GARMIN NUVI 255W – GREAT VALUE FOR THE MONEY
| Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator |
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Overall Rating: |
| Retail Price: $219.99 |
| Amazon Price: $109.99 |
Garmin has proven itself to be a leader in the market of GPS technology and this particular product definitely adds to its already great reputation of producing reliable navigation systems. This model if Garmin Nuvi is highly recommended for someone who is not willing to spend more than $200 for a GPS system and is in search of one that offers many interesting features.
The new interface of the system is what appeals to a lot of customers that has a turn sign indicator at a corner and also a speed limit indicator. The QWERTY keyboard is an added advantage as it makes the input of addresses very easy. It has a card slot into which memory card can be inserted and pictures can be viewed after transferring them form the computer. As the screen is 4.3 inches wide and very clear, it makes the experience a pleasurable one. It also has an internal antenna and the navigation between the different menu screens is very easy for any user. The battery life too, is very nice and so is the satellite reception, which is the key element of any GPS system. The direction prompts are also very easy to understand as the voice is very clear.
This is a very practical and hassle free device that comes with various features like the speedometer and gives the speed limits of different roads that are posted. It also has the capability to give the maximum and average speed of any trip. The voice tells the name of the street the user is currently on, and the turns that are coming up in a very clear manner. The refreshing rate of the device is very fast as the recalculation of routes is done almost instantly. It also comes with the latest maps and hence there is no update that has to be done as soon as it is purchased. The Points of Interest database on the device is pretty large and also includes the option of customizing it by importing POIs from the internet. There is also a feature of automatic time zone, which means the destination times are reflected in the time zone of the location without any alteration to the home zone. This device also includes a security feature of having to enter a pin before using it, so that the person who steals it may not be able to use it and the registration of the product at Garmin website might help in retrieving it.
The negative aspects of the device are very few and not of high importance anyways. The speaker does not sound good at its maximum limit making it difficult to hear when the windows are open in heavy traffic. There is also no audio out option for the device. The arrival time estimate of the GPS is not accurate and can sometimes be misleading. The map database includes all public roads, and it is unaware of private roads that can be accessed by public. The device assumes the vehicle is on a road actually when in fact he is going very near to it in parallel. The pack included only a car charger, whereas a USB one can be purchased separately.
It is a very reliable and user friendly device on the whole with amazing connectivity to the satellite, which is the thing that ultimately matters in a GPS system. The other features are more than pleasing and would definitely be an aid to the user in any kind of a situation.
Popularity: 21% [?]
