Car GPS Units

TomTom One 130 3.5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:14:33 +0000

Tom Tom One 130 3.5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator

The TomTom One 130 GPS navigator does the fundamental job of being a guide to the driver and help in routing on a satisfactory basis as it doesn't include any of the high end features which can be normally observed in GPS units of a higher price. When the user doesn't need those features then this unit is reliable, offering steady service with an appreciable simplicity and also a portable style.

In the first place, this is an entry level model with basic functions, found really useful particularly for those utilizing a GPS for the first time. The slim style of readily stored away really appealing as it may very easily fit in a shirt pocket and therefore is also possible to use it as a handheld GPS aside from utilizing it while driving. There are numerous settings about the unit that may be customized in line with the user’s choice and is very simple to operate. The model has a well designed suction cup for mounting and is really easy to mount and take it off. The time estimates provided by the TomTom One 130 unit are very accurate and also the voice is plainly audible. It also has a feature known as link volume to speed which is really smart on the device’s part.

There's a choice of voices within the TomTom One 130 GPS navigator itself and doesn't need the user to go on the internet for this function. The points of interest database is pretty large and it almost instantly recalculates the route when the driver deviates. The up-to-date edition of the software is obtainable online, cost free and the user gets a free map database update if attempted inside the first thirty days of ownership. The unit displays the present speed of the vehicle, the speed limit from the current road as well as displays the speed in red if it is considerably above the limit. There's a component called help me within the menu that is very helpful in the event the driver is doubtful with regards to the situation. The itinerary can be planned using more than 1 stop, which isn't feasible in similar models. The real time zoom is attractive and there is a separate database of emergency contacts like hospitals, police etc.

A few users have observed that even the latest edition of the map does not show areas that have come up in the last 3 years. The feature of speaking street names is not contained in the unit which is normally very useful to take the correct turn. There have been problems with the satellite reception as the unit gets old and it's not easy to connect to the internet as the user doesn't get an external plug that has to be used to charge it from an outlet. The memory capacity from the TomTom One 130 GPS navigator is relatively low and with the basic info it is already full leaving no room for updates and additional applications. The directions provided by the device can be misleading and the screen size is small compared to some other alternatives. The TomTom One 130 GPS navigator screen also is made of plastic unlike its competitors and hence is unattractive.

Even though the TomTom One 130 GPS navigator appears to be doing fine with the basic functionality, there are some errors in its maps and some changes ought to be made to it, for it to really serve its objective well. Although having said that it is still a good entry level device for many people.

The Magellan Roadmate 1400: The Outstanding Basic Car GPS Unit

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 10:59:50 +0000

For a good car gps unit, when just a basic car navigator, without having any additional features that might interfere with the true functionality of the system, is what you are looking for, then you will do well using the popular Roadmate 1400 by Magellan.

It's the about the most straightforward of Car GPS units to be had and it's really simple to setup and use. It could be a promising device for starters and it can easily then become a regular component of their traveling and be there to do the job as required.

At first inspection, the useful 4.3 inch screen of the Roadmate 1400 is what catches the attention of most of the users since it is really wide and bright with nice vivid attractive colors. The unit itself overall is small, slender and very light. The screen also changes color at night which makes it good for the owner to look at it in darkness without any eye-strain. It is easy to set the unit up on the dash board and it is also reasonably simple so far as the operation is concerned. The display is great and the unit gives dependable and easy to follow driving information. The satellite reception is fast allowing it to calculate directions almost instantly once the destination target is given utilizing the touch display of the device. It will store the destinations in its memory and it has a huge database of a number of categories of useful Points of Interest.

The Magellan Roadmate 1400 has a side map that's always shown on one side of the display, to ensure that the driver understands ahead of time what’s going to come next to make sure that he or she is well prepared. There is a bell that sounds when a turn has to be taken and so the driver isn't confused when to make a turn or not. The routes are very precise and there's an option of picking the quickest or shortest journey. The detour is done really quick and the points of interest can be used to help get your bearings when the specific street address is not recognized, or whenever in an unknown area. Multi point routing is also seen in this system and also the volume is pretty high, clearly audible with the radio on. Getting most recent updates with the map from Magellan website is a really easy task.

Some possible drawbacks of the Magellan Roadmate are that the voice of the GPS, like many navigators, isn't found to be particularly attractive to some owners, since it is a little bit mechanical and therefore not very natural sounding. Also the device doesn't have the capability to get live traffic updates so re-routing can't be done immediately without taking the user towards the place in which the issue is on the route itself.

Additionally for some people battery lifetime of the car GPS system is not found to be too satisfactory and there's no charger that arrives with the system which can be utilized with a pc, aside from the vehicle battery charger. So that you can get your unit going, it has to be continuously connected to the car battery whilst on the road. There's also no pedestrian setting within the GPS making it difficult for finding your way when walking around the visiting cities or towns.

However taking everything into account, it is a wonderful car GPS unit with very dependable fundamental performance. Because it doesn't include any kind of special features, it makes it nice and simple for anyone to use, just for the exact purpose it is made for, providing a good gps navigation system for your car so check out the best price for the Magellan RoadMate 1400 GPS Navigator it may be just what you are looking for.

Fully Loaded Garmin 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 01:25:46 +0000

Numerous handheld GPS navigators can be purchased in the market from a variety of suppliers but Garmin is one trusted brand name for many GPS units. The Garmin 60CSx is just one such unit which provides numerous functionalities and consequently can used for various purposes such as geo caching, hiking and additionally for on-road navigation. While the unit is most likely not the absolute best as a stand alone unit for on-road navigation, it will serve the purpose whenever needed and also has other good applications. This is a really handy device that additionally includes lots of distinctive functions aside from simply navigation aid.

The major objective of buying a handheld GPS unit is generally for geo caching and hiking too. The Garmin 60CSx is very suitable for both the applications seeing that it possesses the capability to acquire satellites virtually instantly and can work just about everywhere. The unit can take in SD cards up to a capacity of 2GB which is more than ample to load all the necessary street maps and topo maps. When the user inputs geo caches, they are identified by the icon used and he needs to search for the ones that haven't been found yet since it brings them up ignoring other way points. Whenever the user detects the geo cache he has to key in the found button and subsequently the icon is altered with a date stamped as to when it was found. For hiking purposes the unit can be clipped to the belt of the user making it easy to transport wherever required.

When used as an on-road navigator, the Garmin 60CSx is able to track the average moving speed, peak speed, distance traveled etc. which is often very handy to the user. The color screen of the gadget is much larger in comparison with the previous models and space management is accomplished well on it. There are various color schemes offered for the consumer to select from and the bright ones are handy throughout the day whilst the dark ones are very good at night-time. When set up, the Garmin 60CSx can automatically change the schemes at sunrise and sunset. The navigator has quite a few other features which the user may need when on the go like calendar, calculator, stopwatch, compass, barometer, altimeter etc. There are also some games available which can keep the user occupied when there is nothing much else to do. The battery life of the unit is exceptionally good as it can go on constantly for about a couple of days and you never have to recharge it.

The audible alerts of the Garmin 60CSx are not clearly audible a result of the low volume even at the highest setting. It would have also been better if the turn notification is provided a tiny bit earlier during on-road navigation. The software of the navigator may be incompatible with a computer that has the SiS chipset as the USB cable provided is ineffective so and a serial cable should have been useful which is not included in the box.

Having said that, certainly overall, the navigator is one of the very few that are capable of doing multi-tasking effectively and for the price the fully loaded Garmin 60CSx handheld gps navigator is surely a good buy.

Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator

The Garmin Nuvi 765/765T – A Quality Auto GPS Navigator

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 22:29:08 +0000

The Garmin nuvi 765t is a great model to upgrade to from an earlier version and likewise a good one for folks ordering one for the first time. It is a high quality unit in its division and seeing that it is made by Garmin, the very best in the business, it is unquestionably a plus. It has the potential of doing several different functions rather well with its collection of impressive features. It is a promising product for those in need of a top end Garmin GPS navigation system and all the features the device is able to provide.

One function that is very fundamental to any GPS is acquisition of satellites and this gadget is great at doing it in much less time, which could be very welcome to the apprehensive customers who very much need all those other features it is able to provide. The features extra to this nuvi 765t unit are the lane routing and the 3D buildings view. The lane directions are very helpful whenever there are a number of lanes on the freeway and there is going to be a split in them in a selected amount of distance. It takes the uncertainty out of the consumer when he must be in the right lane. The 3D feature is helpful in metropolitan areas and hectic traffic. There is a number of info the gadget displays during travel akin to the amount of distance before the next turn, the speed limit at a selected place, the current speed of the vehicle, the estimated time of arrival, the traffic density and estimated delay in arrival on account of traffic. It carries out the recalculation of the route automatically and rapidly depending on the traffic updates.

The screen of the nuvi 765t is also large and clear and the device syncs to any mobile phone geared up with Bluetooth, to make hands free calls, which could be very useful in busy streets. The colours of the map and the structure are the most effective in its rank. It consists of logically ordered menus and supports quicker updates. The points of interest incorporated in the system are quite a few, correct and arranged in an effective manner. The rubber coated body around the display screen makes it proof against accidents and the internal antenna makes it attractive.

However when using the nuvi 765 unit with no power cord, the volume level is not very pleasing and cannot be distinguished even with the slightestconversation in the vehicle. It also needs to be given numerous information and making use of loads of buttons makes it tiresome, because the touch display screen requires only the finger tip and the buttons are very small. The battery life isn't up to the mark with a lifetime of just above an hour. The FM transmitter is also not very useful as a consequence of its weak performance and there are no verbal alerts in the POI section of the nuvi 765t device.

The Garmin nüvi 765/765T GPS Navigator has virtually every feature desired by a customer within any class and that too for a cost not too excessive in comparison with its advantages. It has the newest options integrated after lots of hard work by the design crew and other experts of Garmin, that can be of fine use to the buyer.

Nuvi 755T – Garmin Triumphs Once Again

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:44:07 +0000

When you are looking for a high end GPS system with live updates and good connectivity, then the Garmin Nuvi 755 or Nuvi 755T may be the answer. It's a really simple to use device with plenty of features as it can connect to MSN direct to provide information concerning various issues about the route to be taken, that may be of importance while traveling. Such features help the individual getting towards the destination with simplicity and without the risk of confusion.

The info (maps, routes, addresses etc) on the nuvi 755T could be backed up on both, a Mac and a PC. The display is quite broad and enables the individual view 3-4 streets ahead of time from the existing position. It also has text to speech and provides lane help. It includes a currency converter (that does not update instantly though), a calculator and a memory card slot, that permits playback of mp3s and also lets the user look at pictures transferred in the computer. Also, a couple of songs could be downloaded in the Garmin web site, free of cost The journey assistance of the unit is very helpful as it even provides mileage of the automobile and also the gas prices at close by gas stations.

The speed limit is very precise and the route recalculation, when there's a diversion, or if the wrong turn is taken, is also quite fast. The traffic help of the Garmin nüvi 755T Portable GPS Navigator is of great importance since it helps in avoiding routes with difficult traffic and highways closed as a result of construction and so on automatically. The route to be followed could be very easily customized by telling the device what to avoid in the various actions to become adopted to achieve the destination, like U-turns, Interstates, Toll roads etc. It has weather help as well as exhibits existing offers at various places and shows ads that may be helpful towards the driver.

If there are locations that need to be got to frequently, they can be added to the favorites area of the nuvi 755T from the menu and triggered whenever needed. But as soon as saved, the list displays only the street names of the destinations within the favorites area and not the town/city name, which isn't really handy for the individual. Also the unit does not display the names of various towns which are being crossed during traveling, even though the screen has a lot of space to fit in such information. The names of small water bodies such as rivers and lakes are also not acknowledged through the unit. This could be somewhat disappointing, since the user might find a place really attractive someplace together his journey and would want to go there one day in the future, but he won't be able to do so as he is not conscious what the location is actually called. The release button is positioned in the bottom of the GPS mount which makes it difficult to detach from the windshield attachment. The keypad of the touch screen features really little buttons that makes input by fingers a very hard task. So a stylus has to be used for this purpose. The voice is not very loud, the FM transmitter isn't ideal and also the display colors are not customizable either.

The Garmin Garmin nüvi 755T GPS Navigator is like any other GPS with live updates its greatest asset. But it is costlier when compared to its alternatives. If price is not an issue, this product can be worth buying for all it has to offer.

Garmin Nuvi 205 – The Top Basic Car GPS System

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 03:37:21 +0000

The Garmin Nuvi 205 is the best fundamental system when it comes to GPS systems. It does precisely what it was made for and that too with great performance. It will be very handy for general use because it does not embody any of the extra options offered by high end GPS units like Bluetooth pairing functionality, multi point routing, spoken road names and live updates. This is a very basic unit that's simple to operate and doesn't even require a reference of the manual to operate it.

The Nuvi 205 has to be fed with the new updates by downloading them prior to use and it is a breeze because it doesn't take more than 5 minutes for the process. The dimensions of the unit is exceptionally attractive even though it features a small screen as it is rather compact and can even be carried in a purse. This, in fact, might be seen as a safety characteristic as an alternative of leaving it contained in the car. The speaker of the unit may be very loud and the speech is very easy to hear. The menu is fairly basic and easy which makes it incredibly easy to navigate via various choices available. It comes with an inner antenna which makes it attractive and handy from the outside. The windshield suction mount is highly efficient and is an improvement when compared to the previous designs.

The basic job of getting satellites is completed rather well on the Nuvi 205 system and the length of time taken for doing is really short. It recognizes the present location and works out the route to the needed destination pretty fast. It also shows various information like “Where am I?” which could be very useful in the event of emergencies, the estimated time of arrival to a destination, the current velocity of the vehicle and the posted speed restrict on a particular highway, etc. The posted speed limit displayed is especially accurate and modifications on the same road are additionally mirrored in the unit. It also has the pedestrian mode in it and has the power to recalculate a route instantly if a incorrect turn is taken. The person also has the choice of saying which routes to avoid, such as tolls, U-turns highways etc. whereas feeding it with the destination address. The points of interest already loaded on the device are adequate for an average person and more can always be downloaded from your computer together with updated maps, voices and icons utilizing a typical mini USB cable. The unit additionally try to work out the location/address after entering in a few letters which makes it simple for the person if he is not positive what precisely it is called.

There isn't any selection of customising the primary menu or interface with the nüvi 205 and it doesn't say street names when a turn has to be taken, this can make the situation sometimes a bit confusing. The unit on occasion provides wrong directions such as taking a left turn at a “no left” intersection as the map is not up to date completely. The system appears to begin over again if it is interrupted in the midst of a route by plugging in the charger, or changing the volume.

If the user wants none of the bells and whistles of the higher end GPS units and if stable and reliable navigation aid is what the search is for, then the Garmin nuvi 205 Portable GPS Navigator is certainly the top in its class of auto GPS units.

The Garmin Nuvi 255W – Great Value For Your Money

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:12:33 +0000

Garmin has proven itself to be a pacesetter in the market of GPS technology and this specific product, the Garmin 255W definitely adds to its already amazing status of manufacturing reliable navigation systems. This model of Garmin Nuvi 255W is highly recommended for somebody who isn't keen to spend above two hundred dollars for a GPS system and is in search of one that provides lots of fascinating attributes.

The extra interface of the Garmin nuvi 255W system is what appeals to a lot of buyers. The device has a turn sign indicator at a corner and likewise a speed limit indicator. The QWERTY keyboard is an extra benefit because it makes the enter of addresses really effortless. It has a card slot into which a memory card can be inserted and pictures can be viewed after transferring them from a computer. Because the display screen is 4.3 inches wide and really clear, it makes the experience a pleasurable one. It also has an internal antenna and the navigation between the different menu screens is incredibly easy for any consumer. The battery life too, is very good and so is the satellite reception, which is the important component of any GPS system. The direction prompts are additionally very easy to grasp because the voice is really clear.

The Garmin nuvi 255W is a very sensible and trouble free system that arrives with numerous options like the speedometer and offers the speed limits of various roads which are posted. It additionally has the functionality to provide the maximum and average speed of your trip. The voice speaks the name of the road the driver is now on, and the turns that are coming up in a very clear manner. The refresh rate of the device is really fast as the recalculation of routes is completed almost instantly. It additionally comes with the most recent maps and therefore there is no update that needs to be performed as soon as it's purchased. The Points of Interest catalog on the device is fairly massive and also includes the choice of customising it by adding POIs from the internet. There's additionally a function of automated time zone, which ensures the destination times are mirrored in the time zone of the locality without any alteration to the home zone. This system also includes a security feature of having to enter a pin ahead of using it, in order that the person who steals it may not be able to use it and the registration of the unit at Garmin website may help in retrieving it.

The unfavorable points of the Garmin nuvi 255W system are very few and not of high importance in any event. The speaker doesn't sound the best at its highest limit which makes it it tough to listen to whenever the windows are down in deep traffic. There's additionally no audio out alternative for the system. The arrival time estimate of the GPS is not always accurate and can every so often be misleading. The map database includes all public highways, and it's unaware of private tracks that may be accessed by public. The device believes the car is on a road really when in fact he's going very close to to it in parallel. The pack included only a automotive charger, where a USB one could be bought separately.

The Garmin nüvi 255W GPS Navigator is a highly dependable and user friendly device on the whole with superb connectivity to the satellite, which is the factor that ultimately matters in a GPS system. The other options are very good and would definitely be an aid to the user in any type of a situation.