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

1. I had this unit for one month and it worked great. Loved the fact that it was small enough to slip into a pocket or purse so as not to leave it in the car to be stolen. The voice command feature worked well. However, you do have to go off your current route to select a "nearest gas", or "nearest coffee". But you just cancel route and then choose your original destination after your stop. The big issue I am having now is that the unit routes me 2 hours out of my way - example, we are going from Northern Virginia to New York. It routes me one hour to southern Virgina before it has you make a u turn on an exit ramp to go back north to the New York destination. Its funny because you can see your green route on northbound 95 as it has you driving southbound on 95.
   
   I tried reseting but at times it still does this. I bought it for my wife for when she travels on business, but if you cant trust it, what good is it?



2. Voice recognition does not really work very well, you almost have to scream at the device for it to respond to you- not a great functionality when your kid is sleeping in the back seat. Had trouble zooming in and out at times. The MM4250 makes a ding for turn alerts, but it sometimes dings when it's too late and you miss your turn, really PISSES ME OFF. Next Navigation is going to be a Garmin, I heard it's designed much better.



3. The GPS performs well - - it gets you where you are going. The voice recognition need a lot of improvement to be truly functional and helpful - even in a very quiet car, you have to shout to activate it, and the voice controlled options are very limited. All the manually operated functions should also be voice-activated. Bluetooth pairing with phone works well and is a great safety feature, but sound quality is not that great. Lastly, the product arrived almost two weeks later! Overall, I am very pleased with this product, even with the limitations.



4. Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
   This is the first GPS I've owned or used, so I'm not speaking from experience. It worked GREAT on our trip from Vermont to HHI, South Carolina. The directions and POI's served us very well. The screen helps folks in the back seat see what's up. The AAA references work great, too. It generally responds well to our verbal commands. Two points on that, though: follow the directions (speak softly); and I wish you could program it to respond to custom commands.
   The only reason I took one star away was because of the Bluetooth. It actually works with my PDA (Audiovox VX660), even though it's not listed. Many phones aren't listed. But the volume isn't sufficient at highway speeds (even in a very quite Audi A6) and the connection between the phone and the GPS/Bluetooth has to be re-established every time you turn the unit back on, which is pretty lame. But otherwise, I recommend this unit to others.



5. The product is easy to use. The screen is clear with good voice announcements and easy to follow directions.

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

1. i'm glad that i picked up Garmin Nuvi 260 W. It was extremely helpful during my recent trip to Houston/galveston area. In some areas it outperforms my built in two thousand dollar GPS. Me and my wife are quite satisfied with this smart piece of machine.



2. Garmin nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
   
   Great GPS -- works as advertised -- only downside is that map updates don't include all of the minor roads constructed/named in the last few years.
   
   Very good search of restaurants, public buildings, sites of interest. You won't go wrong with the 260W. The wide screen was worth the wait for this model.



3. I knew what I wanted in a GPS after getting lost with a friend who owns a Tom-Tom! Her Tom-Tom got us so lost because we trusted its information over our own sense of direction! I decided after wandering around Indianapolis I wanted a GPS that announced the street name when telling me to turn. I also wanted one with volume control and one I could see easily. It is easy to use for me, the tech challenged. I haven't had to have anyone show me what to do to program it! I love my Nuvi 260W.



4. This is my first standalone GPS receiver (I have previously used a computer-based GPS - too bulky for everyday use). Overall, I'm pleased with my purchase. FWIW, my "disclaimer" is that I was a satellite technician on the Block II GPS (NavStar) satellites. So, I actually worked on the satellites themselves (vehicles 13-24) for almost 5 years, but I'm just now getting a unit for our cars. Go figure! ;-)
   
   On to my review...
   
   The Good
   * The screen is wide and clear. About the only time I had trouble seeing it (glancing, really) was driving towards the sunset with my sunglasses on. You really can't expect it to overcome that level of contrast, so I don't fault the display for this.
   * Reasonably fast calculation. The computer-based GPS I am replacing with this unit often took several minutes to calculate a multi-state trip. This unit typically completes route calculation within 20 seconds or less.
   * It does a recalculate pretty quickly as well (typically just a few seconds). So, if you decide to take a slightly (or even radically) different route, it "goes with the flow" and will still get you there.
   * I was concerned about this unit not having a way to output the audio to either an external speaker or to the car FM radio (these features are available in more expensive Nuvi models). I was pleasantly surprised at how clear the TTS voice is, albeit a bit distorted from time-to-time. On occasion, I had to turn down the radio or pause my iPod to hear what it was saying, but for the most part it is very clear and understandable.
   * I've not tried to stress the battery life to the max, but I've been pleasantly surprised so far at how long I can use it without being plugged in. It's not a unit designed for extensive hiking/backpacking, but for short hikes it seems like it will at least keep you oriented in regard to roads, etc. I've not explored (pardon the pun) whether or not one can load topographical maps for off-road use.
   * Size and portability. This is a nice, slim unit. I can put it in my shirt pocket and carry it with me. Even with the suction-cup mount and power supply, it's fairly easy to move from vehicle to vehicle.
   * Satellite acquisition is good. Unlike another reviewer, so far I'm pleased with the speed of acquisition. My laptop GPS unit almost always takes 1-2 minutes to be good to go. The Nuvi typically takes only 15-20 seconds to acquire if I'm out in the open (i.e., not between tall buildings, indoors, under a bridge, etc.). I've ready what other reviewers have said, but I've not experienced it so far (I probably just jinxed it, however!).
   
   The Bad
   * The documentation is bare-bones. Even when visiting the Garmin website, I found no additional information on how to use the device to get additional features to work. Sure, you can upload pictures for viewing (woo hoo!) and upload "cool" (read: "Dorky") vehicle 3-D icons, but other than that - the "Quick Start Manual" seems to be all there is.
   * About 20% of the time, there seems to be a slight hesitation in the voice - almost like it is loading something from the flash memory. It ends up sounding something like "Turn r...ight on M...ain Street". Still understandable, but a bit disconcerting.
   * There is a way to search for intersections as a destination point. All fine and dandy, but you still have to know the exact names that the Garmin unit will identify these intersections with. If you are trying to get to a major highway intersection, you would do best to zoom in on it and "click" (with your finger) the roads involved to see what they're named. Either memorize them or write them down, because once you go back to finding that intersection, you'll need to refer to that exact name (e.g., if it says "Bell Blvd." even though you know it's also "Highway 183" - use "Bell Blvd."). Even having a computer open running Google Maps doesn't always help you as Garmin's map supplier may not agree.
   * As related to the above point, unlike online resources like Google Maps, Mapquest, etc. - you can't just have it direct you to a town or city. You *have* to know the actual address or intersection or it will refuse to try to route you. It would be _nice_ (HINT, HINT - Garmin!) if it would just say "well, here's an arbitrary address in the city you've requested" and let you deal with the consequences.
   
   The Ugly
   * As I'm sure many purchasers will do, I tried it out around my home location (trips to the grocery store, work, etc.) just to see how it would perform. I often found that it chose routes that I knew were not optimal. When I would deviate from its suggestions, it (thankfully) doesn't fuss and say "Off route" as I've heard other units do. It simply recalculates and things straighten out. However, I would like a better way to "encourage" it to take a particular route other than creating a via point (and you *only* get one per trip!).
   * Trying to plan a trip via this unit is frustrating. It is really designed for point A to B driving. Granted, I knew that when I bought it. However, it seems that the interface could have been improved a bit in trying to set up a multi-stage trip. The only way around this that I've found is to: (a) Search for a location, (b) go to Recently Found Locations (or whatever it's called), (c) Save the location. Once you've done that, you can reference this point in your favorites and use it as an anchor for your trip.
   * The voice prompts can be a bit overdone. "In .2 miles, turn left at Main Street" - immediately followed by "Turn left at Main Street". I realize this is the correct default behavior, but it seems that there should be a way to adjust the threshold of the "nanny" approach. It's not a huge deal - it just gets irritating when you have a lot of turns.
   
   Summary
   Besides the peccadilloes I've mentioned above, I still really like the unit. My advice is to do advanced planning (using a computer) to get a feel for the layout if you're going on a long trip. Create via points where they make sense (and save them to your Favorites). Be willing to break up longer trips into smaller ones just so you can get better/more customized routing from the unit.
   
   + Great screen visibility, TTS clear and correct pronunciation, works pretty well for what it was designed to do.
   - Interface limitations/poor choices, refuses to help "guess" destination points, relies far more on built-in help than even what Garmin's website has for documentation.



5. The NUVI 260W was a gift.
   
   At first I thought, "what am I really going to do with this?"
   
   POI is great. If you are in a bind and need "something" just punch in the screen and there it is. Amazing.
   
   The new firmware update (May 5, 2008) increases speed and clears up a lot of connection issues on earlier production runs.
   
   Updating software was extremely easy.

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

1. After reading a lot of different reviews and ratings, I purchased this Garmin 200W because I wanted a widescreen at a reasonable price. We've used it for a trip from Colorado to Phoenix and surrounding areas, plus Colorado to Nashville. Although it can be slow picking up satellites at times, it has worked well and so far, no problems. For less than $200.00, you definitely cannot beat the price for anyone that can do without bluetooth connection, etc. Try it, you'll like it.



2. It does what it is supposed to do - get me where I need to be. I'd buy it again, and recommend it to anyone. Just know that you can't customize the little vehicle into 6 different vehicles (tank, motorcycle, etc.). It only comes with 2: truck and car..both blue.



3. Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator this GPS does everything it is supposed to every time at a high level of accuracy ;; anyone can set it up without a manual



4. i travel alot with my work and it realy comes in handy and is simple to use.



5. The GOOD: I drive every day for work, often to new places every few days. For me, a Garmin was a good investment. I find it very accurate in terms of which side of the street to be on and when to turn (you're warned in 1 mile, then in .4 miles, then "turn now") by the voice prompts. The voice is somewhat robotic, but clearly spoken female voice. There is an option to find local places (restaurants, etc), an option to change the voice volume, and an option to go to recently requested addresses. I like the size and weight and the display is very clear, even in bright light.
   
   The BAD: About 1/3 of the time I try to use my Garmin (which I've dubbed the TardMin) it says "acquiring satellites" for about 15 minutes. Then it tries again for about 15 minutes. Generally, I've reached my destination by then as I do a lot of city driving. I feel that this is much too frequent as Google Earth seems to have no problem acquiring satellites. This problem occurs in various places and seems to have no rhyme or reason as to when it will or won't get a signal (for instance, from home, often is fine, sometimes is not). Frustrating! I end up having to Mapquest directions also, which negates owning a Garmin/TardMin. Also, the battery life is quite short. I find that I plug it into the car's outlet about every 2-3 times I use the thing as its beeping Low Battery at me. Most of my trips are about 40 minutes, so about 80 minutes of life.

5 comments about Garmin nüvi 760 Portable GPS Automobile Navigator.

1. Kept giving me the wrong directions so I sent it back and bought a DASH express. Love the DASH.



2. I have an older model of Garmin and I love it except for one thing. When I am putting in the city's name, it - depending on what city I'm entering - lets me put a few letters in and then pulls up the wrong city. How do you enter ALL of the city's name so it won't stop deciding itself which city it THINKS I want? I have been thinking of getting one of the nuvi 760's but wondering if it does the same thing. Can anyone help me?



3. This is our first Garmin and we love it. We recently used it on a road trip and not once did we need to use a written map. It was very user-friendly and the directions given were spot on. We would definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a quality GPS.



4. I bought this GPS for a friend who is also a REALTOR, and she absolutely loves it. When she's showing houses in an unfamiliar neighborhood, she just punches in the address and hits the road. It's much easier for her to listen to the directions given out loud than it is to try to read printed directions while she's driving. She also liked that she was able to select the voice that she wanted to hear. She chose not to use the female voice with the British accent because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to understand what the woman was saying.



5. First, I'm no newbie when it comes to GPS devices. The Garmin nuvi 760 makes the 3rd GPS I've purchased. I first tested this unit about a week ago on a trip to Tampa, Florida from "middle-of-no-where" Alabama. Navigating Tampa was made extremely easily and non-stressful with the 760.
   
   I got this unit for about $500 at a Bestbuy, and I'm pleased with it's performance. Let me break down the pros and cons based on my preferences:
   
   Pros:
   Detailed maps
   Device mounting to the windshield. Tom Tom devices tend to fall down.
   
   Cons:
   Lack of features.
   No ability to omit certain roads. This feature is extremely useful when you don't want to travel using toll roads.
   
   Throughout it all, I am very pleased with the Garmin nuvi 760, the only thing I that kept me from giving it 5/5 stars is that I couldn't recalculate a route based on my driving preferences unlike the Tom Toms.
   
   
   For those who are torn between getting a Tom Tom and a Garmin, consider the following things:
   
   Garmin GPS systems have very detailed maps. You might have to wade through a ton of models to find a Garmin gps that suites your needs.
   
   Tom Tom GPS systems boast a lot of features, and they're usually cheaper than Garmin systems. The downside to Tom Tom is that they're foreign based, and their maps aren't as detailed.

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

1. I have this same Garmin Nuvi 200. I love it. This particular one I purchased for my daughter. She is ver happy with it.



2. great product for price, does everything you need if you just want directions, no fancy add ons, does what you need for a great price



3. It performs well and I would back most all the good stuff written by the other reviewers. However, if you at anytime think you may want to use it in Canada, spend the extra $20 and the the Nuvi 250. The only way to get Canadian street data is to purchase the Canadian card from Garmin at around $70. You can buy the yearly North American map update for $59, but you will not be able to un-lock the Canadian portion. Only the Lower 48 states will load.



4. money well spent, I am happy with it and it is easy to use very basic, which is perfect for my wife, great product all around.



5. I bought this GPS to help with a move to Texas and house hunting. Works perfect! What a great tool for getting around new areas and house hunting.
   Great for a Basic and Inexpensive GPS.

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

1. After reading the reviews of Garmins costing over twice as much as the Nuvi 260 and seeing that many people still weren't completely happy with their choice, I came to the conclusion that the technology had not completely arrived yet, so I would buy a GPS with the minimum bells and whistles and wait for the technology to really catch up to the expectations most people had before sinking a ton of money into another GPS a few years from now. The Nuvi 260 met the minimum requirements and is an interim solution. As such it works just fine, and I think the limitations of the software would be the same with just about any GPS, no matter the cost.
   
   Say for instance you want to find a TJ Maxx store nearby. The 260 will find it for you, but it may or may not be on the way to where you're going otherwise. (I could drive another ten miles and be happy with the next store nearer my route, if you get my meaning.) I doubt any GPS could do that, though, so it's nice just to have one that tries as hard as it can.
   
   Bottom line, you still have to prepare for your trip, have a general idea where you're going, find addresses to plug into the unit, and be ready to make some decisions if you don't like where the unit is directing you. GPS's can only do so much at this moment in time. It's already helped me find a Subway that was tucked into a strip mall well off the freeway in Maryland, and done other miraculous things. But it didn't tell me about the street closure in Manhattan, and it didn't match the recommended way to get to the Toledo Museum of Art from I-75.
   
   In other words, they're not perfect. Yet.
   
   So just buy a mid-range unit that has the minimum features you feel you need and live with it for the next few years.



2. After doing an extensive review and analysis of the GPS units with the features and price range we desired, we selected Garmin because of its easy to read display and the Garmin reputation. We wanted North American coverage with spoken street names and selected the 260 over the 260W because the additional width took up more space and did not substantially enhance the information displayed while costing about 30% more. The 260 proved to be easy to use right out of the box requiring only charging of the battery. We ordered the unit from Amazon because of good past shopping experience (but not with Amazon's partners) and the lowest price which was $233 with free shipping available. The Garmin nuvi 260 is an excellent product and has met all our expectations. We recommend it to anyone wanting a basic GPS (no phone, bluetooth or MP3) that is easy to use and available at a reasonable price.



3. We bought the Garmin on a trip to northern Michigan and were pleased with the accurate directions even in the middle of literally nowhere. Easy to set up and use with extra simple initial calibration. The lack of voice selections was a little sad, but the stock voices are easy to understand. The extra car download selections on Garmin's website are an added bonus of fun.



4. This is a decent entry level product. I like the text to speech feature and was a buying point for me. It is quick to find the satellites and is relatively accurate. It sometimes encourages you to wander off the main highway which is annoying, but other than that is a good purchase.



5. Just talked to their customer service, they DON'T give free map upgrade to any previous purchase even within 1 day old. They just guarantee new maps when purchased. Without a map upgrade in a fast road changing area, it should be good to go to junkyard in a year.

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

1. Within a week of buying this item, I had need for it 4 times in one day unexpectidly. It was great. You have a choice of different voices to guide you through your turns. Wonderful. The screen size is not that important since you'll be listening to it rather than watching the screen.



2. Works extremely well. Recalcultes routing almost immediately if you fail to make the directed turn. Easy to operate and program. Great unit.



3. I really think this device has changed my life. I used to get lost chronically and regularly print out mapquest directions. This device has given me the confidence to get out take more road trips on my own. I just returned from Toronto and I was given turn by turn directions my hotel, local attractions, and other locations. Great purchase. One of the best I've purchased in recent years. Highly recommended!



4. I bought this product a few months ago and I love it.
   This is the top of the line GPS.



5. This unit worked right out of the box. Purchased mid April and Garmin gave me a free upgrade to the 2009 maps. My wife likes the ease of use.
   Have not had any issues with this unit. Has had all the locations that I have gone to. The real test will be this summer when My wife and I travel.

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

1. My Tom Tom was hot holding a charge after three months of use..This was the response I got from tech support.
   
   Dear Benjamin,
   
   Thank you for your reply. My apology, it should have been more clearly stated there was nothing wrong with your battery. The answer to your questions is YES.
   
   If you have any further questions or comments, please email or call us at 866-486-6866 Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM until 7:00 PM EST. Thanks again for writing. At TomTom we believe in showing you the way the easy way.
   
   With Best Regards,
   
   Gloria
   TomTom Customer Support
   Customer (XXXX) 05/14/2008 05:08 PM
   I do not want to know how to charge the battery. I do not want to know roughly how long it last. I want to know if the unit is fully charge, and I turn it off and not use it.. is it normal that the battery is dead by the end of the week?



2. I really enjoy using this TomTom 1 Third Ed. It is accurate in it's directions and works right out of the box. It is basic so you don't get the restaurants, motels, etc., and it only shows one lane on the freeway, but it gives plenty of warning on upcoming turns.



3. I ordered this product on a Tuesday on Amazon after researching the TomTom and Garmin reviews and it arrived the very next day on Wednesday!
   The hardest part was opening the package!
   Simply mount to your window or dash (for my big Dodge truck), plug in, turn on and it knew exactly where I was! After a few minutes I had picked my language, set the time,and input my home address.
   Literally five minutes after turning it on I was following it's directions home from work...perfect at every turn. I deliberately missed a turn and it simply recalculated quickly to get me back on track!
   I work a side job as a photographer for a Chicago suburban fire department and TomTom will be a HUGE help in getting to the scene quickly! No more flipping through three-ring binder map books for me....simply touch the screen "find route" and "street intersection" and I'm there!
   From what I've read, the Garmin will tell you the name of the street whereas TomTom just says to turn left or right....



4. We traveled to eight states in six days. We visited several people and places. Our new Tom Tom made the trip very enjoyable. Finding new places could not have been easier!



5. I bought this as a gift for my daughter. She absolutely loves it and has found it very user friendly. She likes that she can get updated data when needed. Very satisfactory.

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

1. It's my first GPS and I love it! It's gotten me in and out of major cities I don't know at all. It recalculates very quickly which is helpful for those who are bound to take a few wrong turns. It speaks loudly and clearly. I was worried it might be too small but it's actually a great size.
   My cons (none of which are extremely detrimental to its use): It's really easy to hear people on Bluetooth but most people say I sound fairly distant but if you talk loud enough it works. When I've played with it on routes I already know it doesn't necessarily take the fastest or simplest route. I figure when I'm in areas I don't know at all, I don't particularly care how it gets me there as long as it gets me there. I don't think the battery life is as long as advertised but that's what the car charger is for. Overall, a great product and I would definately recommend it for anyone looking for a basic GPS.



2. I fill safe were every I go now. I never fill lost. I have bought a nuvi 360 for each of my daughter-in-laws. The most important feature about this nuvi over the others is that it says the name of the streets. My friends have nuvis that just tell you to turn left or right. It gets confussing because your are not sure which street to turn on.



3. Another great product from Garmin. The GPS works without a flaw and the telephone connection is very good, good sound and good sending. Well pleased



4. just the right size. would be a plus if no need to flip out the antena.



5. Garmin nüvi 360 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS NavigatorAmazon SAVED me over $150.00 on the purchase of this GPS model by Garmin. Also, in addition to the savings I received, the product was shipped to me in a very timely manner. The unit itself is extremely efficient and a REAL time/life saver for my outside sales position. I can't imagine going back to the old way of navigating. From now on I will check out Amazon BEFORE buying electronics anywhere else!

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

1. I bought this amazing product through amazon and i am very much satisfied with this product for all the features. It has amazing mp3 player very well backed by FM transmitter and a very good photo viewer. Although i am very satisfied with its navigating capacity for all the small tours that i took with it but most of them were for the known routes and i knew ways around...route calculation and off-route calculations were very fast and pretty accurate. I am still not aware of the traffic updates...but as a whole i am very satisfied with this product and definitely recommend it.



2. I got this for over a month now and I love it. It is nice to have on long trip.



3. This is my second Garmin. I have the streetpilot 2720 for 4 yrs.
   This Garmin is awsome, Larger touch screen and I talk on my cell phone via bluetooth on the unit! They just keep getting better!
   I LOVE it!



4. Installation and functionality are a snap. Screen is adequate size. Traffic alert feature is suspect. FM transmitter is a nice addition if you don't listen to the radio, or CDs, and can find a clear channel (a task that can be somewhat difficult). Portability is awesome, and the memory slot essential. The bluetooth is also a great feature and the sound transmits very well as compared to some headsets that I have owned. No complaints for the price (which has come down considerably on this model). Maps were dated when I purchased, but Garmin has since come out with an update that they are happy to charge me for. That is the nature of the technology though.



5. Garmin nüvi 660 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
   
   After a week or research I found this GPS to be the best value for the money. Most Garmin owners seemed to rate the Garmin highly and now that I own one I have to agree. The only drawback on this model is that it doesn't allow routes to be added that were created using MapSource software. It does allow custom Points of interest (POI) files to be downloaded and used but you can only select one POI per trip unlike others that allow multiple POI's per trip. This Garmin comes with an FM live traffic receiver that I have not use as I live in an area where no broadcast exists for traffic.
   
   You can get around the lack of routes by using POI's that are near the route you would like to take and name them in sequential order that you would use them.
   
   Out of the box I never needed to use the manual, the unit is self guiding with little or no knowledge of how it works, it just works.