GPS Unit Reports » Garmin

5 Tips for Finding the Best Car GPS System

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:12:14 +0000

Having spent hours and hours researching the best car GPS system, I decided to compile a list of tips to help you select the best car GPS navigation system.

Below are the top 5 factors for making a well informed buying decision when picking up the best GPS system for your car.

1 – Go With a Name Brand

It takes years and years of quality products to develop a positive brand name. And you can use that experience to help find a more trustworthy company. Garmin is the market leading brand for GPS units, followed by TomTom and Magellen.

If you are considering brands other than the big 3 mentioned above, make sure you are getting a lot more value, like better features and benefits, to compensate for the lower brand trust.

The best car GPS system will likely come from one of the top navigation product companies.

2 – Get Clear about Your Needs

This is probably the most important tip to the bottom line, or the price you’ll end up paying for your GPS unit. For example you’ll pay a lot more for the newest models with the “latest” features. Early adopters pay more.

The other side of this is will you really use Bluetooth or full European street maps? If not, you’re paying a premium for those features for nothing.

The best car GPS system is not always the one with all the bells and whistles, it’s the one that most closely matches your needs.

3 – Buy from a Reputable Merchant

Yes, you can probably hunt for a couple hours online to find a website that is selling the unit for $10 less. But is that really worth your time?

And furthermore, is it worth the risk. A merchant like Amazon often has the best price on any car GPS system on the market, and certainly has a reputation of being completely trustworthy: it’s worth paying a couple bucks more for the reputation of a merchant and a return policy that is reliable.

4 – Find actual User Reviews

A lot of online reviews are either written by associates of the product manufacturer or they are produced by affiliates who have a vested interest to making the product sound great, so they can get a commission from you when you buy it.

The trick to finding “real” reliable reviews is to search forums or sites like Yahoo Answers to find actual users posting their opinions.

The last tip is to not put too much stock in a single user’s comments, look for trends. If 10 users write about how bad the company’s customer service is, then that may not be the best car GPS navigation system to buy.

5 – Register Your GPS System

Make sure you register with the manufacturer, usually at their website, quickly after purchase. There can be free updates that can make a big difference in the quality of your car GPS unit and your access to them can expire 30, 60 or 90 days after purchase.

You’ll want to get the latest software and firmware updates and install them and of course, get the latest maps to make sure any changes to roads and points of interest are as current as possible.

Overall finding the best car GPS system doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Get clear about your needs and follow the steps above and you’ll be enjoying worry free car navigation for years to come.

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

5 Tips for Finding the Best Car GPS System

TomTom 730 versus nüvi 760

admin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:18:35 +0000

Since there are so many nüvi models it can be difficult to compare the TomTom GO 720 to the Garmin nüvi.

The fairest way is probably to find a model of comparable price to base the comparison upon. So for this review, we’ll compare the following two GPS units:

Garmin nüvi 760 – $339.49

TomTom GO 730 – $399.99

Consumer Ratings

The first factor we looked at was actual consumer ratings (the following are averages of all the ratings found online):

Garmin nüvi 760 – 8.5 out of 10

TomTom GO 730 – 8.6 out of 10

Features

As you would expect with similarly priced GPS units, most of the features are identical. Here we list the features that are different for each unit.

Garmin nüvi 760

FM traffic receiver with 3-month subscription to TMC real-time traffic services
“Where Am I?” helps find closest hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address & intersections.
Qwerty or ABC keyboard

TomTom GO 730

Voice address input
Map Share technology
IQ Routes – finds smartest routes
Advanced lane guidance

Maps

TomTom’s Map Share and the ability to correct errors right in the 720 itself and have them updated so that other users can be aware of the changes is a really powerful feature.

Compared to Garmin where if you find an error in a map and report it, the only thing that will happen is that the change will appear in the next upgrade, which may cost you money to install.

Other Factors

Screen

The nüvi 760 is brighter, but the TomTom seems clearer and easier to read.

Multi-Point Routing

User’s report that creating a point to point route is able to be done much more accurately with the TomTom 730.

Setting up a route to an off road or new location (like a new construction site) is possible on the TomTom, but requires much more configuration (using custom POIs) compared to the nüvi 760.

The TomTom lacks the route optimization abilities that the nüvi 760 includes. These can save a lot of time if you are trying to find the fastest route on a complicated itinerary.

Conclusion

Overall, actual users rate the units very similarly. We’d give a slight nod to the TomTom 730 primarily for the Map Share technology which should provide you with faster map updates and less map inaccuracy.

You’ll pay about $60 for this benefit, but it is well worth it to have constantly updated maps which is the main reason to have a GPS in the first place.

click to see the best price for the 760 >>.

click to see the best price for the TomTom GO 730 on Amazon >>.

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

TomTom 730 versus nüvi 760

Compare GPS nüvi Models by Garmin

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:11:52 +0000

Admittedly Garmin produces a lot of different GPS unit models, and figuring out the differences between the units can be a confusing task.

In this report we go through all the various nüvi models and spell out the features and benefits that each model has compared to the ones the are similar.

Each model name has a link to our full consumer report. The prices listed are at the time of writing, but you can click on the price to get the latest price, sometimes prices on these type of electronics can drop very dramatically, so do check for the latest price before making a final decision.

All nüvi models come with the basics of a GPS navigation system: touchscreen, 3D maps, and turn by turn voice directions as well as points of interest, and custom points of interest and removable storage via SD cards. More obscure features include JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.

Model	Price	Comparison
nüvi 200	Click to see the latest price	street maps for lower 48 states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico
nüvi 200W	Click to see the latest price	same as 200 + widescreen
nüvi 250	Click to see the latest price	preloaded street maps for all of North America (including Alaska & Canada)
nüvi 250W	Click to see the latest price	same as 250 + 4.3″ widescreen
nüvi 260	Click to see the latest price	speaks street names (text to speech), preloaded street maps for all of North America (including Alaska & Canada)
nüvi 260W	Click to see the latest price	same as 260 + widescreen
nüvi 270	Click to see the latest price	same as 250 (no text to speech), preloaded street maps for United States, Canada, and Europe

nüvi 350	Click to see the latest price	same as 260 + upto 8 hour battery life – Discontinued
nüvi 360	Click to see the latest price	same as 350 + Bluetooth – Discontinued
nüvi 370	Click to see the latest price	same as 360 + European maps – Discontinued
nüvi 650	Click to see the latest price	same as 350 (no Bluetooth) + 4.3″ widescreen – Discontinued
nüvi 660	Click to see the latest price	same as 650 + Bluetooth & FM transmitter – Discontinued
nüvi 670	Click to see the latest price	same as 660 + European Maps – Discontinued
nüvi 680	Click to see the latest price	same as 670 + MSN® Direct Live Traffic & weather – Discontinued
nüvi 750	Click to see the latest price	same as 260 + 4.3″ Widescreen, 10 multi-point routes, MSN Direct compatible, “Where am I?”, FM Traffic compatible, Garmin Locate, MP3 player, audio book player, Qwerty or ABC keyboard, Headphone jack/audio line-out
nüvi 760	Click to see the latest price	same as 750 + Bluetooth
nüvi 770	Click to see the latest price	same as 760 + European Maps
nüvi 780	Click to see the latest price	same as 770 + MSN Direct receiver included
nüvi 850	Click to see the latest price	same as 750 + removable battery, microSD, dual speakers, speech recognition, Photo navigation, Remote control
nüvi 880	Click to see the latest price	same as 850 + Bluetooth, MSN Direct receiver included
nüvi 5000	Click to see the latest price	5.2″ Screen, No Bluetooth, No Battery, 3000 Waypoints

This is a summary of the features and a comparison of the differences as you go up the product line of Garmin nüvi models. I’ve included the discontinued models because they are still for sale (even by Garmin, although you’ll pay a lot less at Amazon) and can be a great way to find deals.

If you click on the model name, you’ll be taken to our full consumer review, and if you click on the price, you’ll be taken to Amazon, which is the best place to buy a nüvi. Prices drop a lot, so the price on Amazon is likely lower than the one we have displayed.

You’ll also find a complete selection of Garmin nüvi GPS units, both new and used, for excellent prices on eBay:

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

Compare GPS nüvi Models by Garmin

Garmin StreetPilot 7200

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:02:40 +0000

7-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

Consumer Report

The Garmin StreetPilot 7200 is the widest of the widescreen GPS units coming in with a whopping 7″ screen.

Highlights:

7″ Widescreen
Preloaded Maps for North America
XM® Navtraffic (includes basic weather) & Radio
2000 Waypoints
50 different routes

Find out below how actual consumers reported on their experience with this ultra large screen GPS unit: worth the extra cost, or a waste?

Garmin StreetPilot 7200 Reviews, User Feedback and Details
Rating: 9.1 / 10	Actual StreetPilot 7200 User Feedback: “For the extra money, I recommend the 7200 with the larger screen over 2730 which has the same features. The touch screen size of the StreetPilot 7200 is great for viewing and input of addresses on any size vehicle, not just trucks or larger cars. I love this: in a traffic jam, press “Detour” and be taken around the jam to your destination. You may end up going through back roads and areas that you may not know, however. ” Garmin StreetPilot 7200 user review on Amazon.com forum “THIS IS A GREAT UNIT! If your dash board and windshield is big (I have a Toyota Prius), this 7 inch screen is amazing! No worries about the pixel configuration! XM NavTraffic is TERRIFIC too!! My first day of driving in Friday Los Angeles traffic, it performed better than I ever expected. This is the unit that you want for “live traffic” as you drive.” One of the Garmin StreetPilot 7200 comments by a user on GPSPassion.com forums “The 7200 version of the StreetPilot may cause you to put all your other GPS units in a box. The routing is as accurate than any we have seen, and the features are many. My wife says she can read it from the back seat! the screen is so large and clear” Portion of StreetPilot 7200 review on GPSInformation.info Our Research on the Garmin 7200 portable GPS Suggests: A survey of Garmin StreetPilot 7200 users gave the unit an average of 9 out of 10. Quite frankly the highest consumer rating we’ve seen for a personal GPS unit. Limitations: not a “high-sensitivity receiver” No voice recognition No Bluetooth Verdict: The Garmin StreetPilot 7200 if you’re willing to pay a bit more to get a crazy wide screen and XM satellite traffic and radio.
Garmin StreetPilot 7200 Specifications
Company Info:	Garmin International, Inc. 1250 E. 151st Street Olathe, KS 66062-3426 (Kansas City metro area) Phone: (913) 397-8200 Fax: (913) 397-8282 GPS Coordinates: N 38 deg 51.333 min W 094 deg 47.941 min Company Website: GARMIN.COM
Specifications:	Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 7.5″W x 4.5″H x 2.2″D Display size, WxH: 6.10″W x 3.43″H; 7″ diag Display resolution, WxH: 480 x 234 pixels Display type: 7″ color TFT with auto dimming backlight Weight: 1.4 lbs Battery: no Battery life: external power only Part Number: 010-00400-10
Included:	StreetPilot 7200 GPS unit City Navigator NT maps for North America MSN Direct receiver & integrated vehicle power cable 3 months free MSN Direct service Speech recognition remote vehicle suction cup mount dashboard disk USB cable quick start manual
System Requirements::	The USB storage device is compatible with Windows® 2000 or later (XP & Vista) and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later.
Price:	Click to see the lowest price.
Warranty:	1 year.
Return Policy:	30 days.

Garmin StreetPilot 7200 Best Price found On Amazon.com >>

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

Garmin StreetPilot 7200

Garmin nüvi 880

admin — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:56:22 +0000

4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS

Consumer Report

The Garmin nüvi 880 is Garmin’s most advanced GPS navigator. Featuring voice-activated navigation, a 4.3″ widescreen display, preloaded North American maps and an FM transmitter and live traffic, weather, movies, gas prices and even stock quotes with an included MSN® Direct receiver.
Just click a button on the remote control, speak a menu option or direction and nüvi obeys your command.

Highlights:

Preloaded Maps for North America
Bluetooth
Speech recognition
Remote control
Removable, rechargeable battery
MSN® Direct receiver plus 3 month free subscription
Photo navigation to geotagged photos
Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route)
Provides up to 10 routes
“Where Am I?” finds closest hospitals, police, gas stations, nearest address & intersections.
Garmin Locate
Qwerty or ABC keyboard

See more about the Garmin nüvi 880 On Amazon.com

Garmin nüvi 880 Reviews, User Feedback and Details
Rating: 8.1 / 10	Actual nüvi 880 User Feedback: “This is my first GPS and I am enjoying it, especially in metro areas. I really like MSN Direct as well. I bought this unit in the summer directly from Amazon. I usually go for fully featured units as I appreciate new technology. I was willing to pay more for the nüvi 880 (versus the 850 for example) to try out the cool extra features. Overall a very helpful unit and I’d recommend it to anyone. The 850 might be a less expensive and possibly better choice for most people.” Garmin nüvi 880 user review on gl1800riders.com forum “The voice recognition works great, with almost no errors if the radio is off. The MSN features are good. To me the best one is the ability to send map points directly to your Nuvi without connecting to your computer. You can do this via Live Search maps, which are not as good as Google maps, but still work great.” One of the Garmin nüvi 880 comments by a user on Amazon.com “Voice recognition works well. You do need to turn down the music though so that it can “hear” you. The range of words that it understands is pretty small. But for me, VR is well worth it. One complaint is that when you ask to spell the location, it gives you a keyboard to type on: you can’t speak the letters. That is a bit annoying for a unit that’s supposed to accept voice commands. The MSN feature is okay. You can get weather info, movie times, and traffic updates. Though I may not have used it enough to be continuing after the free subscription period expires. “ Portion of nüvi 880 review on Amazon.com forum Our Research on the Garmin 880 portable GPS Suggests: A survey of users who rated the Garmin nüvi 880 gave the unit a score of 8.1 out of 10. Since this unit is quite new, there are not very many reviews or ratings online… we consider this to be a slightly average rating. Limitations: carrying case is an add-on Verdict: The Garmin nüvi 880 may be for you if you want the most bad-assed, full featured device on the market, and don’t mind paying a bit extra for having the most advanced GPS on the market. Compare the Garmin nüvi 880 GPS on Amazon
Garmin nüvi 880 Specifications
Company Info:	Garmin designs products with the driver in mind. Avoid the stress of navigation with easy-to-use menus, logical options and intuitive features. Garmin International, Inc. 1250 E. 151st Street Olathe, KS 66062-3426 (Kansas City metro area) Phone: (913) 397-8200 Fax: (913) 397-8282 GPS Coordinates: N 38 deg 51.333 min W 094 deg 47.941 min Company Website: GARMIN.COM
Specifications:	Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 4.9″W x 3.1″H x .7″D Display size, WxH: 3.81″W x 2.25″H; 4.3″ diag Display resolution, WxH: 480 x 272 pixels Display type: WQVGA color TFT Weight: 6.2 ounces Battery: removable, rechargeable lithium-ion Battery life: up to 4 hours Part Number: 010-00577-12
Included:	nüvi 880 GPS unit City Navigator NT maps for North America MSN Direct receiver & integrated vehicle power cable 3 months free MSN Direct service Speech recognition remote vehicle suction cup mount dashboard disk USB cable quick start manual
Features:	Built-in memory: internal solid state Remote control: yes Waypoints/favorites/locations: 500 Preloaded maps: yes Garmin Locate™ (marks position when removed from windshield mount): Yes Basemap: yes Accepts data cards: microSD™ card (not included) Routes: 10 Speech recognition (navigate with voice commands): yes Bluetooth: yes Voice prompts (e.g. “Turn right in 500 ft.”): yes (internal dual speakers) Where Am I? (find nearby hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address): Yes Speaks street names (e.g. “Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.”) : yes 3-D map view: yes Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation): yes Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route): Yes Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road): yes Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.): yes Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): yes Hands-free calling with Bluetooth: yes FM traffic compatible: yes MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible: yes (receiver optional) Photo navigation (navigate to geotagged photos): yes MP3 player: yes Audio book player: yes Picture viewer: yes Garmin Garage™ (select car-shaped icons for map navigation): yes World travel clock, currency & unit converter, calculator: yes Touchscreen: yes Headphone jack/audio line-out: yes Anti-theft feature: yes Qwerty or ABC keyboard (choose keyboard layout): yes
System Requirements::	The USB storage device is compatible with Windows® 2000 or later (XP & Vista) and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later.
Price:	Click to see the lowest price.
Warranty:	1 year.
Return Policy:	30 days.

Garmin nüvi 880 Best Price found On Amazon.com >>

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

Garmin nüvi 880

Garmin nüvi 850

admin — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:16:11 +0000

4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Consumer Report

The Garmin nüvi 850 is Garmin’s most advanced GPS navigator. Featuring voice-activated navigation, a 4.3″ widescreen display, preloaded North American maps and an FM transmitter. Just click a button on the remote control, speak a menu option or direction and nüvi obeys your command.

Highlights:

Preloaded Maps for North America
Bluetooth
Speech recognition
Remote control
Removable, rechargeable battery
Photo navigation to geo-tagged photos
Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route)
Provides up to 10 routes
“Where Am I?” finds closest hospitals, police, gas stations, nearest address & intersections.
Garmin Locate
Qwerty or ABC keyboard

See more about the Garmin nüvi 850 On Amazon.com

Garmin nüvi 850 Reviews, User Feedback and Details
Rating: 7.9 / 10	Actual nüvi 850 User Feedback: “Works well but requires the radio to be turned down to give it voice commands.” Garmin nüvi 850 user review on gl1800riders.com forum “The user replaceable battery is excellent. For $30 you can carry a spare battery and go totally wireless in the car or use the Nuvi for 8 hours of walking around a city. With the voice commands, the unit will respond with moderate background noise, some of the time… only if you yell at it. It appears to have the ability to lock in on the loudest sound available. So, if you are close to the microphone and speak really loud, it does respond sometimes. “ One of the Garmin nüvi 850 comments by a user on Amazon.com “The unit is definitely a great unit. I too noticed when there is a lot of road noise the unit did not always recognize my commands. I would simply repeat in a louder clearer voice and the unit almost always caught on. The nüvi 850′s speech recognition accuracy is much better than the other units I have tried. I like the remote activation button – smart idea. You mount it on the steering wheel.” Portion of nüvi 850 review on Amazon.com forum Our Research on the Garmin 850 portable GPS Suggests: A survey of users who rated the Garmin nüvi 850 gave the unit a score of 7.9 out of 10. Since this unit is very new, there are not a large number of reviews… we consider this to be an average score. Limitations: carrying case and the A/C adapter are not included No Bluetooth Verdict: The Garmin nüvi 850 may be for you if you want Voice Recognition, User Replaceable Battery & Front Mounted Speakers and don’t mind buying a brand new model. Read the user reviews above to see potential pitfalls with voice commands if that is the main feature you are interested in. Compare the Garmin nüvi 850 GPS on Amazon
Garmin nüvi 850 Specifications
Company Info:	Garmin designs products with the driver in mind. Avoid the stress of navigation with easy-to-use menus, logical options and intuitive features. Garmin International, Inc. 1250 E. 151st Street Olathe, KS 66062-3426 (Kansas City metro area) Phone: (913) 397-8200 Fax: (913) 397-8282 GPS Coordinates: N 38 deg 51.333 min W 094 deg 47.941 min Company Website: GARMIN.COM
Specifications:	Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 4.9″W x 3.1″H x .7″D Display size, WxH: 3.81″W x 2.25″H; 4.3″ diag Display resolution, WxH: 480 x 272 pixels Display type: WQVGA color TFT Weight: 6.2 ounces Battery: removable, rechargeable lithium-ion Battery life: up to 4 hours Part Number: 010-00577-20
Included:	nüvi 850 GPS unit City Navigator NT maps for North America Speech recognition remote vehicle suction cup mount dashboard disk USB cable quick start manual
Features:	Built-in memory: internal solid state Remote control: yes Waypoints/favorites/locations: 500 Preloaded maps: yes Garmin Locate™ (marks position when removed from windshield mount): Yes Basemap: yes Accepts data cards: microSD™ card (not included) Routes: 10 Speech recognition (navigate with voice commands): yes Voice prompts (e.g. “Turn right in 500 ft.”): yes (internal dual speakers) Where Am I? (find nearby hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address): Yes Speaks street names (e.g. “Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.”) : yes 3-D map view: yes Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation): yes Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route): Yes Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road): yes Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.): yes Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): yes Hands-free calling with Bluetooth: yes FM traffic compatible: yes MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible: yes (receiver optional) Photo navigation (navigate to geotagged photos): yes MP3 player: yes Audio book player: yes Picture viewer: yes Garmin Garage™ (select car-shaped icons for map navigation): yes World travel clock, currency & unit converter, calculator: yes Touchscreen: yes Headphone jack/audio line-out: yes Anti-theft feature: yes Qwerty or ABC keyboard (choose keyboard layout): yes
System Requirements::	The USB storage device is compatible with Windows® 2000 or later (XP & Vista) and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later.
Price:	Click to see the lowest price.
Warranty:	1 year.
Return Policy:	30 days.

Garmin nüvi 850 Best Price found On Amazon.com >>

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

Garmin nüvi 850

Garmin nüvi 780

admin — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:12:29 +0000

4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

Consumer Report

The Garmin nüvi 780 adds includes MSN Direct traffic to the multi-destination routing and “Where Am I?” features. Also includes the premium widescreen display of other nüvi 700s to create a superior GPS navigator for business and casual drivers.

Highlights:

Preloaded Maps for North America
Bluetooth
MSN Direct receiver with integrated vehicle power cable
3 months free MSN Direct service
Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route)
Provides up to 10 routes
“Where Am I?” finds closest hospitals, police, gas stations, nearest address & intersections.
Garmin Locate
Qwerty or ABC keyboard

See more about the Garmin nüvi 780 On Amazon.com

See it on eBay, a good place to find bargains or discounts:
[wordbay]Garmin nüvi 780[/wordbay]

Garmin nüvi 780 Reviews, User Feedback and Details
Rating: 7.3 / 10	Actual nüvi 780 User Feedback: “I did lots of research before I updated from my old Garmin c340. I made an excellent choice, this GPS has everything. I was new to traffic info on a GPS so I tried the TomTom 920T also which I didn’t like because of how inaccurate the maps were. I turned to Garmin and I was happy again, with the addition of news, stocks and events for the MSN direct 2 version is great.” Actual nüvi 780 user review on Amazon.com “Accurate GPS, only one local road where the speed limit was off, and it was lower than the actual one. There was construction in the area a while ago and not sure if it ever increased after they were done. I love having gas prices, and they are quite accurate. Great to have weather, news and live traffic too. All the things that TOMTOM 930T has, but cheaper” One of the Garmin nüvi 780 reviews by a user from Amazon.com “…the MSN traffic service is really not all I hoped it would be. Both the San Francisco Bay area and in Los Angeles, I have yet to drive by an incident it was reporting and actually see anything there. The incident traffic data seems to be so far behind that it’s almost useless.” Portion of nüvi 780 review on Amazon.com forum Our Research on the Garmin 780 portable GPS Suggests: A survey of ~30 users who rated the Garmin nüvi 780 gave the unit a score of 7.8 out of 10. In general personal GPS navigators, especially Garmin’s, are rated very highly, so the ratings for this unit would considered below average. Limitations: carrying case and the A/C adapter are not included Verdict: The Garmin nüvi 780 may be for you if you want the advanced features including multi-point routing that are featured in the Garmin 700 series GPS units and also an MSN Direct compatible receiver for live traffic, weather and other information. Compare the Garmin nüvi 780 GPS on Amazon
Garmin nüvi 780 Specifications
Company Info:	Garmin designs products with the driver in mind. Avoid the stress of navigation with easy-to-use menus, logical options and intuitive features. Garmin International, Inc. 1250 E. 151st Street Olathe, KS 66062-3426 (Kansas City metro area) Phone: (913) 397-8200 Fax: (913) 397-8282 GPS Coordinates: N 38 deg 51.333 min W 094 deg 47.941 min Company Website: GARMIN.COM
Specifications:	Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 4.8″W x 3.0″H x .8″D Display size, WxH: 3.81″W x 2.25″H; 4.3″ diag Display resolution, WxH: 480 x 272 pixels Display type: WQVGA color TFT Weight: 6.2 ounces Battery: rechargeable lithium-ion Battery life: up to 5 hours Part Number: 010-00657-05
Included:	nüvi 780 GPS unit City Navigator NT maps for North America MSN Direct receiver with integrated vehicle power cable 3 months free MSN Direct service vehicle suction cup mount vehicle power cable dashboard disk USB cable quick start manual
Features:	Built-in memory: internal solid state Waypoints/favorites/locations: 500 Preloaded maps: yes Garmin Locate™ (marks position when removed from windshield mount): Yes Basemap: yes Accepts data cards: SD™ card (not included) Routes: 10 Voice prompts (e.g. “Turn right in 500 ft.”): yes (internal speaker) Where Am I? (find nearby hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address): Yes Speaks street names (e.g. “Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.”) : yes 3-D map view: yes Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation): yes Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route): Yes Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road): yes Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.): yes Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): yes Hands-free calling with Bluetooth: yes FM traffic compatible: yes MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible: yes (receiver optional) MP3 player: yes Audio book player: yes Picture viewer: yes Garmin Garage™ (select car-shaped icons for map navigation): yes World travel clock, currency & unit converter, calculator: yes Touchscreen: yes Headphone jack/audio line-out: yes Anti-theft feature: yes Qwerty or ABC keyboard (choose keyboard layout): yes
System Requirements::	The USB storage device is compatible with Windows® 2000 or later (XP & Vista) and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later.
Price:	Click to see the lowest price.
Warranty:	1 year.
Return Policy:	30 days.

See it on eBay, a good place to find bargains or discounts:
[wordbay]Garmin nüvi 780[/wordbay]

Garmin nüvi 780 Best Price found On Amazon.com >>

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

Garmin nüvi 780

Garmin nüvi 770

admin — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:27:26 +0000

4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

the Garmin nüvi 770 is discontinued, click to see the nüvi 760 or other similar models >>

Consumer Report

The Garmin nüvi 770 features Garmin’s latest multi-point routing services as well as Bluetooth and an FM traffic receiver with a 3 month real-time traffic subscription. It is identical in features to the nüvi 760, but also includes European maps.

Highlights:

Preloaded Maps for North America and Europe
Bluetooth
FM traffic receiver with 3-month subscription to TMC real-time traffic services
Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route)
Provides up to 10 routes
“Where Am I?” helps find closest hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address & intersections.
Garmin Locate
Qwerty or ABC keyboard

the Garmin nüvi 770 is discontinued, click to see the nüvi 760 or other similar models >>

Garmin nüvi 770 Reviews, User Feedback and Details
Rating: 6.9 / 10	Actual nüvi 770 User Feedback: “I read the reviews here and had a few reservations before I purchased the 770. But eventually I bought it and it’s been absolutely amazing! The Bluetooth hands-free for the phone worked perfectly and the FM traffic is right on the money (I’m a professional cameraman living in New York City and it even re-routed me around grass mowers working on the medians!)” Actual nüvi 770 user review on Amazon.com “I couple things I don’t like about my nüvi 770: Turns are announced only 1/5 mile before the turn, my old navigator did it 1/2 mile before and I’ve missed a few turns because of it. ” Some features are silly: is anyone really going to view pictures while driving? FM couldn’t find any available frequencies on my radio so I had to play MP3s only through internal speaker which sounded terrible. One of the Garmin nüvi 770 reviews by a user from Amazon.com “A week after I started using the 770 it locked up at “Map Loading.” At that point on it is useless and I am forced to return it. Before it died, the Garmin 770 would, for no good reason, lose Bluetooth contact and display a “phone disconnected” screen.”; Portion of nüvi 770 review on Amazon.com forum Our Research on the Garmin 770 portable GPS Suggests: A survey of users who rated the Garmin nuvi 770 gave the unit a score of 7.4 out of 10. In general personal GPS navigators, especially Garmin’s, are rated very highly, so the ratings for this unit would considered below average. Limitations: carrying case and the A/C adapter are not included Verdict: The Garmin nüvi 770 may be for you if you believe that the negative reviews are related to firmware issues that have since been corrected by Garmin (which is possible). It certainly is a great priced personal GPS for all the features included and BOTH North American & European maps.
Garmin nüvi 770 Specifications
Company Info:	Garmin designs products with the driver in mind. Avoid the stress of navigation with easy-to-use menus, logical options and intuitive features. Garmin International, Inc. 1250 E. 151st Street Olathe, KS 66062-3426 (Kansas City metro area) Phone: (913) 397-8200 Fax: (913) 397-8282 GPS Coordinates: N 38 deg 51.333 min W 094 deg 47.941 min Company Website: GARMIN.COM
Specifications:	Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 4.8″W x 3.0″H x .8″D Display size, WxH: 3.81″W x 2.25″H; 4.3″ diag Display resolution, WxH: 480 x 272 pixels Display type: WQVGA color TFT Weight: 6.2 ounces Battery: rechargeable lithium-ion Battery life: up to 5 hours Part Number: 010-00657-00
Included:	nüvi 770 GPS unit City Navigator NT maps for North America and Europe FM traffic receiver with vehicle power cable 3-month subscription to TMC real-time traffic services vehicle suction cup mount vehicle power cable dashboard disk USB cable quick start manual
Features:	Built-in memory: internal solid state Waypoints/favorites/locations: 500 Preloaded maps: yes Garmin Locate™ (marks position when removed from windshield mount): Yes Basemap: yes Accepts data cards: SD™ card (not included) Routes: 10 Voice prompts (e.g. “Turn right in 500 ft.”): yes (internal speaker) Where Am I? (find nearby hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address): Yes Speaks street names (e.g. “Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.”) : yes 3-D map view: yes Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road): yes Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.): yes Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): yes Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation): yes Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route): Yes Hands-free calling with Bluetooth: yes FM traffic compatible: yes MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible: yes (receiver optional) MP3 player: yes Audio book player: yes Picture viewer: yes Garmin Garage™ (select car-shaped icons for map navigation): yes World travel clock, currency & unit converter, calculator: yes Touchscreen: yes Headphone jack/audio line-out: yes Anti-theft feature: yes Qwerty or ABC keyboard (choose keyboard layout): yes
System Requirements::	The USB storage device is compatible with Windows® 2000 or later (XP & Vista) and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later.
Price:	the Garmin nüvi 770 is discontinued, click to see the nüvi 760 or other similar models >>
Warranty:	1 year.
Return Policy:	30 days.

the Garmin nüvi 770 is discontinued, click to see the nüvi 760 or other similar models >>

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

Garmin nüvi 770

Garmin nüvi 760

admin — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:56:58 +0000

Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator

Consumer Report

The Garmin nüvi 760 includes Garmin’s latest multi-point routing services as well as Bluetooth and an included FM traffic receiver and a 3 month real-time traffic subscription.

Highlights:

Preloaded Maps for North America
Bluetooth
FM traffic receiver with 3-month subscription to TMC real-time traffic services
Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route)
Provides up to 10 routes
“Where Am I?” helps find closest hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address & intersections.
Garmin Locate
Qwerty or ABC keyboard

See more about the Garmin nüvi 760 On Amazon.com

Garmin nüvi 760 Reviews, User Feedback and Details
Rating: 9.0 / 10	Actual nüvi 760 User Feedback: “The 760 Garmin is easy to hook up and use immediately. On the plus side: the unit acquired a signal (and continued to do so) within a few seconds. The suction cup is plenty strong. I am confident it would do well on any road conditions. On the down side: there is no chime to indicate you need to turn. This is a great big omission that every GPS unit should have. So many times I missed my turns. [ed note: on the Garmin 760 there are verbal turn commands to replace the chime] Also, Garmin skimped and didn’t include a case, AC charger and manual for the nüvi 760. When you are paying big bucks for a GPS, they should give you everything you need. “ Actual nüvi 760 user review on Amazon.com “…there is no such thing as a perfect GPS system and therein lies the challenge, but after a long comparison process I recommended Garmin’s nüvi 760 over both the TomTom 920T and Magellan 4250.” One of the Garmin nüvi 760 reviews by a user from Amazon.com “I spent considerable time researching all the brands and latest models. I already own a Garmin GPSMap 60CSx so I’m no newbie. The Garmin 760 has become my #1 choice based on features vs. street price. Don’t worry one second about picking up this navigator. It will serve you extremely well and I expect you’ll be very happy with it.” Portion of nüvi 760 review on Amazon.com forum Our Research on the Garmin 760 portable GPS Suggests: A survey of consumers who rated the Garmin nuvi 760 gave the unit a score of 8.5 out of 10. In general personal GPS navigators, especially Garmin’s, are rated very highly, so the ratings for this unit would considered about average. Limitations: No European maps included Verdict: The Garmin nüvi 760 may be for you if you want the multi-route and destination benefits of the nüvi 750 AND also appreciate real-time FM traffic service, and having hands free via Bluetooth. For about $50 more than the 750 that is a lot of upside: Compare the Garmin nüvi 760 GPS on Amazon
Garmin nüvi 760 Specifications
Company Info:	Garmin designs products with the driver in mind. Avoid the stress of navigation with easy-to-use menus, logical options and intuitive features. Garmin International, Inc. 1250 E. 151st Street Olathe, KS 66062-3426 (Kansas City metro area) Phone: (913) 397-8200 Fax: (913) 397-8282 GPS Coordinates: N 38 deg 51.333 min W 094 deg 47.941 min Company Website: GARMIN.COM
Specifications:	Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 4.8″W x 3.0″H x .8″D Display size, WxH: 3.81″W x 2.25″H; 4.3″ diag Display resolution, WxH: 480 x 272 pixels Display type: WQVGA color TFT Weight: 6.2 ounces Battery: rechargeable lithium-ion Battery life: up to 5 hours Part Number: 010-00657-10
Included:	nüvi 760 GPS City Navigator NT maps for North America or Europe FM traffic receiver with vehicle power cable 3-month subscription to TMC real-time traffic services vehicle suction cup mount vehicle power cable dashboard disk USB cable quick start manual
Features:	Built-in memory: internal solid state Waypoints/favorites/locations: 500 Preloaded maps: yes Garmin Locate™ (marks position when removed from windshield mount): Yes Basemap: yes Accepts data cards: SD™ card (not included) Routes: 10 Voice prompts (e.g. “Turn right in 500 ft.”): yes (internal speaker) Where Am I? (find nearby hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address): Yes Speaks street names (e.g. “Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.”) : yes 3-D map view: yes Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation): yes Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route): Yes Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road): yes Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.): yes Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): yes Hands-free calling with Bluetooth: yes FM traffic compatible: yes MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible: yes (receiver optional) MP3 player: yes Audio book player: yes Picture viewer: yes Garmin Garage™ (select car-shaped icons for map navigation): yes World travel clock, currency & unit converter, calculator: yes Touchscreen: yes Headphone jack/audio line-out: yes Anti-theft feature: yes Qwerty or ABC keyboard (choose keyboard layout): yes
System Requirements::	The USB storage device is compatible with Windows® 2000 or later (XP & Vista) and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later.
Price:	See the best price at Amazon
Warranty:	1 year.
Return Policy:	30 days.

Garmin nüvi 760 Best Price found On Amazon.com >>

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

Garmin nüvi 760

Garmin nüvi 750

admin — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:06:49 +0000

4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Consumer Report

The Garmin nüvi 750 includes two new features: multi-destination routing and, “Where am I?/Where’s my car?” to Garmin’s pocket-sized GPS navigator line.

Highlights:

Preloaded Maps for North America or Europe
Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route)
Provides up to 10 routes
“Where Am I?” helps find closest hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address & intersections.
Garmin Locate
Qwerty or ABC keyboard

See more about the Garmin nüvi 750 On Amazon.com

Garmin nüvi 750 Reviews, User Feedback and Details
Rating: 8.6 / 10	Actual nüvi 750 User Feedback: “This is Garmin’s top of the line Nuvi’s and possibly the best portable GPS on the market. The 700 series compared to last years 600 series is the inclusion of multi-destination routing. If you’re someone that drives a different route with many stops each day, then the 700 series will be great for you. I love that it can optimize the stops to take the least amount of time.” Actual nüvi 750 user review on Amazon.com “I previously had a nuvi 660 and accidentally left the unit in a rental car. I waited to replace it until the 750 shipped. While I was waiting, I tried a Tom Tom and Magellon. The 750 far exceeds the other units I played with.” One of the Garmin nüvi 750 reviews by a user from Amazon.com “The Magellans have improved with their latest generation, but they still have a long way to go before they will be as good as the Garmins. At the moment, the nüvi 750 and 760′s are in a league of their own in the GPS market.” Portion of nüvi 750 review on AVSforum.com Our Research on the Garmin 750 portable GPS Suggests: A survey of consumers using the Garmin nuvi 750 gave the unit, on average, a rating of 8.5 out of 10. In general GPS navigators, especially Garmin’s, are rated very highly, so the ratings for this unit would considered about average. Limitations: No Bluetooth Comes in Silver only Verdict: The Garmin nüvi 750 may be for you want the next step up (which features multi-point routing & “Where Am I?” type services) from Garmin’s 600 series. If you don’t care about Bluetooth, or a traffic receiver, this is an ultra advanced device at a very good price. Compare the Garmin nüvi 750 GPS on Amazon Note: that this unit has either North American OR European maps.
Garmin nüvi 750 Specifications
Company Info:	Garmin designs products with the driver in mind. Avoid the stress of navigation with easy-to-use menus, logical options and intuitive features. Garmin International, Inc. 1250 E. 151st Street Olathe, KS 66062-3426 (Kansas City metro area) Phone: (913) 397-8200 Fax: (913) 397-8282 GPS Coordinates: N 38 deg 51.333 min W 094 deg 47.941 min Company Website: GARMIN.COM
Specifications:	Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 4.8″W x 3.0″H x .8″D Display size, WxH: 3.81″W x 2.25″H; 4.3″ diag Display resolution, WxH: 480 x 272 pixels Display type: WQVGA color TFT Weight: 6.2 ounces Battery: rechargeable lithium-ion Battery life: up to 5 hours Part Number: 010-00657-20
Included:	nüvi 750 GPS City Navigator NT maps for North America or Europe vehicle suction cup mount vehicle power cable dashboard disk USB cable quick start manual
Features:	Built-in memory: internal solid state Waypoints/favorites/locations: 500 Preloaded maps: yes Garmin Locate™ (marks position when removed from windshield mount): Yes Basemap: yes Accepts data cards: SD™ card (not included) Routes: 10 Voice prompts (e.g. “Turn right in 500 ft.”): yes (internal speaker) Where Am I? (find nearby hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address): Yes Speaks street names (e.g. “Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.”) : yes 3-D map view: yes Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation): yes Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route): Yes Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road): yes Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.): yes Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): yes FM traffic compatible: yes MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible: yes (receiver optional) MP3 player: yes Audio book player: yes Picture viewer: yes Garmin Garage™ (select car-shaped icons for map navigation): yes World travel clock, currency & unit converter, calculator: yes Touchscreen: yes Headphone jack/audio line-out: yes Anti-theft feature: yes Qwerty or ABC keyboard (choose keyboard layout): yes
System Requirements::	The USB storage device is compatible with Windows® 2000 or later (XP & Vista) and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later.
Price:	Click to see the lowest price.
Warranty:	1 year.
Return Policy:	30 days.

Garmin nüvi 750 Best Price found On Amazon.com >>

Post from: GPS Consumer and User Reports

Garmin nüvi 750

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