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

1. This is a great GPS unit for the car. In fact my wife has been using it for over a year now to get around in LA, and when it had its screen inadvertently crushed in the glove box, she specifically requested the same unit. Unlike a few other units we have used, so far we have not noticed any map innacuracies or been sent to dead ends.
   
   It is responsive, does not have a problem acquiring a GPS lock, and quickly recalculates, albeit with a slightly annoyed tone (that becomes a running joke) whenever driving past the suggested route.



2. Great unit. Garmin support sucks. I uploaded the free map update data and it erased everything. 30-40 minute wait on average to talk to someone on the phone. Email support always generates page error message.
   I think I will use this now useless unit in an impact experiment from a 50-ft height.



3. Delivered on time, as advertised. We have a fleet of them all working perfectly. I just wish it had a headphone plug for listening to directions on the motorcycle.



4. The Garmin StreetPilot is easy enough to navigate and use, especially for people like me who are slightly technologically impaired. However, my biggest disappointment was when it ran out of battery on me and I went to plug in the car adapter/charger that came with it--much to my shagrin, the adapter did not fit the streetpilot! I had to go and buy a separate car charger. I'd highly recommend the product but be forewarned that you may need to buy accessories separately.



5. This is the 2nd Garmin c340 we have purchased. We obviously must like it. For the money, it is simple to install, use, and store. It works great.

No comments about Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

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

1. Based on somewhat limited use to date, I am pleased with my new Magellan Maestro 4250 GPS. I look forward to a long trip pending later this month. I did note one strange result, however: It initially showed the fastest route from Claremont, CA to Chico, Ca as 1381 miles via Barstow and Reno, etc. The correct route is exactly 500 miles. Had I not made the drive a number of time in the past, I might have followed the incorrect route. (I did report this to Tech Support.) Meanwhile, I do like the large screen and the clear and understandable voice.
   
   I was also disappointed that the only manual is the one on the cd, requiring me to print out the 82 pages to keep in my car for reference.



2. I had the lower model Maestro 3250 and Loved it. I gave it to my daughter as she will be moving out soon, and I upgraded to the 4250 for the bluetooth capability as well as the voice recognition which would be great. Well, it's NOT!
   
   The bluetooth volume is so low you cannot hear the caller. The volume is set all the way up and it is completely unusable! Worthless bluetooth!
   
   The voice command is also very bothersome! You cannot insert an address by voice which is the most cumbersome thing you have to do with the GPS. Plus it often asks for a voice command while I am talking to a passenger. There are no voice command instructions in the manual so you have to try about a thousand words to try to access the voice command mode. Once you learn that the access word is "Magellan" it is more usable, however while carrying on a conversation with other people in the car, the dang GPS recognizes some word as "Magellan"! and asks for a voice command! Very Irritating!!!!!!!
   
   It does have many more points of interest than the 3250 had and it also announces the street name of your next turn which is very helpful versus simply turn left.
   
   I would recommend another model with many points of interest, but avoid the bluetooth and voice commands.



3. So far I have only two complaints, and I will hold them for the end. My 4250 was packaged very well, the shipping was fast. It was simple to take out of the package and get up and running, and with the "Points Of Interest" and addresses that are already in the thing, you really don't have to do anything else. I elected not to use the adhesive disk because I stick nothing to the interior of my car, so it is mounted on the windshield, and it holds securely. It is very simple to use either through touching the screen or voice commands, although sometimes it does not respond to my voice commands, but that can be expected with the inherent background noises that exist in a moving or running vehicle. Sometimes it can be a challenge to find and address/street, but I have found if you type as far as it will let you, and then start backing up one letter at a time, you will eventually find the address/street you are looking for. They are not always in there the way you expect. A good example is people here refer to some streets as RR but they are really Roosevelt Road, you have to actually enter "Rooseve..." to get on the right page. It's not a problem just one of the little things you have to learn. If you put in your destination, and then examine you route by using the simulate mode, you can figure out which of the 4 routes you want to take, and you can fast forward or reverse through the simulation to look at specific areas of your trip, which is a very nice feature. Sometimes it just will not calculate the route the way I want to go, and when that happens I just go the way I want, turn off the volume and it will continue to recalculate my route until it gets to the one I want. So far it has not gotten me lost, although for some reason it did have me exit the interstate and then get back on the interstate at the next on ramp. I'm not sure why we did that, but I have learned to follow directions and you won't get lost. The POI software is great, I installed it and thought it was a joke at first, but then I discovered that between Mapquest and Google Earth, I can locate anything, then I can get the Lat. and Long. and convert that to the decimal lat. and long. and I can enter my own POIs. Then using this system I can create trips using the POI editor, you can just name POIs stop 1, stop 2, etc. Ok now for the complaints; To use a voice command you have to say the word "Magellan" and the unit responds with "Say a command." Sometimes it will respond with "Say a command" while you are talking to someone in your vehicle. I am sure it hears something that sounds like someone said "Magellan" and it is doing what it is programmed to do, but sometimes is gets a little annoying. The other problem is sometimes the unit seems to lock up. On several occasions I have had to wait several minutes for my 4250 to respond and allow me to enter an address or intersection. It has never happened at a critical time while I was driving, each time it has happened I was sitting still. This is a computer, and sometimes computers get conflicting instructions. I have not had to turn the unit off yet to clear a problem, but I think it gets confused sometimes. Over all, I like my 4250 a lot, and if I had it to do all over again, I would definitely buy another 4250.



4. I really like this GPS. I have had a Garmin (never could figure it out) and used a Tom Tom. The 4250 is by far the easiest to use. I like the AAA feature. The screen is big enough that even a 50 something can read it easily. It gives you plenty of warning for turns coming up. I like the little icons on the screen that let you see where banks, fuel, eateries, etc are on your route. Altho we have have not had to use it, the traffic alerts are cool. I'd get another one.



5. This is a great system. I like it better than the in car system I had in another vehicle. A wealth of information for trips.

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

1. All I can say is...WOW! Right out of the box this unit worked perfect. The screen is big and bright and the larger keyboard made making changes simple. It has so many features...for the money, you can't beat it. Of course I was lucky enough to get it on sale. As your driving down the road it even shows lakes and ponds that are coming up. Definately one of the best things I have purchased in a long time. Now, I have only had it two months...but so far, wow!



2. We used it for a 10 day vaction around Arizona. It worked very well. It successfully got us around the state on our 2400 mile treck. We ended up using the english guy voice beause he was the clearest and the most fun to listen to as he tried to pronounce Spanish and Native American names. This is my 2nd garmin product. I've been happy with both.



3. I have just upgraded from my current Nuvi 350. The 650 is basically the same as my 350, except for that it's a wide screen. Upgrading also allowed me to get the newest MAP update free (2008 map came pre-installed and when registering my 650, I was given the unlock code for the new 2009 map). I didn't have to research (just check out the Garmin site) much to decide on upgrading to this model.



4. Incredibly accurate navigation; user interface is mostly intuitive and and user-friendly. Excellent, bright display (that automatically dims and changes contrast at dusk/dawn). Used at length from the mid-Atlantic to Ottawa, and it has rarely suggested a wrong turn (and recalculates and recovers nicely when it does).
   
   Minor interface issues:
   -There is no map scale indicated (except in the "turn details" view and when browsing the map, such as after you enter an address).
   --Although manually entered "favorite" locations will accept phone numbers as part of their data set, you can't do so at the time you enter the name and address information. Instead, you have to repeat your steps to return to favorites, and then enter the phone number.
   --When connected to a Vista machine, isues with Vista and current browsers; close the error messages and you should be fine (the blame here almost certainly lies with Vista anyway!).
   
   These are minor annoyances that detract little from the overall usefulness of this device.
   
   You can't go wrong with this unit if you don't need Bluetooth.
   
   Less forgivable:
   a carrying case, printed manual and household AC adapter should have been in the box from Garmin (and in these days when GPS units are high theft they should have considered a friction/beanbag mount too...avoids the telltale "high value item was stored here" notification circle on your windshield.
   
   You can't go wrong from a technical point of view, but leave a little room in your budget for the extras you'll probably want.



5. This GPS fit all of our needs "Almost" perfectly on our recent trip to Canada and Maine. At one point in Canada, instad of directing us to a shopping market, we ended up in front of 4 garbage cans in a depressed area. So, we named the unit "Mata", short for Mata Hari as it had betrayed us. This was really the only time though, and we grew more and more dependent upon it and it's ability to locate all kinds of information for us such as available lodging, fuel etc. It didn't contain ALL lodging possibilities but enough to give us a good idea as to whether or not we would be able to stay someplace. We enabled the chime to sound when a turn was upon us and we enjoyed having "Mata" mention street names and distances. I would definitely recommend this unit.

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

1. This GPS is very user friendly. It makes travel much more enjoiable. One improvement will be a charge cable that can connect directly to 120V power outlet. That is why I rate this product 4 stars instead of 5.



2. I love this product and I am happy I bought it. The only thing I do not like as much is that the directions to turn are repeated more than once and when you are on the freeway it tells you to stay left or stay right many times when you are going straight.



3. I had a Magellan Roadmate for 2 years. I couldn't believe how much this little thing did for just $150 at RadioShack.
   
   Very customizable. Fits in my pocket (even with the mount attached). Connect it to the web for updates, traffic, gas prices and more.
   
   I didn't need a manual- even without buttons it was easy to operate right from the start.
   
   I love that it has a rechargable battery.
   I love that the included mount is so versatile. I bought a $30 extra mount and then took it back because I didn't need it.
   I love that you can switch from 2D to 3D.
   I didn't think I'd like 3D, but I do.
   
   You can show speed, direction, time remaining, actual time, distance to destination and several other things. Don't like those, then customize your view.
   
   Who'd have thought you could get all this for $150?
   
   The only thing that keeps me from giving it 6 stars is that I can't figure out how to program "routes" (from one destination to the next). Well, okay, Amazon only lets you give 5 stars...



4. I thought I knew my way around but tomtom has shown me a thing or two. It's also too easy to get distracted while driving along during the day The gps really helps keep me going in the right direction. I drive allot and sometimes I appreciate having another voice to keep me company. This model is easy to operate.



5. Excellent product without all the nonsense of other more sophisticated models. It woks as promised, very few glitches, solid performance.

No comments about Garmin nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator.

No comments about Garmin nüvi 760 Portable GPS Automobile Navigator.

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

1. I bought the 660 for use on a trip to Arizona and Las Vegas. It is a great tool with many faults. It's great when it works. And it worked 50% of the time for us. I just got it in June but maybe it needed a map update which I didn't think I needed since I just purchased it.
   Frustrations:
   *It took 2-3 minutes to aquire sattelite everytime I turned it on. By then we are on the road already hoping we were going in the right direction.
   *After punching in a particular restaurant like "claim jumper" in Las Vegas, it lead us directly across the high way from it.
   *It says stay left on highway and then it says to take the next exit on the right. By that time I didn't have enough time to get to the right to take the appropriate exit.
   *It has led us on some wild goose chases. Ending up at construction sites or to places that are no longer in business.
   *If there is a delay in your route due to traffic or an accident, It would not let me see what the next step is or the next turn would be after that. I had to wait to pass the delay. Maybe there is a way around this that i have not figured out.
   *the voice on the system is a little difficult to understand at times. Especially in hawaii where it can't pronounce our street names so it spells it out instead.
   Pros:
   *When it works and actually gets us to where we want to go it's great.



2. This is my first GPS. We took a trip to seattle and oregon and it was the best thing that we could have taken with us. We used it to find restaurants and hotels. I love this thing. I think it saved us a lot of time and made our trip more fun and carefree. I also like the bluetooth feature. I think it works well and I use it every time I'm in the car.



3. this product is very good but somehow everytime i'm in freeway 80 (in north cali) it directs me to make an exit in gilman road and then re-enter 80 again. drives me nuts!!! little glitches in the map or software i guess. other than that, i find this product user friendly.



4. The Garmin Nuvi products are really neat designwise and ease of operations. However, the quality of their mapping package (from a 3rd party vendor) is weak compared to almost any other mapping I have used. Google Earth, National Geographic, DeLorme, Terrain Navigator, etc. show better street accuracies and addressing.



5. I've had the Nuvi 660 for about a month. I bought it for the larger screen size and traffic reporting function. Overall I would rate it excellent. It quickly acquires satellites from a cold start. The maps and screen are easy to read and the menus easy to access. Accuracy is quite good. I especially like the traffic reporting function. The only limitation I have found is that sometimes the routing is not the best as it can take you in a roundabout way to a destination. I would not hesitate to recommend this unit. It is a good, all around unit.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 360 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator.

1. We researched these very closely before deciding on the Garmin 360.
   
   We were majorly disappointed. Ours not only didn't hold the bluetooth connection, it failed at the basics. We contacted Garmin. After nearly an hour on hold we were told trying downloading an update for the firmware, another for the bluetooth function, and yet another for the map. Overall we spent over 4 hours on-line with the updates. The map alone took over 2 hours even though we have a high-speed connection.
   
   The unit then started to work - sort of. We took it on a trip to Washington DC. There it often took 15 minutes or longer to find satellites. We tried using it to find restaurants. It's updated map took us to an office building instead. Later we tried to use it to find a Walmart that was in Alexandria VA. There we found another office building where the Walmart was supposed to be.
   
   The bluetooth problem got worse, connecting then disconnecting every few seconds. We gave up and turned it off.
   
   We tried it around our home town and it often would tell us to turn right verbally when the map showed a left turn. Basically the unit we got was defective, at least we hope it's our particular unit and not typical of their product. We contacted Garmin again and arranged for a replacement. That took a couple of days.
   
   When we contacted customer service via email it asked us for the same information we had already provided in their on-line form in order to get a return authorization. We then had to send the bad one back at our own expense.
   
   It's bad enough when the quality control is not the best, but if you are unfortunate enough to get a lemon, don't expect too much in the way of customer service. We dealt with two agents. One honestly seemed to want to help. The other seemed to do everything in her power to slow the process down.



2. I bought the Garmin nuvi 260 for my husband for father's day. He absolutely loves it! He said he could not be happier. He takes it everywhere he goes.....thumbs up!!!



3. 3rd week of use - travelling around MidWest and SouthCentral U.S.. A few map glitches (on way to Chicago from Detroit - a detour through Ann Arbor? (unit does not have travel/construction alerts so this was just a glitch). If you travel through different time zones, be careful - unit does not auto-adjust when you cross over, so your arrival time is stated in the time zone that you left. Per Garmin, the technology patent for changing the time zone over is owned by cell phone companies? And I thought one couldn't patent the obvious! Overall good little unit - like how compact it is. Haven't used bluetooth or Mp3 features....can't imagine using MP3 ever since audio would be less than stellar (don't have FM transmitter).



4. Does evryhing like it,s supposed to do and very well. I would buy another one



5. I have been looking for a GPS that had a lot of features for an affordable price. This one has it all. I bought it for my boyfriend because he is very picky when it comes to electronics. Luckily I know him well, because he loves it. It does everything. He uses the bluetooth to call me and it is cool. Not perfect, but good enough. Especially now that it is illegal to drive and use your phone.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

1. Purchased my Garmin Nuvi 350 in June.Previously owned GarminI5. The Nuvi is great GPS,very accurate,easy to use. I love the text to speech. I would recommend this to anyone



2. This a very good Garmin 350 GPS. I am enjoying the MP3 player with Audio books. You can throw away your maps. We were in a flooded area in Jefferson Wi and it guided us right through the detours and we got were we wanted to go with out asking anybody. You can't beat Amazon for there prices either.



3. Hello,
   This GPS is supposed to be very nice, so I am assuming the problems are only with the unit I got. But anyway:
   1. It is pretty insensitive about the current location. It seems to remember the last start location for a long time! This is a BIG problem. E.g. Moving from Point A to Point B, if I start off, and then lose direction in a while, it keeps on telling me the first turn from Point A. I have tried restarting it, giving the end location again, stopping the vehicle, and all such things.
   2. It may not catch the current location quickly. Whenever I start the GPS, it always shows RED for connectivity no matter where I am standing.
   
   Other than this, the GPS is good. It is pretty accurate with algorithms for finding streets, and reconfigures for detour, avoids toll roads, and highways per change in settings, plays MP3, etc.
   
   Thanks!



4. Finally got around to buying a GPS. Have been happy with this unit since getting it, and would recommend it. Easy to use and understand.



5. After reading wondeful reviews about this product, we decided to invest in one. Sadly, the Garmin was unable to locate a satellite with ease at our home. We would have to drive down our road and wait for a signal in order to program it for a destination site. We discovered that the commands were frequently too sudden and eventually the Garmin lagged at least a mile with its driving directions. When all else failed, it was delightfully helpful in finding us a nearby restaurant when we got lost but was unable to help us find "home".
   
   We were too reticent to purchase a replacement product and will do more research about another navigator.