Reviews

There are lots of reviews here about the unit, and it is a very good unit. The majority of my thoughts that I'd like to share with other potential customers have less to do with the unit itself, and more to do with the software for the PC that comes with it, and the process of updating the maps. Garmin has a long way to go to simplify and make easier the process of updating maps. First you install the software, then plug in the unit, then find out that the website you go to wants you to install about 3 other things, then the map downloads, then you have to manually find the downloaded files & apply them, etc. etc. etc. I'm used to very technical things on computers, but that being said I found the map updating process unusually cumbersome, and it doesn't need to be that way. The unit gets a good rating, but if you're not a very technical person and think you'll want to update your maps, be ready for some work.

This is my second Nuvi, so just plugging it in and going was no problem. The graphics are clearer, and without checking I'd bet the monitor displays more colors. Being able to give voice commands is new and a feature I regularly use. It works surprisingly well considering the road noise the device has to deal with. I'm really glad they kept the Audible player in this version. I've noticed some of the newer Nuvis don't have Audible. That would be a deal-breaker for me. I drive an hour to work, and I've got to have a book to listen to else the boredom would drive me insane. The female American voice (whom I refer to as 'Hilary') is the same voice as the previous Nuvi. I enjoyed it when she used to say, "Recalculating" when you didn't follow her directions. Her tone of voice seemed to add: You puny, flawed human. But a recent update has jolified her voice. On the down side, I've had it lock up three or four times. Restart solves the problem. The batteries drain quickly. I imagine this Nuvi uses a lot more electricity than my old one did. Garmin knows how to make a great GPS.

This is a wonderful little machine. It is the basic 800 series which means it has the same engine as the most expensive units without some of the bells and whistles, and yet has all that is convenient and important. It is highly accurate, and fast. I love the feature where it remembers where I left the car when I take it out of its cradle and will guide me right to my car if I need to. When I go to a site in a mall or a large complex like a hospital I can save the exact location of where I am and use that instead of an address which at times can be vague. For example when I visit a large hospital here with several entrances it will guide me right to the parking place I chose to make into a favorite. The voice recognition works very well. I never have to touch the unit to perform any and all of the many options available to me. For example while I am driving I can direct it via voice activated command to take me to the nearest Burger King, of Hampton Inn, either as detour or as a new destination. I find the volume from the unit sufficient, but I prefer to hear directions through my car stereo system. Since my FM antenna is located at the back of the car the FM from the GPS unit does not work too well. I bought one of those little cigarette lighter FM transmitters, and connected it to the GPS audio output and it works just fine. If you have an audio input to your car stereo you don't need the FM transmitter; just connect your GPS directly through that. All in all I am very satisfied with this unit, and I am happy to recommend it to any person who is interested in adding a GPS system to their car, or replacing an older unit as I did.

I got this gps for my husband's birthday b/c he is a contractor and is always going to a new house every other day. He didn't think he would like it or even need it, but the first day he used it he absolutely loved it. He said it is perfect for him and that he uses it everyday. He says the voice commands are the best part b/c he doesn't have to stop and play around with the gps.

I used to rely on mapquest paper map but got lost any way, because I would have to look at the paper map.