5 comments about Garmin Oregon 400T 3-Inch Touchscreen Handheld GPS Unit with Preloaded Topographic Maps.

1. I just broke this unit in on an ocean sailboat race from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and back.
   
   I never attempted to use the unit like Mr. Warriner. That would be kind of like watching a movie on a cell phone. I don't get that either. Instead, I charted my course using Nobeltec Visual Navigation Suite on my PC and transferred the waypoints into the Oregon 400c. To Mr. Warriner's credit however, you have to specify "On the Trail" to find support for the 400c on Garmin's website. It's nowhere to be found under "On the Water".
   
   I liked the user interface, loved the touch screen, and tolerated the often hard to read display. Battery performance was good yielding eight hours on a pair of NiMH batteries with backlight maxed and WAAS on. I liked the carabineer, the robust battery compartment locking mechanism and much larger than usual rubber seal. The unit looks tough . . . like you could use it for a hockey puck. Didn't try that. I am in Miami after all. However, it did get sea splashed and rained on for two days with no ill effects.
   
   What I did not like was the speed readout. We were on a 32 foot Evelyn averaging seven knots in about three foot confused seas. The speed readout was all over the lot easily ranging a knot higher or lower than actual from one second to the next. To form and educated guess of actual speed over the ground, you had to watch the readout for ten or twenty seconds and guestimate an average in your head.
   
   If there was any way to "damp" or short-term average these readings in the GPS's own brain, it was not apparent in the skimpy instruction manual nor on Garmin's website which has always been quite user hostile. I can't say that I have ever noticed this feature on a Garmin but none of my other three Garmin GPS's have ever exhibited this extreme twitchiness. My Simrad chartplotter allows you to exactly specify the short-term averaging that goes into the displayed speed output.
   
   Until Garmin supplies a fix that is more intelligent than, for instance, "turn off WAAS" I would probably buy a different handheld chart plotter for sailboat racing.
   
   By the way, we took top honors in the race. Little or no credit to Garmin this time out. It's tough trying to be all things to all people.



2. I've owned about 6 GPSr's since my first loaf-sized Lowrance Eagle. Almost all of them have been Magellans, but since my XP PC fatally crashed and Magellan doesn't offer a driver for Vista Home Premium (why not? I suppose that since the Triton series is so bad they're giving up) I went ahead and bought an Oregon 400t. It is by far the best GPS that I have ever used! The size is good, the graphics magnificent, and the operation is intuitive (if you're familiar with GPS operation). (I can't speak about a learning curve -- sorry.) The touchscreen is responsive, fun to use, and much less error-prone than buttons. The maps are clean and easy to read. Pan and zoom is very easy, and different features appear at appropriate scales.
   
   The PC interface is error-free, and the firmware upgrade process is a no-brainer. The GPSr and micro-SD card both show up as drives, so you can do anything that you want with them. (There is a warning not to delete the maps.)
   
   Cons: the minor roads are blue (contrary to cartographic convention), but it's easy to adjust to seeing them. Hard to read in sunlight? It's a silly point raised by pampered people.
   
   Summary: The Oregon 400t sets the new standard; it is way ahead of the previous generation of GPSRs. It's quite expensive, but you get what you pay for.



3. I bought Oregon 400C. I have Topo 2008 and many other Garmin maps on micro SD cards. No matter which Garmin Oregon you pick this model offers all you need in a mapping hand held GPS device. Fast, convenient with its touch screen interface and it is very compact. The only con is the relatively low battery life but with charged 2700+ mAh NiMH or Lithium batteries in particular you can use it for 2-3 days. Compared to the Garmin Colorado this device has much better battery life, smaller profile, and much, much better user interface. If you need a reliable, easy to use and powerful hand held GPS don't look further. Buy it!



4. Just returned my Nuvi 500 to Amazon because the opportunity came up to purchase the Oregon 400t and the Nuvi 500 is poorly suited for off-road compared to trail-devices. Now my only questions are, what's the limit to what I can do with this thing? People looking into the Oregon may want to look at Delorme's PN-40, released yesterday. The compass has a prompt to hold it level until it can read well and then the prompt dissapears, it would be nice to have a 3 axis compass, but it's not a big deal. The internal compass is, however, a great asset to the device allowing for alot easier navigation then trying to walk around and find your bearing. The touch screen works with fingers, PDA styluses, and winter gloves! It performs well in below freezing temperatures for extended periods and is fairly rugged. For off-road it's amazing however on-road it offers routing, auto re-routing if you miss a turn, but not voice announcements only beeps to announce turns. Mac and Windows user have the option of uploading and downloading and saving tracklogs using GPS Babel and converting them into .kml files to be seen over-layed on google earth. Conversely, you can create tracks on google earth and upload them to the 400t. Great device!



5. It was a dark and stormy night on San Francisco Bay and one of the crew had a Foretrex strapped to his wrist. We weren't in Kansas anymore, but rather on a J24 flying the spinnaker at night and uncertain as to where a 15ft navigation aid was planted in the shallow water to the north of the unlighted ruins of the Berkeley Pier. We wasted a lot of time looking for it. The Foretrex did a good job at telling us we were flying along at 7 knots. When the crewmember attempted to use the map however, he commented that it just wasn't much use for that. The next day I went looking for a mapping unit, and after much frustration at Best Buy, purchased an Oregon 400t from a Sports Chalet, and then spent more money at West Marine to get the MapSource/BlueCharts software. Garmin does a really bad job communicating to someone who is looking for charting, what map product works with what unit. Next time - when I upgrade - I'll do more research at Amazon.com and buy a marine version like the 400c unit online (I was in a hurry and trying to decide how the size of the thing would work out). The Oregon plus MapSource plus BlueCharts (plus a holster - see below) is a cool tool box for sailing once you get over the rather blunt and clumsy user interface. I developed a custom holster with a strap to fit over the buckle of my PFD, and the GPS unit fits very nicely and doesn't get in the way. When I need to use it, I can pull it out and put it back one handed, and it's always connected to me. It is not too small and not too big - just right for high performance sailing on a dark night. A week later I was doing foredeck on an Ultimate 24 at night and we were flying along. This time the Oregon told me that the pesky navaid was directly in front of us, and we wasted no time looking for it. When the GPS told us we were 500 ft from it, it was clearly visible exactly where the Oregon said it was. The user interface is a bit clumsy for sailing, but the Mapsource software and Bluecharts charts are excellent. I concur that the speed display is way off, the display dim for daylight use, and battery life could be better. But at night or in the fog in a harbor full of stuff to avoid . . . I agree with Jay Lowenstein - I'd vote for this to be mandatory on all small boats. It would get 5 stars if the user interface was more in line with the needs of the sailing world.

5 comments about Garmin Vehicle Suction Mount with 12-Volt Adapter for StreetPilot C Series (010-10609-00).

1. I bought this mount to replace the original one that came with the GPS unit. This unit works great and is better then the original one.



2. Good thing it came free with my StreetPilot because it's sure not worth much. It's bulky and inconvenient because the cord hands down over the dash in the way and it blocks your view when it is attached to the windshield. It's better than nothing, but not by much.



3. You have 2 options to set up your Garmin GPS with this suction mount. Either by directly mounting it on the windshield or on top of your dash. Putting it on top of your dash requires an extra accessory. A round black plastic with an adhesive at the back that you stick to the dash. Then, opposite the adhesive is a shiny surface side where you put the suction mount. We have tried both ways and either way the GPS fell or slid off from the dashboard. It took months the first time before it happened, but once it does, the suction is not as strong as before and it will fall again. It could be a little frightening when it happens while you are driving. You might get the tendency to grab it once it fall and lose concentration on the road.
   The rubber suction also leaves a black circle on your windshield when you take it off.
   
   A much better solution is also a product by Garmin. The portable friction dashboard mount. This is very useful especially if you have multiple cars. It makes it a lot easier to transfer your GPS from one car to the other.



4. Some cheap bugger stole my Garmin Vehicle Suction Mount from the car. I had no other choice to buy a new one. I had hard time finding that in a store viz Best buy, target Circuit City etc. Finally I found one but was very expensive ($57 incl tax). Searched on Amazon as usual and got it for $36 and that too new. Have to save $21 and back to using GPS.



5. I got this product a few weeks ago and it works great. I only use it on week-ends, mainly, and have gotten great results from it. I recommend it to anyone. I haven't had any problems like some of the other reviews, but I only leave it up for 4 or 5 hours at a time. I mainly travel short distances. Hope this helps someone.

5 comments about GARMIN Zumo 450 3.5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator.

1. Garmin Zumo 450 Portable GPS Motorcycle Navigator
   
   A friend of mine has the Zumo 550, but I didn't want the XM Radio so I picked the Zumo 450. I have used it for over 7000 miles and am very glad that I have it. I take pictures on the road and being able to import them into the Zumo and then to a seperate SD card is a real plus. I don't have speakers hooked up to this Zumo yet so I don't know what the sound is like, but you can play MP3's through it. The screen is viewable in all but the most intense sunlight, the buttons on screen are large enough so that when you are riding and want to type on the screen to find something it is very simple.
   The low gas feature is very nice also. You set the mileage that you can go on a tank of gas and it warns you 30 miles prior to that mileage. When you do get that warning, you just touch the fuel pump icon and the GPS gives you a list of the closest gas stations. The key to this is that you must have it on all the time when you are riding. I found that the speedo on my bike was off by 3-7 MPH, so I go by the speed shown on the GPS.
   Installation was a 5 minute job. The longest part of the installation was lifting the gas tank up to run the wire to the battery.
   The lock device leaves a little to be desired, but it works. I won't go into detail on that here, because it is a mechanical type lock and I don't want some thief to find out how to steal them. The good part about the theft deterent is that you can set a security point that the GPS will recognize as your home location so that if you forget your lock code, you can take it to your home location and it will unlock.
   If your Zumo is stolen and the theif doesn't know the code or your home location they will have to send the unit to Garmin to be unlocked and it will be sent back to you.



2. Very pleased with this item. Does exactly as it describes and is all in one. Perfect for motorcycles. Some initial issues with the software freezing, but latest updates seems to have fixed that.



3. I love this GPS unit. It is the first one I have owned and I am most impressed with how easy Garmin made everything about it.
   
   I installed it on my bike in 20 minutes using only the tools included in my bikes tool kit. After that it was guiding me to my destination, never having read the manual.
   
   You can use it without having to take your gloves off while riding if you need to find fuel, food, etc. (Although, for safety and liability reasons, the manual recommends you don't.) I haven't had a problem with it in the rain and the screen is easily viewed even in bright sunlight.
   
   The included RAM mount holds it securely and can even be locked for those time you want to walk away from your bike and not completely disassemble it.
   
   It is easy to navigate and find points of interest. The included software is out of date but the update is available for free by logging onto the Garmin website.
   
   I would recommend the 450 to all my biker friends.



4. Had the Zumo for 2 weeks now. Took a trip in the car ( I spliced a cigarette lighter adapter to end of power cord), everything worked for 2 days, 3rd nite Zumo told me to drive a 2 mile loop to head back to where I started before actually getting me on my way to a hotel it found. After that, no weird stuff for another day......then it runs me down 3 miles of gravel backroads to get to a winery that is less than 1/4 mile from an Interstate off-ramp (Interstate was part of route, too!). Get home, Zumo sits for a week, then it won't power up. Plug in pc cable to charge it (didn't think it should need it), nothing. Nothing in the owners manual about removing battery to "reset" device, found that on Garmin tech site. It worked, wish I had that handy tip a little sooner. 2 days later, all ok. This is my first GPS, don't know if the nav quirks are typical. POI's are pretty handy, found food and motels along the way. Curious what will happpen when I go for a cycle trip and don't have laptop w/ wifi for back-up.



5. I am going to write a quick review. I first would like to mention that I have seen many Nav systems over the years. Way back when I was part of developing the portable Nav systems for in the car. This unit is nice and functions as described. The POIs are great and routes well ... but ... the user interface is not good. They don't display importan information and the menu system is hard to navigate through. They strongly lack in this area, I would recommend you try one in a local store first or consider some of the other models such as Mio Technology, iNav Corp, etc.
   
   Sorry the review is so short but I hope this helps you in making your decision ... the point consider trying the interface or be aware there are better ones out there. All in all its a little over prices for what you get.

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

1. I cannot read maps or use the mapquest directions without missing a turn. I need specifics, like roads as I pass them so I can see how close I am getting to the road I need to turn on. This system gives you play by play directions until you get to your destination. I love, love, love this product. Matter of fact, each time I take it with me when someone else is driving, they usually get the model number and purchase it for themself. It is sooo easy to use and talks the directions to me step by step. When I'm somewhere it's confusing like a large city, I enlarge the map so I can look ahead to see where I'm headed. Cannot say enough good things about this product if you are location or map challenged like me!



2. Delivers as promised. User friendly and does everything its supposed to do. Easy install with clear instructions.



3. Garmin c340- Ready to use out of box, few intuitive glitches but still easy to use, some out of date info.



4. The Garmin Streetpilot C340 is a very nice product, especially for the price. The text to speech feature is wonderful, the maps are clear and easy to read, and the touch screen is easy to use. It is very easy to set up, just plug into the computer for the initial set up and charge, and then it is ready to go. The preloaded destinations are plentiful, although not as up-to-date as I would have liked. However, I've talked to other people with different GPS systems from other makers, and this is a common problem. I use the Garmin daily, even when going to destinations I'm familiar with because I like the estimated distance and time of arrival functions. It also solves the problem of reading street signs at night, since the street names are on the map, and the ones needed are verbalized as well. I like the fact that it lets you know when you are approaching a turn before you are actually on it, and then again when it is time to turn. Adding and changing destinations are also very easy to do.
   
   The GPS is very accurate and loads up quickly. However, it occasionally seems to have a little trouble when on multiple over/under passes (but then, so do I!).
   
   I recommend the Garmin Streetpilot C340. Although it is not as sleek as some, the price is right and it is very user friendly with plenty of nice features.



5. well, the suction mount simply broke on the second day (not just fell off the window - it broke right at the place where you put GPS - it seemed to be too heavy at first place!!), the GPS fell down, never used since then! Still need to contact the warranty company and demand a replacement of that junk! Cound't even register the product on-line, always got some kind of error!
   
   The GPS itself is pretty good, I guess. It has a lot of nice options - like to avoid highways, find the fastest/shortest way, you can put a whole bunch of addresses in your favorites for a quick search. Too bad I can't even use it because of that stupid mount suction broke!

5 comments about Navigon 7200T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigation with Bluetooth, Text-to-Speech, and Free Traffic Alerts.

1. I'm not big on wordy reviews, so here's the summary:
   This is a great GPS for the $. I like the 3D lane assist and I have had no trouble with it getting a signal or finding a good route. I chose the go home feature, but knew a better route than what it suggested, so I purposely went the other way and the unit re-routed my trip to what I was actually going to take. I do agree that the fonts are small, but the unit speaks your turns, so this isn't a big deal. I also like the "caution" warnings when you are over the speed limit. The POI's seem fine, no complaints. The GPS tracking was quick and accurate as well.
   I like it.



2. Near perfect GPS unit. There are some kinks to work out, but thats what software update is for. My Motorola cell does not connect, but the brand isn't the most compatible.
   
   Key Pros. The route planning improved over the 5100 I had.
   Hardware upgrades gives more speed to the system.
   The spoken address entry is very helpful.
   
   Key Cons. The reset button doesn't make sense, its too small for car use.
   I'd like physical buttons or wheel for the volume control.
   The screen remains cluttered, but its text to voice, so not a huge problem.



3. I purchased this after using a Nuvi 660 for two years. I wanted something different, fresh, and full of features. As with many others, the lifetime traffic attracted me to this unit, along with it's sleek look. It has all the features I was looking for (bluetooth, lane assist, traffic to name a few).
   
   A quick little unit, it gives great directions and has an awesome little map (software) on it. The screen is very informative as well. I haven't actually seen the "lane assist" yet, so I cannot comment on that. Nor have I seen the traffic. The "small font" issue is not an issue for me and it should not be for anyone! if you cannot read this unit from less than two feet away, then you DO NOT NEED TO BE DRIVING!!
   
   There are several areas in which I believe need vast improvements though. They are:
   
   1. Battery Life - I used it for less than two hours and it died... Yes, it comes with a car charger, but I believe the specs say 3 hours. Not even close.
   
   2. No "Search by Name" Function - this is incredible to me that this option would not be available. Instead, you have to search by POI, which means you have to know under which POI category your destination is located under. and we all know these are not always accurate.
   
   3. Limited POIs - Notice it doesnt say 6 Million or 7 million POIs? It just says "millions" - which could mean just barely 2 million. My point is that I tried looking up Lowe's and Home Depot - neither were there. I called customer support and he said due to licensing they were not listed but that they were always adding more. I'm sorry, but in order to be an effective GPS system, you need to be able to compete with Nuvi and TomTom on this one. If I cannot "type" Lowe's or Home Depot, and it's not in the POI, how am I supposed to find it without finding the address on the net? A GPS MUST be able to do this - no questions. This is the major downfall for this unit.
   
   I'm sending it back. I purchased the TomTom 930T - I know this one has a search by name and I know it has Lowe's and Home Depot. We'll see how the rest of it works out!



4. I read a few reviews and did my research before I bought this unit. The famous line " looks can be deceiving" is all I have to say about it.
   Pro:
   The design is slick
   Lane assistance is helpful (the main reason why I bought it)
   Cons:
   Bluetooth works but not al the time. The unit didn't recognize my phone when it was turned on and even when I tried to reconnect it couldn't recognize it.
   Touch screen is not responsive. You really have to put pressure on the screen to get it to work right.
   Main map has no color scheme selections and it's very hard to read grey on gray. I guess if you only care about your final destination it shouldn't matter.
   The speaker is not loud enough even with my windows up. Unless you have it 5 inches from the ear don't expect to hear voice commands. I couldn't believe that fo the price of this model FM transmitter wasn't included.
   Voice recognition is a joke... it will find everything else except the street you looking for.
   Traffic Alerts are not accurate. The whole point of it is to tell me about traffic ahead of time and not while I'm in it.
   Overall it's a nice looking unit with cool design and many futures but nothing works the way it should. In my opinion it's way too expensive and does not live up to my expectations.



5. I absolutely love my Navigon - so user friendly. Would recomend the product for anyone, but was very disappointed that I did not receive any of the paperwork to receive the $[...] rebate that was advertised at the time I purchased the Navigon 7200T. I'm not sure I would order from
   Amazon again.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 680 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator.

1. I purchased this model NUVI to replace a 2008 Toyota NAVS system. It has found addresses when the Toyota's could not. The instructions are clear, it recalculates fairly quickly. I cannot compare it against more expensive Garmins because they have features I did not need.
   
   PRO's. It takes an SD card which can be loaded with MP3's and Pictures. Interestingly it provides good background music in a hotel room when we travel so long as we use a power cord. Because the battery lasts so long we use it as a hand held rather then a mounted unit. (Our choice)
   
   CON's. The voices that guide the traveled route are not as clear as they should be, however they do give you several choices of voice to use.
   
   All in all I am glad we bought this unit. Rather than fight over who gets to take it for the day my wife bought her own NUVI 680 :)



2. The GPS gives some really stupid routing directions, the MSN direct service does not work well, but I think it is the GPS unit or cable, to find out I have to pay shipping to send the unit back to garmin and in a month they will have it fixed and sent back, would be nice if they could just exchange it espically since I bought it new a little over a month ago. The GPS is easy to use, lots of POI but some stores have been closed for 3 years and still list them.



3. The garmin is great. Easy to use, easy to see and a much better buy for a navigator rather than one that comes in your car and costs 3 - 4 x's as much. In sharing our garmin with others, they now have gone out to get one as well. The unit is quick to make adjustments and is extremely handy in finding resturaunts or other locations on the fly. The larger 4.3 inch screen is a must for these while the smaller screen is more difficult to use. The touch screen works well and the menu/search program is easy to navigate. The only negative we've found is sometimes maps aren't as up to date as we would like, but this has happened only a couple times. We aren't big travelers either but still use it enough that we are very happy to have it.



4. Nice and what I expected (not had a GPS before) but the maps are dated and never did receive the warranty information I was told had been mailed. I have trouble seeing road signs and this should be a huge help and I like the large screen.



5. On its maiden voyage, I traveled about 20 miles from my home, I live in the country. I then touched the "Go Home" box, thinking that it would back track what I had just traveled since it was the fastest route home. With in 30 seconds it misidentified the county road I was on. A minute later it told me to turn left onto a gravel road that ran along the paved road for a few miles.This happen a few times. And yes it did route me the long way home. And yes places are no longer there that the 680 say are. Yep just what most of the reviews say! But I think that's the nature of the beast of most GPS systems. But I can't tell you how many times I've stopped at a busy intersection looking for a street sign and couldn't find one. This will help and the hands free "Bluetooth" worked well.I also liked the "View Map" feature, it gives you the the map, the streets and the direction you are traveling. Overall, with a good map and the Garmin 680 it will make the trip more reliable and for sure less stops at the gas station asking for directions. Do you need all the bells and whistles this has? Really , most of us don't. So save yourself a couple hundred bucks and get a basic GPS. It will get you there just as good. But by all means, don't forget the map.

5 comments about Garmin Automotive Mount for nüvi.

1. I used the adhesive-disk mount for my old c340, using the permanent adhesive disk, and got a new 350 and dash mount setup. I pulled on the old mount and it wouldn't budge. I took a wide wood chisel, inserted it under the "frame" of the mount, and the mount came off with the adhesive disk still attached. I had used alcohol to degrease the dash when I had mounted it. It came off clean with no residue on the dash. I've mounted the new 350 mount in the same spot, but if I hadn't used another disk mount, noone could tell there was ever a mount in the spot. I have a 2007 Saab and there is no truly flat spot on the dash, but this mount never moved in two years. Go for the permanent adhesive mount. It's cleaner than the temporary when you remove it.



2. This package is not applicable to the Nuvi 660 unit.
   
   The ball mount & sticky pads are o.k. but the interface connector is not compatible with the Nuvi 660. The interface does not match the 660 mounting features and the power connector doesn't match the cable that is shipped with the 660.
   
   The concept of being able to easily move the unit from one vehicle to the next is not as convenient as you would expect.



3. I had to buy a new NUVI mount as my original one broke after 6 months of infrequent use. The description of this mount made me think it was removable, but turns out you have to stick an adhesive on your dash. The package comes with two adhesives (one permanent, the other "removable")but the instructions don't specify which is which, so if you make the 50/50 mistake of putting the permanent adhesive on, you'll have a difficult time removing it. I returned the product to Amazon.



4. I received the window mount with my Nuvi, but wanted the dash mount instead. The dash mount was easy to install and works great!



5. My Nuvi 350 came with a windshield mount. After about a month on the windshield, I had to take it off to move it to another car. When I went to pull it off, pieces of rubber ripped off and was stuck onto the windshield! The suction power obviously was never the same again after that. The GPS+mount would fly off when I accelarted too fast and I was worried that it would fly out the window! It was really a terrible mount.
   
   I had been delaying purchasing a new mount, mostly out of laziness, but I decided to give this dash mount a try. When I received the mount, I first tried using the temporary sticker which is suppose leave minimal residue on the dash if you ever wanted to remove it. I really care about how my car looks so I decided to try this route first. However, the adhesive strength on the temporary sticker was definitely not enough to secure the GPS into place.
   
   So the next day I tried the permanent sticker and that thing is stuck to my dash as if I used superglue. I really love how it looks and functions. You can quickly detach the arm and GPS from the base, allowing you to keep a lower profile when parked in public places.
   
   If you are unhappy with the windshield mount and you don't mind having a permanent sticker going on your dash, I would definitely recommend this product.

4 comments about Garmin nüvi 265T 3.5-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator.

1. This is a review of my first stand alone GPS unit. I have used iGuidance on my PPC with a bluetooth receiver in the past. The reason I purchased the 265t is for the "integrated FM traffic receiver" with the lifetime subscription. The integrated FM traffic receiver is one of my main gripes because it's not actually integrated into the unit itself. It's integrated into the power cable by an unsightly tumor that runs long about 3 inches along the length of the cable. So if you're in between cars and need the traffic capability, you can't forget the power cable. Other than the power cable, it's a nice simple looking unit.
   
   The screen is clear and visible except for the most extreme angles of glare in which you might need to adjust it just a touch. The screen is very responsive when panning around the screen and even has a fairly accurate mouse pointer function if you want to get to a particular place on the map. The icons are clear and the tracking is smooth. The only improvements I could wish for is if the displaying information was able to be configured. Sometimes I just like to be ignorant of the speed limit and would rather like to know the distance to my destination rather than the ETA without having to keep tapping at the screen. A little arrow pointing north would also be nice.
   
   Compared to my old iBlue receiver and iGuidance software the 265t locks onto satellites eons faster to get you going on the road ASAP. The FM receiver does warn you of upcoming traffic with a little icon in the upper left corner with an expected delay time but I can't comment on it's diverting capabilities yet, even with a recent traffic heavy trip from NY to Toronto. Some areas just don't have the traffic information when you need it which isn't the fault of the unit, but the lack of coverage of the traffic reporting area.
   
   One difference I would like to point out where iGuidance may have better function over this nuvi is that you can detour around specific roads in the route list, whereas detouring with nuvi is perhaps oversimplified. Once you hit detour, you're at the mercy of the unit.
   
   Overall, it's a fun little gps. It's pocketable, functional, not too gimmicky, and has more POI than I imagined. There might be a few more menus you wish you didn't have to go through, but for the most part it's organized and has outstanding search capability.



2. This is my 4th Garmin GPS and I love it! The other writer mentioned the extra "tumor" for about 3 inches. If that bothers you, well I am NOT that anal and it is hardly even obvious. Who cares about the power cable any way? The unit's screen is clear, bright, easy to read. Lot's of improvements. Considered the 265WT but frankly just prefer the smaller screen for walking or riding a bike, just fits in pockets better and still large enough to see easily in an automobile. I agree that the start-up is FAST-FAST. A great improvement over several previous Garmin models. I highly recommend this one!
   **I have now used this for a few weeks. The screen is actually brighter and the colors much more vivid than previous models I have owned. Up-to-date locations and the voice is an improvement over prior models as well, much easier to understand street names and names of saved people\locations. For the money-you can't go wrong. When I go to Europe again in the future I am getting the 275 model which is the same as this but has maps for Europe as well. Again, I do prefer the 3.5" vs. the 4.3" screen size. It's very easy to see in the car and so compact for walking, hiking etc. Garmin keeps making improvements and this little unit is a GREAT value, highly-highly recommend it.



3. I just bought this item few days ago and today I noticed there was a price drop.
   
   Even though I still have not received the package, Amazon IS NOT willing to give me a refund for the price difference. Consider this next time you buy any item from Amazon!!!!
   
   The answer I got from the customer representative was "I know you are concerned about the price you paid, and certainly understand if you choose to return the item and purchase it at a lower price."



4. I live in San Jose CA and drive in the bay area of San Francisco.
   
   I have had the unit about 2 weeks now.
   
   Any gps unit that you buy today should lock on in seconds, give accurate directions, have a display that is not confusing and have a simple menu navigation system. It does all of these things well except give accurate directions.
   
   My other gps the Tom Tom 130 does everything mentioned above well, but lacks the traffic feature so I will return it. But it always gives very good directions 100% of the time. I just wish it had the traffic capability and I would keep it.
   
   The directions that the Nuvi 265 gives are accurate most of the time, but occasionally gives strange non optimized directions. I don't know if it is because of the traffic component or not. The directions that are not the best only lose about 5-10 minutes at the most.
   
   The unit's philosophy is to have a minimalist view of everything. It only displays what you need to know based on the route you are taking.
   
   My other complaint is that it takes about 5-10 minutes to access the traffic information. There is also no direct way to look at the traffic map. For example if your destination does not involve using the traffic feature, it won't display the traffic map. I wish I could just go to the traffic map directly.
   
   What I like about the traffic is that it does route around problems and it gives warnings about slowdowns ahead, which is nice. So the traffic feature is nice to have and I wouldn't want a unit without it.
   
   So my dilemma is that can I live with less than accurate directions some of the time in exchange for the free traffic that does work well when I am going through an area with traffic jams.
   
   I am also considering the Dash Express and the Navigon 2200T which I may try out.
   ------------
   UPDATE Nov 21 2008
   
   I am upgrading my rating to 4.9 stars
   For in depth review see this site.
   [.....]
   
   The reason is that while it gives inaccurate directions some of the time, it is only because I know a more direct route or I know that even though it gives a more direct route, those streets are slower, than a slightly longer way that I know through experience. So you buy a gps for when you DON'T KNOW where your going, not where you do know where your going.
   
   The traffic functionality does pop up right away during rush hour, (within a few minutes). If shows you problems and how far they are away. You can see a traffic map by going through a few screens and unzooming. It also shows a yellow or red colored line next to the road if you are in a traffic jam and when it will end. So overall it works really well. I also read that Navteq traffic (the free FM) works better than MSN paid service according to this site.
   [....]
   
   I read here that Dash is no longer selling new units, although on their site it shows that they do, they cut 50% of their staff and want to focus on selling their traffic software to other companies. See this page and scroll down.
   [....]
   
   I am getting the Navigon 2200T to try out but consumer reports rates it very low, compared to the 265WT. In fact the only other serious competitor to the 265, on consumer reports, for the price is the Garmin Nuvi 760, its an older model, which costs about the same as the 265, but you have to pay for traffic at $10 a month and it has some other extra features, none of which I would use.
   
   My only real complaint is the non qwerty keyboard, which bugs me. The only reason that they don't have it is to get you to buy the 265WT which does have it. So the trade of might be to get the 265WT just for qwerty keyboard. I also like the fact that you can transfer addresses directly from Mapquest or Google maps through the computer cable, which is nice.
   
   Sure if it was perfect it could have reality view lane selector, 3-D maps, voice recognition, historical traffic info, directions to which side of the street, instant Dash Express like traffic interface, ipod connection, fm to car radio input, better cell phone integration(I don't use this), XM satellite reception and everything else you can think of.
   
   But for now it does have very good traffic options, good directions, very fast response time, nice responsive touch screen, and a very affordable price which is now [...] less than I paid only 2 weeks ago [....].
   
   So someone show me how you can get something better for the price or close to it.
   
   

5 comments about Garmin Beanbag for Portable Friction Mount for Garmin GPS Units (Beanbag Only - Mount not Included).

1. I already have one and liked it so much I bought one for my husbands Garmin GPS also.



2. I know that the add said mount not included.I just didn't know it would be almost impossible to find a mount for my 650 as of yet.So the bean bag sits here unused..Richard Garza



3. when i bought this it did not say "MOUNT NOT INCLUDED"...like it does now!!!!! but amazon cust service was great and refunded full amount. ordered mount for 17.95 + ship from another company



4. This is an awesome product. It is convenient to use, does not slide on the dash and is easily put away so that sticky finger don't get to it.



5. I use this bag with the streetpilot 7200 and it works great. though the weight of the huge 7200 sometimes moves the bag a little but not to the point the bag slides or the GPS falls over.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 250 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Silver).

1. I have a new gadget that has turned into a tool. I was running late because of traffic. I called the friends I was to meet and met them at the church. I had never been to the place before, punched in the name of the church, and was there with out a hitch. At that point the money I spent on the gadget was well worth it. I have purchased a second for my daughter. I think this is a great product.



2. Plus: I had a garmin C330 which got stolen and hence decided to buy a GPS. This is exactly a Garmin C330 packaged in a more compact and sleek case. I was happy with the C330, hence am happy with this also.
   
   Minus: The device takes a lil longer than I would like to startup and load maps - which is not a big deal, its a one time thing.
   
   My old c330 used to take a really long time to "acquire satellites", and this one seems to have exactly the same problem. It takes a nice 10 to 15 minutes to "acquire" satellites (in open space) - its might be something to do with some area affinity of the gps because in some places it acquires really fast.
   
   Overall I think its a good device worth the money.



3. I use GPS oftenly, mostly from rental car - from the early phone type with operator assist, the Megellan unit comes with most Hertz, and Garmin GPS from Alamo/National. I find Garmin GPS is the most user friendly GPS. I brought the unit I purchase to Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon. And now I am back in Malaysia and I travel to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. I also got a Australia map for my 2009/5 trip to Melbourne -> Gold Coast.
   
   What I like:
   1. Touch Screen
   2. Abundance of Maps
   3. Easy to use - I never read the manual
   
   What I don't like:
   1. No qwerty keyboard like input
   2. Locating the satellite can take up to 5-10 minutes half of the time.



4. I travel extensively and thought this would be a good purchase. When the unit was received it would display a message stating that I should update the maps. Why is Amazon shipping GPS units with outdated maps? The essence of a GPS is how accurate the roads are. I am very disappointed.



5. I love this unit and am so happy they are thinking about the female population and having 'colors'! This is our fifth Garmin unit (we have the marine versions also) and as usual it is very user friendly. All of our other units are black-so seeing a color choice made me happy. I have an older Streetpilot and can't believe how much smaller and lighter this unit is. Also it was much easier to set up- 'right out of the box'. The older versions needed to have the maps/charts downloaded to the unit itself or a 'data card'. Even updating the software was a breeze. Operating the unit itself is simple. And it gets you there! Would highly recommend.