assistant gps

1. Posted: Aug 1 2008

   I recently took my GARMIN on a trip all across Ireland and I would not have been able to travel without it. The GPS was fantastic in all areas country and city and allowed us to take our time and wander more than have mapped out destinations. This is highly recommended for international as well as domestic use.

2. Posted: Jul 28 2008

   Until now I have been an admiring and faithful Garmin customer. Our household now as 2 Garmin NUVIs less than a year old and I have a decade old Garmin MAPS 12. I am inspired to write this review as I am on a projected 35 minute hold (this could be a long review) with Garmin Technical support to obtain a RMA number required to send it back for repair. This is my second experience with horrendous wait times to get Garmin support on the phone. The first pertained to a snafu in obtaining their free North America maps update that took 18 hours to download with a satellite internet connection. The download ended up being for Europe. I had a week of arguing resulted in I made a mistake and "sorry but I would have to pay to get North America". My ~8 month old NUVI 370 has since stopped functioning. I get a quick start-up screen when unplugged then dies. When plugged in either to the car or the AC charger it will not start. I have left it connected overnight to ensure it is charged but no change. There has been no adverse handling or conditions to cause to to fail. I keep it in the case in my brief case whenever not in use. I have become greatly disappointed with Garmin products and especially their support. Maybe in our world of off-shoring services we should expect this kind of service for goods we only pay several hundred dollars for vs. several thousand... My guess...Garmin has been focused on Marketing, developing a huge product line and is dropping the ball on good design and customer support. Hey a person, and only 26 minutes...Wish me luck on this call. Oops guess it was my fault. According to the technician the battery is dead and the car or AC charger will not charge it (don't look for this info in the manual, it is not there). I must connect it to the computer USB connection for 8 hours and it should recharge the battery. Also it is imperative that I do on-line software updates regularly (she would not tell me why but I am guessing it has to do with the unit not shutting off and the battery going dead). Another important piece of information not in the manual... I suggested adding this and she seemed too busy to even acknowledge this thought. So if your going on a long trip bring your computer to charge your NUVI should the battery inadvertantly go nearly dead.

3. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 27 2008

   There are 3 fatal flows with this product: (1) announcing too late and (2) giving confusing directions at complicated lane guidence situation and (3) taking too long to find satellite initially. I have been testing this product for a month in San Francisco and the Bay area. (1) announcing too late When your car is about to pass the intersection at which it is supposed to make a turn, then and only then it announces you to prepare for a turn. I missed so many turns because of the late announcements. It is also incredbly dangerous as you are tempted to attempt last-moment lane changes in order to make the turn. Also the distance to the turn is not that accurate -- when you are almost already at the intersection it shows you are 200 meters away (I changed the measurement setup to meters). SUGGESTION: Certain navigations have a bar-graph showing countdowns to the intersection, and perhaps that's what this navigation must have as well. Also certain navigations ask you to prepare well ahead. Make a customizable setting how long before to make the pre-announcement. (2) giving confusing directions at complicated lane guidence situation Time and time again, I missed the right exit on the highway. The map is absolutely no help. The multiple lanes look all overlapped!!! Red lines are cofusing as hell. Annoucement is in this fashion: "Keep to right and then keep to left." What is that supposed to mean and which lane are you supposed to be in? In a fast highway situation, this is incredibly dangerous. I almost got into accidents at many interchanges as I was trying to look both the road signs and my navigation and could not make any sense. SUGGESTION: the map needs major improvement on interchanges -- show us the way!!! Also get rid of "keep to right and then keep to left" style BS for a clearer direction. (3) taking too long to find satellite initially If you park your car outside, that would be fine but if you park it in a garage, woe to you. It will take at least 20 blocks to find the satellite and you will be either parking your car on the roadside waiting for godot or meandering down the street without knowing where you are going for very very long time. This is not acceptable. I used other product (magellan) before, and it found the satellite so much quicker. SUGGESTION: technological improvement or better processor. [ADDED TO THIS AFTER I BOUGHT TOMTOM GO930 AND TESTING IT FOR A WEEK] After my much frustration with Garmin NUVI 370, I purchased a Tomtom GO930 from local Best Buy. (The price of TomTom 930 at Best Buy was the same as the price at Amazon at USD 450, although I had to pay the tax.) Wow, what a difference. That's all I can say. TomTom 930 is a bit more expensive than the street price of Garmin NUVI 370, but is so much better that the price difference is immaterial. (1) prepare... prepare... TomTom announces well before each turn and actually tells you on which side of the lane you should be in for the next turn. Incredibly friendly announcements. The arrow direction on the map display shows whether you should be making left or right turn as well. I never missed a single turn thanks to the ample announcements. (2) guiding complicated lane situation with ease the roads never appear overlapped like the NUVI 370. If there are five diverging roads, all are clearly shown, with the clear indication where you are and where you should go. Mind you, I haven't seen that many Advanced Lane Guidance screen yet as TomTom advertised (I hear that they don't have this on every intersection yet) but even without this, lane guidance is incredibly clear and easy (they show both on the map and on the status bar with muted arrows and one clear arrow). What a refreshing change from Garmin NUVI 370. The voice direction is a lot more clear and easier to understand as well -- it is as if somebody is actually speaking fine English to me. I never missed the right exit. (3) lightening fast in finding satellites It actually finds satellites when I am in my room with 4-5 bars. Need I say more? (4) extras... extras... TomTom has voice address input feature that is very useful. There are many situations that you hate to put in long characters (In California there are so many cities starting with San...). Simply pronounce it and the machine finds it for you, including the streets. I find this to be working well about 95% of the time. Also it gives you a few choices so that what you pronounced is almost always among the choices. SUGGESTION: This voice feature is not available for Place Name under Point of Interst (available only for the actual address). Point of Interest feature in TomTom is incredibly extensive. I tested many restaurants listed in Zagat survey and found out that almost all (even obscure ones under "Best Value") restaurants have been registered in TomTom by names and phone numbers. I did not find that to be the case with Garmin NUVI 370 (I actually had to type in the exact address under my favorites). This makes inputing job so much easier. I typed in "Marshalls" under Point of Interest in Sunnyvale, and TomTom returned 7 results, some of them are as far away as San Jose, Mipitas, etc. Again, not so with Garmin. Downloading updates and changes through computer seems painless and efficient as well. Works perfectly and took about 3 minutes to get the latest updates. Again, Garmin NUVI 370 does not have this feature. I don't know how actually useful the updates would be, but it is assuring that I am using the latest whatever. Time estimation in TomTom is so much more accurate than Garmin. I found Garmin to be always a bit on the optimistic side (ie I never actually arrived as Garmin estimated especially in a city traffic). I don't know if it is because of the IQ Routes feature of TomTom but the timing estimate seems to be right on and there is little need for any traffic subscription service. CONCLUSION: I will be updating this review to find any shortcoming of TomTom 930 (and I am sure there will be many) but so far it seems that TomTom is a very clear winner and fully justifies the extra USD 100. If you are looking for a navigation that includes both American and European maps, I guess your choices will be cleary limited: you would have to go for either the Garmin NUVI 370 or the TomTom GO 930, and my recommendation would be the latter -- not for the extra features but mainly for the basic abilities that I listed earlier in this review.

See all reviews...

1. Posted: Jul 30 2008

   I was really satisfied with Amazon.com service. First of all, I bought the portable GPS on sale, and this was a really good price compared to its price in other stores. Besides, the product arrived only a couple of days after my request. It took me only 5 minutes to buy it. It saved my time and as they say, time is money!

2. ( 0 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 29 2008

   I made a purchase of Garmin 250W, but it came with a manual for 200W, AND I am very disappointed.

3. Posted: Jul 23 2008

   I am very pleased with the Garmin Nuvi 250W. It does a very good job for the price; it is easy to use; it has remarkably good coverage. You will not be disappointed in it. More expensive models have some more features, but everything you need is in the 250W.

See all reviews...

1. Posted: Aug 3 2008

   I really like this navigation system. The only problem is that it takes a LONG time to get a signal. I'm hoping that gets better.

2. Posted: Jul 30 2008

   I was able to purchase a Nuvi 200w for under $150 after price matching local store flyers. I can tell you I am very happy with how well the 200w reacts. I regestered with garmin and they gave me an update for the system and FREE 2009 map update. This made me very pleased. The Nuvi was very fast at finding satalites until the product update, now it takes about 1-3 minutes on the initial start, but once I have been using the unit, it picks up within a few seconds. Having 6 million POI's is also a plus for me. As for the battery life... I was using the Nuvi for about 9 hours the other day, mostly in the car plugged in, but I did have it out of car for about 5 hours and had no issue with battery. The unit did a great job at finding the appropriate routes for me to take and even when I did take a detour (because I knew a shorter route) the Nuvi reconfigured very quickly and went with the flow. One other thing, having the Widescreen also makes it easier for us to see it.

3. Posted: Jul 27 2008

   the product (garmin nuvi 200w) is exactly as described. received it in record breaking time! thank you!

See all reviews...

1. Posted: Jul 31 2008

   I saw an add for another brand advertised for the same price as the nuvi 200. After checking the reviews, I found the nuvi had much better comments. I bought the nuvi, and Amazon delivered in record time, as usual. I am so impressed with the product. Something that is not clear in the description is that the nuvi does have voice directions; it just doesn't announce street names. Instead of "Turn right on First Street," you get, "in .5 miles turn right." The display is clear, bright, and easily readable. I had it up and running within minutes. It only takes about one minute after having been off for a long time to resync to the satellites. If it has been off for only an hour or less, it is ready to use as soon as you turn it on. Mine shipped with the current map software, City Navigator 2009. So far, I love my Garmin :).

2. Posted: Jul 29 2008

   This is the 4th Garmin nuvi that I have purchased and the best price by far. I was the first to get one and I am sooo impressed with it. Very user friendly and very accurate. Have bought them for my sons (they were constantly borrowing mine) who can't find their way out of a paper bag and even they are able to navigate with it. I would highly recommend this product for anyone.

3. Posted: Jul 28 2008

   I purchased this item anticipating a trip into unknown areas. I loved the low price and easy use. The set up was quick and easy, and I started using it right away. My wife liked it also, so I bought a second one for her. She's not much of a techie, but still is able to use it without trouble.

See all reviews...

1. Posted: Aug 2 2008

   This is a great GPS. Sometimes the GPS routing will tend to route you on more rural routes, but I find that the displayed arrival time is somewhat accurate. The points of interest database would be better with more locations. However, it's pretty good, and you can search for places along your current route (such as gas stations, food, etc.). My main gripe with this product is that the unit will NOT charge unless it is turned off. If you plug it in while it's on, it will simply run off the electrical power from the cord, and not charge the battery. This can be bad if you need to unplug it in your car to charge your iPod.

2. Posted: Jul 30 2008

   Most reviews have already covered the finer points of the Nuvi 260. I will add that Amazon service was great (as usual) and that the 2 units I received already had the latest map (2009 version) installed. This unit fits my needs exceptionally well. Highly recommended if you want a good nav unit and do not need the "non-nav" features such as bluetooth and MP3.

3. Posted: Jul 29 2008

   I like everything about the Garmin Nuvi 260 except the voice quality. I also have a Tom Tom, and it's a very basic one, but the voice quality is consistently very clear and better than the Garmin.

See all reviews...

1. Posted: Jul 31 2008

   I chose the Nuvi 680 over other comparable devices based on the Garmin reputation. I should have known better. This product consistently gets me lost and comes up with head-scratching routes for me to take. The only options I have to tweak the route calculation settings are faster or shorter route. You can't adjust the sensitivity for freeways or surface streets, etc. I assume the faster route gathers traffic info from the MSN Direct receiver but since the receiver does not appear to accurately receive updated traffic data unless it is always plugged in to an outlet (even when you are nowhere near your car or gps unit) it is not surprising the faster routes seem pretty slow. The short route option is simply zig zagging through streets to reach your destination since driving diagonally toward your destination is usually not an option. Now back to the MSN Direct receiver. If you do not keep your MSN Direct receiver plugged in and draining your car battery, it will take about 45 minutes to sync up. By then you will have already reached your destination. One of the reasons for purchasing this product was the 1 year free MSN Direct subscription. What a joke this feature is. While driving on the freeways of Los Angeles (the 10 or 101) it often gives me flash flood warnings. OK. Or it directs me to a freeway route and the traffic data is actually correct--there is traffic! Thanks for suggesting this route. The navigation through the menus is not the best either. Though the menus are simple, you often have to hit the back button several times before returning to the main screen. There isn't a main screen button. This can be distracting when you are driving. :P Also, the map displays all freeways as RED. Hmm, that's a good color for freeways. Makes me think all freeways are heavily congested all the time. Even in LA that is not always true. If you are going to put traffic data on a map, better make it straightforward. Green for no traffic, yellow for moderate traffic, and red for bumper to bumper. It would be nice to show the sections of freeway with traffic as well, like Google maps. Instead, the nuvi 680 only displays a little sign that represents traffic and only for your immediate location. Yeah, I can see that there is traffic right in front of my front windshield but where does it end and where is there no traffic? Let me reiterate the traffic sign only shows up when you are already in the thick of it. You can't look at a bird's eye view of an area and see where the freeways are congested. This is where I pull out the iphone and check Google maps. The only reason I am giving this unit 2 stars is for the physical design and bluetooth phone feature. Though, the speaker is horrendous for a $400 piece of equipment (think iphone). Perhaps if I had no experience with a GPS unit I would have given this unit 3 stars. Perhaps if I lived under a rock and never used Google maps with traffic I would have given this unit 3 stars. The fact is, I also have an outdated unit from Lowrance. At least the Lowrance always gave me good directions with an easy to use interface. I never regretted buying the Lowrance. Can't say the same for the Nuvi 680. I curse it every time I get lost BECAUSE of it.

2. Posted: Jul 30 2008

   Love this product,easy to use.But i do think the tom tom 930 would be better but it cost alot more. Tom tom have free updates to Poi and maps through all of there customers.

3. Posted: Jul 13 2008

   We are very happy with this product. It is easy to operate and has many capabilities. We shopped long and hard before deciding on this particular Garmin, and we weren't disappointed!

See all reviews...

1. ( 0 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 18 2008

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

2. ( 0 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 14 2008

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

3. ( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jul 8 2008

   LOVE IT. Even my wife loves it. This is porbably the first electronic gadget I've ever bought where my wife wants to use it more. Very easy to use. It only locked up a few times because I was zooming in/out too fast as it was navigating. perhaps if I let it go it might have caught up . It was no big deal to turn it off and on to get me going again. The MSN is great. It actually gave me a thunderstorm warning and asked if I wanted to go around it. Traffic updates were good, gas prices were dead on, most of the time. Weather forcasts were great, The "text to speech" was cool. We chose the Ennglish mans voice and he would read any text messages I received on my (bluetooth) phone. Pretty funny. The FM transmitter isn't great at all. What else can I say, I've owned the Garmin eMap (VW bug)and thought that was nice, but this is like a Porsche. Garmin's website is also great for updates and software. That's all, now I want the voice recognition nuvi880 but really who needs that!!! Enjoy and buy this unit NOW!

See all reviews...