. Battery holds well and nice recharge system. Downloadable to see routes and sessions- very impressive and able to see progress. Good value for the money.



2. Great product. Only wish that they had a more detailed local map. Otherwise, great features and great training tool for running marathons.Garmin Forerunner 301 Wrist-Mounted GPS Fitness Computer with Heart Rate Monitor



3. I absolutely love this product! I am not a runner, but do at times run. The only flaw with this product I have noticed is that when I run, the heart monitor does not read accurately. I believe it is from the movement of running (and/or jumping). It works perfectly when I am walking/biking/rowing, etc. (activities that do not have jumping involved). The one thing I learned when trying to obtain a GPS signal is to keep it in one spot without moving it until it receives a signal. I have had it a couple of months now and just love it. I find the software program very useful as well. I love the fact it shows distance, calories burned, heart rate, pace, speed, elevation, etc. It is an excellent guide to helping me with reaching my goals...whether it be my target zone or pace. It is unbelievable to me that people complain and expect to get a GPS signal inside! Unless one has satellites in a building, the Garmin won't pick up a signal. Trees at times can also get in the way. Again, common sense. If the satellite signal can't reach the Garmin, how can it work properly. When that happens, I have noticed that the Garmin will slow my pace down because it's trying to catch up with the signal then as soon as I hit a clearing...boom. It's catches up with itself. That may bother some, but not me. It doesn't happen often. I make sure to take a pretty clear route. Don't expect it to work well in a forest with a ton of trees. All in all, it's a great product. I've told all my friends about it. I don't ever want to be without it.



4. I had trouble charging the unit from the start with the AC adapter. I got it to charge twice through the computer. Now it won't charge at all. The two times I did get to use it were very cool. It showed pace and mileage and when downloaded to the computer showed the route I ran. But I cannot get the unit to turn on or charge again. I'm very disappointed.



5. After reading the various reviews online, I bought the 301 and I absolutely love it!! It took only a few minutes to acquire a signal. I turned it on when I started my warm-up and it was ready before I was done. It was extremely accurate and measured my heart rate well. The online software was easy to install and use (though it installed more easily on my XP than on my Vista). The product does everything I hoped it would.
   
   Prior to purchasing, I considered the newer 305. Even though the 305 has the ability to more readily read a weak signal and looks a little cooler, it also has a shorter charge life and costs twice as much. So I opted for the 301 and have no regrets.

5 comments about Garmin GSC 10 Speed Cadence Sensor for Edge and Forerunner Series (010-10644-00).

1. The sensor is a great addition to the Forerunner 305. I was able to switch out my catseye computer and use this instead. It is very accurate and was very easy to install and set up. I like that it has cadence and a wheel sensor as I will use the bike in the basement during bad weather on my fluid trainer and it will still give me distance. I would suggest it to anyone that is going to bike and run with the Forerunner.



2. I have been so happy with this addition to my Garmin. I also got the bike mount and it works great! It was all so easy to attach to my bike and start working with it right away.



3. I am using this on my second bike - and it and the entire Garmin Edge 305 system, works very well.
   The Edge 305 has multiple bike profiles, so I've tuned the second profile to this sensor.
   Care needs to be taken to install the sensor correctly so it aligns properly with both speed and cadence magnets.
   The only observation is that the cadence magnet, the one that sticks on the left crank, is a little tricky to space relative to the sensor. In one bike it required a home-made spacer, such that it would bring it closer (within spec) to the sensor. This will depend on your bike and as I said I only had to build this for one of my bikes. Still, it would be nice if Garmin offered such a spacer.



4. I purchased this product a few months ago. Installed it very easly. It took about 10 min for the installation. Works great. I wish I had this stuff when I was racing.



5. Cool tool to use if you can get it to synch properly. It is verrrry sensitive and if the adjustment is not perfect your cadence will not register. After several bike rides I find that I have had to readjust it each time. My ADD is starting to kick in and I am finding this to be a pain. It is entirely possible that due to operator error I may have not installed it properly at the beginning. Once hooked up properly it sychs seemlessly with the Garmin.
   
   So if you have the patience( and good installation skills) go ahead and get it, the price makes it an easy purchase and this can be a beneficial tool in your training.

5 comments about Garmin StreetPilot c340 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

1. Will get you anywhere you want to go with ease!! Great product, would highly recommend..



2. 
   This is my 3rd GPS.
   
   I owned a Garmin c230, Tom Tom one, Navigon 2100. Each has found a home with other members of the family, not by my choice just Dad is apparently a soft touch. I research purchases to no end for fun and to determine value.
   
   The C340 is an older style and while the form factor is a bit bulky by todays standards, the performance and price is great.
   
   It acquires a signal fast, it's display and volume super, the software is among the best as is the Points of Interest data base.
   
   The Maps are as good as any GPS and there is no way any GPS system can be 100% current.
   
   I decided to use the same approach as I do with laptops, no sense to strive for the newest when you can get great performance from a legacy model.
   
   This unit sold for almost 3 times the price 2 years ago and is still a solid performer.
   
   All GPS devices are a useful tool, the software and POI's on the Garmin is something I have found to be of high value.



3. The GPS unit itself works great, and is intuitive and easy to use. HOWEVER, it is a horror to set up if you have a Mac! Even though the website claims they now support Mac, they are really useless when it actually comes to it. I initially had to set it up with a borrowed PC (predictably, the software was ridiculously unintuitive; when the so-called mac update, was announced--many months after it was supposed to come out--I ordered my free update CD, having finally figured out how to get it from their unwieldy website. Forget downloading the files or maps directly from the site, even with the various and confusing unlock codes you have to use! The CD arrives in a few weeks: no Mac update on it, no help on the website. You would think that nowadays any big and well known company would in this day and age provide Mac support (not to mention web downloads of additional programs/maps!). Very disappointing.



4. I love this product. I like the fact that it tells you the name of the road you are turning on. It is easy to use, very self explanitory.



5. Waited until the price dropped to pick up this garmin GPS. Easy to use and came with updated 2008 maps. Friction mount does not stay put on my Tahoe dash but makes it for easy storage with a suction cup ring or dash mount.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 750 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator.

1. Garmin 760 GPS - It's wonderful. Got us through local streets and unnamed roads to our destination with no problems. Simple to install and use, and the owner's manual is understandable. I love it!



2. Great Product. Does all that the manufacturer claimed it could do and does it satisfactorily. With my additional house charger and external antenna, I can't ask for more.
   
   Only disappointment was that it was not loaded with the 2008 maps - comes with 2007.



3. Just got back from 1st trip with a Garmin 750. Locked on to sat. with in a few seconds (20 sec longest). very clear voice with directions(and I am hard of hearing). I tend to take side trips the unit rerouted me back on track every time very fast. I had no problems and was very pleased with the 750.



4. I have had the unit for 6 months and bought it for a move to a new place where I would have to be driving to many unfamiliar locations. For the most part, the multipoint routing and such works OK, although the steps to program all the points seems more tedious than it needs to be. And then I started finding strange things, like a major Southern California post office that had been built seven years ago in a large town is not in the database (the post office on Hovely in Palm Desert). A 5-year-old home address I tried to find was not to be found -- not even the street it was built on, and that was in central Tucson.
   
   To make matters worse, after owning it for only 6 months, I get an email that to get the updated 2009 database, presumably containing all the points that should have been there all along, I am supposed to pay another $70 on top of the $430 I paid when it came out? C'mon! At least give free updates for a year!! At least it costs less to buy the upgrade from Amazon than from Garmin.
   
   Satellite reception definitely improved with the software updates, but is still sluggish sometimes even with sunny, unrestricted skies - or can't locate satellites at all. And strangely it often asks me to do unnecessary things like drive past my destination, sometimes half a mile farther, do a U-turn and return a half a mile back again to turn right into a parking lot -- when a simple left turn would have done just fine.
   
   Now that the first excitement of the device has worn off and I have had enough time to see all these quirks, overall I am underwhelmed. The device itself (hardware, aesthetics, durability, etc.) is good but the software is not up to par, and a GPS is only as good as its software. A price of $250 with at least a year of free upgrades would seem a better value.



5. Yep, With the Nuvi 750 I travel with confidence and no longer get lost in the parking lot. I do a lot of disaster work and travel in unframiliar areas with out stress and with confidence that I will reach my destination. I have four GPS units and for travel this is by far the best.
   The Nuvi is easy to operate and I have no reservations reccomending this unit to all my friends.

5 comments about Garmin 12-Volt Vehicle DC Power Adapter for the StreetPilot C510 and C550 (010-10747-03).

1. Received product but it was not the product advertised. Wrong adapter for my Garmin. Had to return product and request refund. First time I have ever had a problem with Amazon. Maybe you should stick to selling books.



2. This charger is VERY FLIMSY. We used it for about a week before the charging pin section came apart - now it does not work. IF AMAZON READS THIS - I expect a replacement OR my money back.
   
   This so-called OEM is absolutely not worth the $20 you pay - especially for the flimsy construction.
   
   Aweful - that about says it right!



3. I had some problems with original adapter for Garmin 660. This is more relaible and fit to my Garmin 660



4. This is a replacement for my Garmin Nuvi 680. I losted my vehicle DC power adapter with MSN direct receiver. I don't want to spend more money therefore I ordered this one. Even though it's didn't have MSN direct but it does the job to power my 680.



5. I was angry about ordering this. The GPS ordering page made it appear like it was a necessary item to order along with the GPS, so I did. Then the GPS arrived, and there was one in the box?
   
   This was deceptive.....and it really angered me.
   
   Amazon did make it right - they refunded everything, but only after I emailed them twice. It was shipped separately, so I had to pay separate shipping on it...etc...
   
   It was a pain - and all because of their deceptive sales approach on the page.

5 comments about Garmin Carrying Case for eTrex and Summit (010-10314-00).

1. Like others, I'm tough on handheld items. This case, although not armor, will help in reducing damage to your GPS. It will clip on your belt and fits snuggly to the unit. The screens can be easily read though the plastic window.



2. Case works perfect for carring on belt and protecting the GPS but makes it hard to see the display at times.



3. Made for this series of GPS units. Strong belt clip. Easy access to GPS. Helps to take the shock when I drop it! I recommend.



4. This case isn't too useful as it comes out of the box because the little plastic window is made of ultra-soft plastic that will scratch immediately through normal use, and then you'll need to remove the GPS from the case to actually read its screen, defeating much of the purpose. The Garmin screen itself is made of soft plastic that scratches immediately, and you must protect it with a self-adhesive screen protector. You must do the same to this carrying case. That said, the case fits the GPS snugly and the clip stays on a belt or pack, so other than the soft screen it works as advertised. But why do manufacturers build and sell products with built-in self-destruct features?



5. The case is well made and fits my eTrex Venture HC like a glove. The belt clip is snug so I don't worry about it falling off. One of the reasons I bought this is because I had read the eTrex's screen was prone to scratching easily. The heavy gage plastic over the screen seems to eliminate that potential problem.

5 comments about TomTom GO 920 Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator.

1. Everythig was clear and fast. I have recieved that, what I expected. Original pack without any damage or opening. Everythig what was suppose to be inside, was there. I am satisfied with this product. It is workng without any problems.



2. I'got previously a Viamichelin (many mistakes and long time to acquire gps) and now Viamichelin has left the gps market (no more support, no new maps). I tried Mio (no comment, forget it, you will never be able to read the screen on sunny days). I finally go to Tomtom in order to get North American and Europe maps. Good product, very short waiting time for gps acquisition, accurate and precise. I've bought the 920. Important things to mention :
   - after updating a 920 with v8 maps, you have got a 930 !
   - if you buy the T version (with TMC) in US, your antenna won't work in Europe and vice versa. If you want to use TMC on both sides, you need 2 antennas (which are physically identical, so don't mix them or it will be a mess !).
   - I travel a lot. I can use it in Singapore, Hong-Kong, Australia etc. but you don't have maps of Mexico and Malaysia (that Garmin has). It's a pity.
   - remote control is a gadget except if you have a very big car...
   - no home charger, no case provided. It's a pity.
   - software is very simple to use. You will never be lost !
   - some map mistakes, but very good improvements with map share. These improvements are depending on the size of the community : in Europe, maps are perfect due to the large number of users (TT is #1). In US, maps are perfectible and it will take some time which could be short if their products are well sold. No need to buy an updated map, sounds good !
   - bluetooth hands free works very well.
   - voice recognition exists but forget it (gadget which doesn't work while driving).
   Conclusion : quite perfect, reliable, always working (no bugs)... Only one improvement for future : Mr Tomtom, provide more maps, please !



3. Most place names are spoken understandably, but both US English readers frequently say "thord" or "thorth" for "third", as well as "thorteenth", "thortyninth", etc., which can be confusing.



4. If you're new to an area, the TomTom GO920 is the near-perfect companion. Expect issues in urban areas amidst high buildings (probably the case for all navigators, though), and in very remote areas: had a very dangerous experience in Yosemite Park, when it directed me to a road that doesn't exist on the local maps: it didn't warn me that the road was unpaved, very steep and only suitable for 4x4 vehicles. But then again, it was my decision not to make a U turn - so not sure how much of it I can blame on the navigator.
   On several occasions, the route suggested from A to B changed: one day it suggested one highway, another day another one; sometimes the return leg was completely different from the outbound leg.
   The commands are easy to use, with sufficient features and settings.The hands-free feature doesn't work with my business cellphone, looks like the phone overrides the navigator's bluetooth commands. No problems however with my private cell: once it works, it's great!
   I travel a fair bit for work, both in the US and in Europe; this machine came with maps for North America and Europe.I worked out the daily rate Hertz charge us for their Neverlost system: the GO920 pays for itself after 32 working days.
   Some aspect need improving but all in all very happy with the product.



5. While this device has some positives, the biggest disappointment is that the maps are clearly many, many years old. This becomes evident at unfortunate points in time, e.g., two weeks ago when I was attempting to reach the car rental location near Philadelphia airport, Tom Tom led me astray (after telling me to exit the highway on a non-existent off-ramp into a field) into a rather seedy neighborhood.
   
   I was very near my destination it turns out, but after Tom Tom realized I was lost it rerouted me into a traffic jam on the highway (fastest route does not take into consideration time of day/highway rush hours) instead of the mile or two through back streets. After I took the first exit and used the "avoid highways" route, Tommy got it. Luckily I still made my flight.
   
   Another example is that the Tom Tom 920, sadly, isn't aware of the traffic routing in Manhattan since 9-11. I wasted 45 minutes going in circles because Tommy wanted me to go through streets that have been closed off since that sad September day.
   
   I suspect that Tom Tom loads the old maps on the device intentionally so that, after your frustration mounts, you will pay the $50+ for the "update" for one map region - which is pretty steep considering this device costs so much new.
   
   Russian, Slovak and other Eastern European maps are included in the Western Europe pack, but for some odd reason Greece is not.
   
   Other than this major shortcoming(the maps), the device functions fairly well and the menus etc are reasonably intuitive (although after 4 months of use I recently discovered the shortcut to the volume - which I previously thought was only accessible in the 4th sub-menu. Trust me, it's not obvious).
   
   There are other quirks, for instance, the American voice actors didn't record the words "meter" or "kilometer", so even though you switch to metric (e.g., when in Europe) it still says "miles" and "feet" even though it is written "meters". Confusing, and could have been easily avoided.
   
   The touch screen is nice, the display is nice, and about 80% of the time the maps are accurate - consider how much the roads in your area have changed since 1999, and that's what you'll get.
   
   Still not sure why they didn't include a "scenic route" option, it would have been a nice addition to the "avoid highways" etc., choices.