5 comments about Magellan Maestro 4040 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth and Text-to-Speech (Refurbished).

1. I purchased 2 of these, 1 of which I had to send back because it would not lock on the satellites, and the color was a bit off. The other one works perfectly. I downloaded the firmware update, and the AAA update from AAA and it works great. It is my first GPS, bluetooth works, but will not keep the connect information in the unit for some reason, but well worth the $100 I paid for it. Not sure if I will update the maps, it comes with 2006 maps, but have not run into many errors yet, we will have to see.



2. I bought this refurbished for just $99 bucks as my first ever GPS. I had tried my friends Garmin c330 for a trip and decided to buy my own. The Garmins were too expensive for the features I wanted (4.3" screen, text to speech, and large POI database). Well this unit has all those features and adds bluetooth, AAA service, trip planner, and exit POIs to the list. It even has a voice recognition add-on option in case I want to upgrade in the future. So many features for a $99 unit is absolutely incredible. The routing calculation and re-routing calculation, if you miss a turn, takes slightly longer (by a few seconds) than the Garmin c330 but it is perfectly acceptable for my needs. I do prefer Garmin's menu system as I feel it is a little bit more intuitive but the Magellan 4040 does the same thing and after a small learning curve I am quite happy with this unit. I'll take all the extra features in exchange for the slightly easier to use Garmin. The Magellan Maestro 4040 is a great buy.



3. This GPS navigator proved easy to use quick to lock onto the satellites, quick to recalculate (often finished before we reached the end of the block after making a wrong turn!).
   
   The voice instructions were very helpful, but the bell when the turn is reached could have come a bit sooner.
   
   The maps are a little out of date, lacking some very recent changes, but this wasn't a big deal for me.
   
   For under $150, this is a completely satisfactory gadget!



4. I will never take a trip without this again. It is the most valuable tool you can have in an area you are unfamilar with.
   I bought the refurbished unit because it was very inexpensive. It came with every attachment I need, the mounts, plus wall and car chargers.
   As it was a refurbished unit the maps were 2006 versions. I ordered the 2007/2008 map upgrade. It was difficult to install the maps, but now the unit is up to date and still was a bargin.



5. Such a waste of time...
   
   First of all, the bluetooth is not working with all our phones and it's coming from this specific Magellan GPS unit, as all phones bluetooth work well.
   
   But the worth part, the map is not accurate and the GPS sent us several times in the wrong direction, always a pleasure when it's late at night and you are travelling far from home, looking for your hotel with your kids...
   
   After asking the customer services to send us an up to date map, they accepted at the beginning (but asked for 10 $ shipping that we were willing to pay), but then refused after we sent them the proof of purchase, when they saw it was a refurbished Magellan.
   
   They also at the same time gave us a lecture about the fact that the new map is expensive because it's paid to an outside company, and reserved to new products only (resume : if you buy a bad product, you get bad customer services). Of course they think we are complete idiots, as those expenses are supposed to be covered in the making of the new GPS, so it's not really a big cost for them to use it to update an old one, as they already paid for it...how disgracefull!!
   We are buying a refurbished unit to save money, I don't thing we deserve to be traited like that!
   We paid real money for it but get Monopoly customer services!
   
   What happen to those refurbished units if nobody buy it???
   It's destroyed and it's a complet lost for the company...
   
   Anyway...
   
   I'm sending back that GPS today, I do prefer our old TomTom GPS, never sent us to the wrong place, we need two GPS because we drive two cars, so we will just buy an other TomTom (plus their customer services are much nicer... really appreciated!!)

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 370 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth, Text-to-Speech, North American & European Maps.

1. I have owned a Garmin Ique5 GPS for over 5 years. My previous model developed an intermitant and began shutting off automatically about a month after the warrenty expired. I looked at alternatives since I was rather upset that Garmin wanted $150 to repair the old unit. I discovered the Garmin N350 at Amazon and couldn't pass up such a great deal.
   Obviously skeptical, I received my unit and can't tell you how happy I am with it. It is everything that was advertised and more.
   I took the extended warrrenty to avoid the problem i had with my other unit. I only hope that it will not develop a problem when the extended warrenty expires.



2. I have previously used a Tom-Tom 910 in Europe and in the US. The screen on the Garmin is easier to read in all light. Like the Tom-Tom 910 it has both US and European maps. It has a significantly longer battery life than other Garmin and Tom-Tom products. It seems easier to use than the Tom-Tom and is just as accurate. I like the voices on the Tom-Tom better than the voices on the Garmin. Overall, I am pleased with the Garmin Nuvi 370. The price was very competitive.



3. This product is pretty good; most reviews I read were on the money there are a few snags such as the taking diff. routes than you would think would be the most logical,but Overall I am am happy with it for the price. The air vent mount is the best way to go. Overall 3.5 to 4 stars



4. For the price the features are great! Instead of paying a car rental for a GPS rental we bought this, it updated online and everything is current. It is really nice and I have not had a problem with it in the US or in Europe.



5. I absolutely adore this GPS. My first one and I'm not at all disappointed. It's so easy to learn, and the CD that comes with it is very helpful (I just needed it to help setting the time and 'Home'). The thing I found out is you just have to trust it - it will get you where you're going. Sometimes instinct wants you to go the way you've always gone, for example, but if you follow the GPS you'll be pleasantly surprised. Sometimes, it's a little longer, but you find new routes that way. The one thing I wish were different is: when you're driving on a road (Main Street for example) and you cross over into another town, it doesn't verbally tell you the name of the street has changed. It shows the new name at the top of the screen but it would be nice to have it say: "Road is now Maple Street." Other than that, so far, it's been great and I don't know how we ever lived without them. I bought the weighted dash mount instead of using the windshield mount for security reasons (I guess thieves look for the tell-tale ring on the windshield and then break in). I paid around $12 for the dash mount - well worth it. Then I just take the GPS in my purse and hide everything else in the glove compartment. Have fun!

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

1. Fantastic price!!! Great product. I haven't had any problems and I use this GPS every day.



2. I love it! Would definitely recommend it to someone looking to buy a good navi system. It has bluetooth capabilities, as well as e-mail and lots of other cool features. Makes a great gift.



3. This is my second Garmin since they are so user friendly and anyone can use them, I have stayed loyal to the brand. I purchased this second one for my husband who now uses it to go everywhere. I should mention he has a GPS built into his cars and prefers to use only the Garmin.



4. Pricing was great. Product functioned very well, as designed. An abundance of features for the price. Hands free speakerphone was a pleasant surprise. Incoming calls ring in the GPS, giving you the option to answer and talk back. The screens are easy to follow. The bluetooth directory is a another great feature. The unit speaks the name of the street so you don't have to take your eys of the road. Just a reminder that no MAPS are perfect and neither is routing. Sometimes seemed to route the long way around. Might require some settings tuning for best inner city routes. All and all, a great value.



5. Garmin Streetpilot c550 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
   I was first exposed to this unit when I rented it with a car on my trip to San Diego, CA. No instructions were included so it was plug in, push "Where To?", and follow the simple, easy instructions. I also connected my cellphone to the Bluetooth feature in a very few easy steps. Piece of cake!!
   The sound from the speakers was ok, understandable but a little tinny.
   The map display was readable even in the desert sun on I15 east heading
   towards Las Vegas.
   When I returned from my trip, I promptly ordered one. Although I have a NAV system and Bluetooth in one car, our other car does not so it is used for both purposes in that vehicle.
   I also will have it for use when I rent a car again and I wont have to pay $12 to $14 a day for NAV rental.
   Very good price and easy to use.
   I had an issue with a free updated 2009 map download and tech support was able to help resolve the issue.
   I do recommend the dash mount as it is illegal to mount this unit on a windshield in CA. Must have something to do with radar detectors, I believe.

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

1. I've had this for a couple of days now along with my father who is technologically illiterate. He finds the unit very simple to use and that says something in itself. The screen is big, and I absolutely love it. I've noticed a lot of people saying that the it takes a while to acquire a satellite. Since I have a software upgrade OCD, I went to the garmin site to see if there are any other software that I could download for the device. Would you know there is a firmware upgrade for it that was recently release for the nuvi 750. Before the firmware upgrade, the device locked up alot, and now it rarely does. I think if people upgraded their firmware, most of their problems would go away. Honestly speaking though, I'm still in the honeymoon stage for it. But so far it hasn't been that bad. The occasional need to find satellites but it's faster than what most people say it is. Upgrade the firmware on the site and it'll become that perfect device you've been looking for. Cheers



2. Purchased this about a month ago. I am in sales and this has been a great addition when I'm on the road. It's easy to use and I love the Points of Interest feature - that is a lifesaver when traveling. I would definitely recommend this product if you're shopping for a GPS.



3. this unit is pretty cool, i had the 350 and i loved it until it was stolen. the 750 has a few options that the 350 didnt have but honestly if i could go back in time i would have gotten the 350 again. however if you have to make like 10 stops then the trip planner of the 750 would be key. little advice, get theone with the live trific report. im kicking my self for not spending the extra 80 bucks.



4. This is a great product. It isn't 100% perfect but, very close to it. It is really hard to get lost when you use it to navigate.



5. I've extensively tested this on two long trips in unfamiliar territory. It worked flawlessly. Acquiring satellites has a lot to do with where you are. In the city it takes a bit longer. But I'm never in that much of a hurry. In both highway and rural situations, I felt you got a long enough verbal warning of an upcoming turn. I had several situations where I was with a "local" and they scoffed at the directions saying there were turns shown that didn't exist, but they did exist.
   
   Complaints? A few minor ones. It keeps track of all the places you've found and navigated to. You can clear them but it's all or nothing. I'd like to be able to select which ones I deleted. There were also some POIs it should have known but didn't. Notably a 10 year old hotel in Seattle. I could never get the FM broadcast thing to work where you get the instruction through the car radio. Too much static. But I'm hearing impaired and could plainly understand all verbal instructions.
   
   The times I was most pleased was coming into a large unfamiliar city to go to a museum. Instead of nervously looking for signs or trying to navigate to a particular part of town, you felt confident as it routed you flawlessly to your destination.
   
   One tip for those buying this device. I also got a mounting clip available here but cheaper elsewhere that connects to the ball on the back of the mounting plate and then has alligator looking clips that slide into the horizontal (doesn't work with vertical) air vents on your dashboard. This worked very well in different rental cars and was stable and held it over bumps and uneven roads. Lots easier than the windshield suction cup with no telltale marks for car thieves to target.
   
   I'm very pleased with this amazing piece of electronics.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 200W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator.

1. Excellent G.P.S... Easy to work , better than my built in unit on my Infinity......Highly recommmend



2. I have three GPS (eTrex, GPSMap 60CSX and this one). Among these three, the fastest one is this nuvi 200w. I know that GPSmap has different purpose than Nuvi, but the acquisition time of Nuvi 200W is fantastic and screen drawing is very fast. And the screen is absolutely beautiful thing. Very bright and colorful. And more: this one supports various languages. I'm using korean language menu, voice and portuguese keyboard layout. Perfect...



3. We go to alot of garage and estate sales. We named our GPS Lola. Lola has only let ou asray twice by a few blocks. The Detour feature is great! Would buy the upgrades.



4. I love this Garmin. The wider screen is much better than the narrower models. Very user friendly and reliable. Very accurate and up-to-date.



5. The Garmin Nuvi 200 is even better with the 4.3 widescreen. This is the third portable Garmin I've owned, and all have been great, with the newest one even better, with out of the box usability, quick 1 minute setup, and good customization options. (Route choice/languages/hwy vs. tollways, etc) Battery life is very good at about 3.5 hours with a freshly charged one, and unlimited with 12v power of course. This model works great with a friction mount (a $35 option) Forget the suction cups...they fade and warp after about 6 months and auto thieves are always looking for those tell-tale suction cup marks to break in. The Garmins come with a nice security feature that looks out the functions at power off. You input a code on power on and use it normally then. But if stolen, the thief has a useless gadget! You don't have to use the security feature but I highly recommend it. About the only flaw with the Garmin is the long satellite lock on time. Sometimes it gets the satellites in 15-30 seconds, but it can just as easily take 2-3 minutes sometimes! It does have a very strong lock on once it gets the satellites though...I've never lost a signal on the road with it.

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

1. I have been looking to buy a decent GPS for quite sometime and researched a few along the way. This is by far the BEST deal I have seen. Good NAVTEQ map, intelligent routing, crisp Bluetooth hands free calling, handy AAA tourbook and a Traffic FM (I have not tried this service so cannot give my opinion here). Very fast Satellite lock in, quick response, and the right graphics for the purpose. The SayWhere tech too is also very friendly with accurate pronunciations and does not feel robotic as many similar technologies do.
   
   
   I would have loved to have - customizable voice menu, including a call Home feature at the minimum.
   
   This is the Luxury version GPS available for less!
   
   (This review is for the Refurbished product - that I found to be no different than the "new" one except the Box has Refurbished on it and also the warranty was 90 days _ I bought the 2 year extended plan for 25 USD and still came much cheaper than the TomToms and the Garmins that provide exactly the same features. I bought it with an extra Amazon Gold Deal discount! Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished))



2. Very pleased with the accuracy of this product. I feel it opened the whole world up to me. I used it several times and the unit plotted the fastest and most efficient route. The unit is easy to use and I enjoy the convenience of the points of interest feature. The only draw back about the unit was the volume for the bluetooth feature. Its hard to hear the caller.



3. I read all the reviews and ordered the 4250 Oct 1st 2008 from Amazon. I thought it was a sure thing. The unit came in and would only show me the "Magellan" name screen after the blue line moved from left to right to indicate start up... but right there is where the unit Froze up. It wouldn't go any further. I then kept the unit plugged in for the reccomended 6 hours to fully charge. This did not help. (Charger was working). Tried to use the "Reset" button on the bottom - no avail. Went to Magellan website - it says " if unit continues to freeze up - download and install update firmware". Well I did this, but if the unit is FREEZING UP before starting your computer WILL NOT Recognize the 4250. Thus you can't install the firmware. I got a Dud from the get go. And this is unfortunately my first experience with Magellan and GPS. So I've got a REALLY bad taste for this name brand. It's made in the Phillipines... and obviously quality control is sub-par.
   
   I called Amazon today October 4th (got the unit the night of the 3rd via UPS) - and found they no longer stock this unit. In fact - there are TONS of REFURBISHED units available. This does not bode well. Magellan customer service isn't open on the weekends (when most of us working folks have time to call) - which is kinda crazy. So I'm just returning the item for Refund to Amazon - who in fact has been GREAT to work with over the phone today. They told me I'll get a full refund once the unit is back at their place. Then again - my $250.00 is tied up for 7 - 14 days until they make the refund happen.
   
   I don't know - perhaps I'm just unlucky in this endeavor. The only thing I'll reccomend is for anyone here in the last part of 2008 comtemplating getting a 4250 - don't. It's outdated. Maps are Oct 2007 - and Magellan wants to charge you $75.00 to get the 2008/2009 Map updates according to their website.



4. I bought the refurbished model and it froze initially and wouldnt even reset. I had to Hold the power button down for several seconds to get the unit to turn off. I upgraded the firmware and it has been working fine. Some of the maps/poi are outdated (as are most of the gps on the market) but the routing is very accurate and fairly quick. Try the firmware update to correct problems. As with most electronics the hardware is cheap and the software (map updates) is where they get you.



5. Magellan units are okay, but their support is very disappointing. Also, having bought this unit for a few weeks only, you would think that they would provide you the updated software for free. They don't. And that's a big negative on my book. So any positives I have for this unit will go down the drain. They should provide free software for at least the first year you've bought the item. I suggest looking the other way and getting others instead.

2 comments about Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished).

1. Recieved 10/1/08, looks like new, operates like new. Box included a A/C home charger (not listed as an included item on the box). Nice freebee. The POI seem to be outdated, other GPS I own (TomTom, Garmin, etc) are more up to date for my area. It does not pin-point my home base as close as other GPS do. The case is made of a slippery plastic, kind of hard to get a grip on. The Display is sharp, easy on the eyes. This thing is fantastic the way it finds satellites from my kitchen counter. Within seconds of turn on, it has grabbed 4 or 5, ready to go to work. Only 90 day warranty, so use it heavy first 90 days. TO-DO: get a windows 'puter on line and up date the firmware. No regrets on this purchase, the $129, free ship AMZ deal is hard to beat.



2. I bought this refurbished model and it froze initially and wouldnt even reset. I had to Hold the power button down for several seconds to get the unit to turn off. I upgraded the firmware and it has been working fine. Some of the maps/poi are outdated (as are most of the gps on the market) but the routing is very accurate and fairly quick. Try the firmware update to correct problems. As with most electronics the hardware is cheap and the software (map updates) is where they get you.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 270 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with US, Canada & European Maps.

1. I received the Garmin Nuvi 270 a day before a golf trip to Alabama. I have never owned a GPS device before, nor used one, so I was curious as to how difficult for a 50+year old, it would be to use right out of the box on unfamiliar roads....It turned out to be easy, intuitive and very useful. Installed on front glass, waited for the unit to download location/maps and went through the step by step prompts and was rewarded with good directions to our destination!!!! Any missteps along the way were quickly re-calculated by the unit. I am now looking forward to using it in Arizona next month and France next year....
   
   My only requests to Garmin would be to eliminate a few programming steps, such as which country am I in, the unit knows where it is, and it's unlikely I would drive from this continent to Europe....if I want to go to Canada or Mexico, it could be determined by the state/province requested. Otherwise "great so far".



2. Great product right out of the box. The only extra piece of equipment needed is a micro usb cable so that one can register the product and receive updates via the computer/web site. Great price for a device that already comes loaded with European maps. Easy to mount, easy to hear over traffic or radio sound levels, quick to re-calculate if a turn is missed, and easy to enter addresses. The "points of interest" feature is invaluable for driving in new areas. LOVE IT!!



3. I bought this model because the previous model did not come with the UK maps.The instructions sent to me by Garmin to load and update the new maps were complicated and unhelpful.
   This model had accurate instructions and was helpful.Sometimes the route it chose was longer but the landmarks etc were precise.
   I would recommend this to anyone who is traveling in the UK



4. The product was as described and came with all the bells and whistles. It was easy to install and very easy to use. The instruction manual was a little short on instructions but the unit helped you get all the items available to your notice



5. The Nuvi 270 lives up to its reviews. The screen size is fine - don't really need the larger screen of the 370. The road map is unbelievably complete -- in our remote little town it even knows about the little road stub past the library curbside book return!! Voice prompts are quite audible, and come at the right times -- once after a turn to advise when the next turn will come, once when about 400 yards away from the turn, and then right at the turn. Touch pad is pretty easy to use, but when entering the PIN, if you get it wrong it locks you out until you either return to your home place, or disconnect the external power and power unit off and then on (I had to find that out the hard way). All in all I'm very pleased with it.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 770 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator.

1. Paid $500 plus for a GPS, and the bluetooth firmware didn't work and I had to edit some files for the maps to load properly. Sent it straight back & will buy the Tom Tom equivalent model.
   
   Dissapointed to say the least, & won't be going near Garmin again.



2. I've bought Nuvi 770 to upgrade from my "obsolete" StreetPilot 2720.
   Found following problems:
   1. Twice screen had gone blank during driving and I picked wrong highway while trying to revive the damn thing.
   2. On my old navigator the screen is smaller but I could configure it such way so I saw on screen all the data like distance to destination and elevation.
   On the new one to see distance to destination I have to go to a different screen, elevation is not displayed at all.
   3.To get back to the map you have to press "Back" many times, on the old navigator there is a nice button "map" that takes you right to the map.
   It doesn't sound like a big deal but after pressing 'back' many times you will hate it.
   4. Some features are ridiculous: who's going to view pictures with image viewer while driving? FM unit couldn't find any available frequency on my radio so I could play MP3 player only through internal speaker that sounded terrible.
   5. Navigator lost voice during driving, turned out voice setting changed from "American English" to "Afrikaner" by itself, so I had to fiddle with it while driving to figure it out and set it back.
   6. Turns are announced 0.2mi before the turn, the old navigator did it 0.5mi before the turn, I've missed a few turns because of this.
   
   Needless to say I'm happy with my old navigator now.



3. I just received it and used it five times. Three out of five directions had major errors. The first sent me down a one-way street the wrong way, even though the street was changed to a one-way street in 2004; the second directed me to a highway via a dead-end street that was blocked off in 2001; the third told me to "keep left and turn on Glendale Road." Glendale Road was on the right, not on the left, and the misinformation could have had deadly results in heavier traffic. Beware that Garmin often gives out of date and faulty information.
   A second complaint deals with the primitive speech technology. Most speech synthesizers today do a much better job. Examples: "Route 2 East" comes out Route Tweest". It also does not give you an option to repeat instructions; if you miss it the first time, forget it.
   Finally, the product description on Amazon does not include either a mount or a power cord as coming with the product, but does show both items as desirable options to buy. The Garmin nuvi 770 does come with both a mount and a power cord.



4. This is my first and last Garmin product. Received it 2 days ago and added address in Europe as I am getting ready to leave in 2 days. This morning it was all gone. I tried to register the 770 and when the serial # is entered it says that the unit is already registered. I sent an email to support and I get the cookie cutter response and the idiot on the other end telling me I may be not finding the right number. After 4 emails (almost the same response every time) I will be sending this back and will never purchase from Garmin again. Very poor support and terrible unit. Glad I have my iPhone for my trip.



5. The Garmin Nuvi 770 does exactly what it says it does. I was excited to use it when I first got it, but found that the maps were not installed. I called Garmin who very easily set up my Nuvi with me over the phone. I only had a day before my trip and did not really get a chance to test it out.
   Unfortunately that unit failed while I was on the trip. The unit would not charge and just shut off. I called Amazon from the road, identified myself, and they sent a new unit to a hotel where I would be staying, and allowed me to return the other unit two weeks later when I got home. The new unit arrived the day Amazon said it would, and this new unit has been working perfectly. It is fun and gives you confidence to try little roads and discover new places while on a trip, because the Nuvi can always get you back to where you need to be! Obviously, the first unit was just a defective unit which can happen to any electronic device. The replacement unit is the exact same model and it has been performing perfectly for 2 months now. Great unit from Garmin - great service from Amazon.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 260 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

1. Yesterday I used my Nuvi for the first time to location 4 different places. It failed at various levels on 3 of those locations, and succeeded on the forth.
   
   PROBLEM 1: I tried to enter a street address "Saint Johns Bluff Rd S" but as soon as I typed the "Rd" the Nuvi "helpfully" popped up the selections it thought I meant. The selection list had one item: the north version of the road. If you try to go back from the helpful selection list to continue entering what YOU want to enter you'll find that the field has been emptied. I was not able to enter my location and had to call for directions. BTW: This location has been in existance for years.
   
   PROBLEM 2: I tried to find "Dave & Buster's", a popular attraction in this city but it was not in the database! I manually entered the address, and it accepted the address, but it took me to the wrong place. It dumped me off about a half mile away. Again, I had to call for directions.
   
   PROBLEM 3: I tried to find a location on the street "A1A S" but as soon as I entered the "S" the Nuvi suggested that I meant "A1A Scenic and Historic". It would not let me enter what I meant, only what it thought I meant! Forced to accept Nuvi's suggestion, I compared the place it wanted to take me to a map someone else printed from MapQuest. They differed, and MapQuest was right. MapQuest actually accepted what the user entered. Imagine that!
   
   It also gave me problems today.
   
   - It lost satellite reception and didn't get it back until I rebooted.
   - I followed someone to their house and the roads in this section of the town just didn't exist on Nuvi's map. I rebooted and viola! The roads appeared.
   - I've found the database of known lodging and food places to be extremely limited; it often has minor things in a region but not major things.
   - It has entries in its database containing characters that you cannot enter. For example, I played around searching for "Dave & Buster's" in other cities. In another city it find the location if I enter "Dave", but not "Dave and" because "and" is technically not in the name "Dave & Buster's". The Nuvi does not provide a way to enter the "&" character so it's impossible to enter the name! The Nuvi ought to be smart enough to match "&" with "And".
   - A friend told me to head towards a specific intersection. I entered the information into the intersection search feature (Spelling the names of the roads properly) and it could not find them.
   
   Another problem I noticed on day one is that the new offramp on the interstate that I often use to go home is not in the database. It's a year old! Why isn't it in there?
   
   
   And I tried to use Garmin's website for help. First, I tried to update the software using the webbased tool but it failed without any feedback. I used an app-based tool and that worked. I played around with the same input as in those problems mentioned above and even with all the updates the same (or similar) errors occurred. I tried to post a complaint to their customer service department and the website failed to accept it! It told me to fill in the required fields marked with an asterisk. EVERY FIELD WAS SET!
   
   I've had it. This tool is going back tomorrow, but sadly this is the state of computer technology today. No one even cares to make electronic devices that work anymore. So long as it technically works well enough to satisfy the legal requirements imposed by marketing's promises then that's all the better electronics are made.



2. The unit will not "re-calculate" a better, short-cut route when deviate from the original "Go-to". It keeps "re-directing" backward, or U-turn, to the original route which is longer.



3. The Garmin nüvi 260 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator exceeded my expectations and performed flawlessly. Of course I'd like more...like a USGS topographic base map reference. However, for $200.00 it is an outstanding value. For two weeks of continuous use (my first use) it guided me through the most urban to the most rural regions of Massachusetts.



4. Just a word about mounting this: get the dashboard friction mount instead of the suction cup mount. There are thieves who look specifically for these mounts or marks left by these mounts to see if you have a GPS in your car. The friction dashboard mount, sort of like a big heavy beanbag with a friction strip, leaves no marks, stores easily under the seat, and can be moved from car to car with no problems.
   
   I'm a genealogist and frequently have to travel to places that are out of the way and not easy to find. Sometimes I have street locations, other times I only have GPS coordinates. It's easy to preprogram the Nuvi to both these types of locations and save them as favorites. I have managed to find several places, such as old cemeteries, that I never would have found with a map. Plus, it is to much safer to use the GPS for navigation when traveling alone -- you don't have to take your eyes off the road to consult a map or directions, or pull over to do so.
   
   The Detour function works perfectly. I was recently in a town where a bridge right on the main drag was out, but I needed to get to the other side. I just clicked Detour and it immediately and accurately plotted a route around the obstruction.
   
   I like that it shows my distances and estimated arrival times.
   
   I do wish it had a feature where you could erase or delete preprogrammed places. I have run into a few times where restaurants it had listed were closed, and it would be nice to delete those from the database. I haven't found a way you can do that.
   
   I also purchased this product because it does speak the street names. Just having the confirmation when it says "Turn right on Prospect Street" and seeing the Prospect Street sign is good. In some towns I have been in, it's been a little hard to tell from the map which street is which.
   
   It's become my second most important tool for genealogical research (the first being my computer), and I'll never be without one again.



5. Very happy with this GPS. Reads street names out loud, not just turns. Bought one for my college age daughter, liked it so much I got one for myself.