Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Navigon 7200T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigation with Bluetooth, Text-to-Speech, and Free Traffic Alerts (Electronics)
Navigon 7200T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigation with Bluetooth, Text-to-Speech, and Free Traffic Alerts (Electronics)
Much has already been said by other reviewers weighing the pros and cons of this GPS, however I'll point out a few of the ups and downs that I've noticed personally:
PROS:
I haven't had much of a problem with the pronunciation of street and highway names yet. I've actually been very impressed. I guess that I'll just have to wait and see if in any of my longer journeys I run into problems with abbreviated wording like one user mentioned.
I like the ability to select destinations by tapping a point on the map. I'm not sure if the higher-end Garmin's or TomTom's have this feature, but it's pretty nifty.
You can import address books from Outlook and the phone feature includes four "presets" for speed-dial.
The GPS lists POI's at UPCOMING exits on controlled highways by the exit number and exit name.
A subscription to three years of map updates (Navigon calls it "FreshMaps") is REALLY reasonably priced!
Ok, and all of the other clearly advertised features are great for this price and seem to work VERY WELL!
CONS:
There's only ONE text-to-speech voice and no downloadable ones! That's terrible! Thankfully it's not TOO annoying of a voice!!!
You can DISPLAY special characters and lower-case lettering in your phone & address book so long as the information has been synchronized with your phone or with Outlook but you cannot ENTER anything but capital lettering and the symbology that you can enter is sparse to say the least. (There's not even an ampersand or a dash in the symbol choices!) The special characters that you CAN enter seem very illogical.
You can't move the cursor to the RIGHT when editing phonebook entries or speed-dial presets.
I have found the speed limits to be VERY inaccurate or just completely missing in the suburbs of Albany, NY. You would think that when NAVTECH sends out their surveyors that they would make a note of the correct speed limits on the roads. Afterall, the map data is usually VERY accurate, why can't they get the speed right? It would be nice to have the ability to manually change the limits on the device somehow.
There are no data services via a bluetooth-connected device such as weather updates. That is a really nice feature which is included on my TomTom and would have been nice to see on the Navigon.
There are no color customizations or changeable color schemes available.
As another poster mentioned, my 7200T can't tell the difference between night and day. I have to toggle it manually. I would think that updating almanac data based on current geographical position on device such as this would be an easy thing. Navigon needs to get on the ball with this one.
And the WORST CON of ALL: The bluetooth connectivity is VERY problematic! When I turn off my car, power is cut to the 12VDC adapter. This puts the GPS into standby, but after sitting overnight it goes into the complete shut-down mode. Powering back up out of stand-by is fine but when I start it up in the morning for the first time, it will NOT reconnect to my phone. I have to go through the entire bluetooth pairing process again! Of course, it's not as simple as just selecting new connection either! I have to "clear connection data" on the device, make my phone discoverable again, tell the GPS to find a new connection, and then enter the pass key again. If I do NOT go through this whole process again and only select "New Connection" without clearing out the data, the GPS freezes up on the "pairing" screen and I have to completely power it off and back on again. In ADDITION, it takes far too long to actually establish a connection to your device when you tell it to make a call (when your ARE connected). For example, when you tell it to dial a number, the person is sitting there on the line saying "hello? hello?" a couple of times before your GPS realizes that it's connected and allows you to speak!
And the last con? Navigon's website doesn't even have their two NEWEST GPS units on their product list when you try to submit a bug report!
OK, so it would almost seem like there's more bad than good. NOT TRUE. This is a great unit, especially for the $250 weekend-after-Thanksgiving price. It's still worth the $299 that it's going for right now. I don't need to waste your time or space on Amazon to talk about all of the great features that are advertised and what other users have already talked about. The pros clearly outweigh the cons on this one!
Navigon 7200T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigation with Bluetooth, Text-to-Speech, and Free Traffic Alerts (Electronics)
BUY Now Navigon 7200T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigation with Bluetooth, Text-to-Speech, and Free Traffic Alerts (Electronics)
Lowepro Navi Plus Cases for GPS Navigator (Black) (Electronics)
Lowepro Navi Plus Cases for GPS Navigator (Black) (Electronics)
Measuring in at 4.1" x 8.1" x 5.7" and weighing about 8 ounces, Lowepro's Navi Plus GPS Bag easily accommodates my Magellan Navigator and accessories. Like the manufacturer's line of camera bags, this multi case system offers two things I value most. Protection and durability.
I'm most impressed with the larger bag. This outer case provides ample storage with its two velcro secured side pockets and an elastic mesh interior storage area. The EVA padded interior with its adjustable divider allows for great protection of my gear. The black nylon blend exterior is weatherproof and cleans up easy with a damp cloth. I like the sturdy dual zipper closure. The padded handle has a nice ergonomic feel. For those that need more room for GPS storage, I suggest removing the smaller case and running with the larger unit. The larger case can easily stow a unit up to 6".
The smaller case will accommodate up to a 4.3" screen. Like its camera gear, Lowepro lines this case with a soft tricot blend that does a great job protecting my GPS screen. I like the addition padding of this case. This unit is also outfitted with two small interior pockets. The bag is secured by velcro attachments. The only negative I found on the smaller bag is the flimsy plastic D ring attached to the exterior. Its been my experience that over the years these items do not hold up well. The bag exterior is covered in weatherproof nylon.
Speaking from personal experience, I can say that Lowepro has for years lived up to their billing as having one of the best lifetime limited warranties anywhere. Four years ago I had a problem with the zippers on one of their products. I sent it to the factory for repair and surprisingly received a new replacement bag. That alone speaks volumes.
Lowepro also sports a consumer friendly website for registration and product support. I strongly suggest that buyers register their product as soon as it comes out of the box. Even with my issues with the plastic D ring, I believe that this fine Lowepro product can go the distance and offer me the durability and protection that I demand.
Lowepro Navi Plus Cases for GPS Navigator (Black) (Electronics)
BUY Now Lowepro Navi Plus Cases for GPS Navigator (Black) (Electronics)
Garmin nьvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Garmin nьvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
This product works as I fully expected it to. It is functional, easy to read, and easy to use. Have not used others so can't compare to other manufacturers. It works for me. It was also less expensive on Amazon than anywhere else I could find it. In my mind worth the price I paid.
Garmin nьvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
BUY Now Garmin nьvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Case Logic GPSP-2 Professional GPS Case for 4.3-Inch Flatscreen GPS Navigators (Electronics)
Case Logic GPSP-2 Professional GPS Case for 4.3-Inch Flatscreen GPS Navigators (Electronics)
I purchased this Logic GPSP2 Professional GPS Case for my 4.3" Garmin NUVI 780. This was the best purchase I made for my GPS Accessories. The case holds more than just my GPS. The size is deceptive, it can hold more, without damaging my unit. this case protects my GPS much better than the thin fome units that are out on the market today. If you want to keep your GPS in working order buy a case that will protect it pretty much from banging, dropping and rain-water. I can't say you can take it to 50 fathoms, but I'd rather drop my unit in this case rather than the foam cases. You can't go wrong.
Case Logic GPSP-2 Professional GPS Case for 4.3-Inch Flatscreen GPS Navigators (Electronics)
BUY Now Case Logic GPSP-2 Professional GPS Case for 4.3-Inch Flatscreen GPS Navigators (Electronics)
Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor (Blue) (Electronics)
Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor (Blue) (Electronics)
The Garmin Forerunner 305 is just as good apparently, but i didn't want to carry something so large (trying to go with less). The 405CX I got is a bit of a pain, in that it is smaller, and hard to see the dial in the bright sun as well as the shade. It also has a bezel that you run your finger around to change the menu choices, but it gets activated when you bump it lightly. Not that sensitivity is a bad thing, since a lot of touch devices lack sensitivity. The only thing that keeps the bezel from totally ruining things is that you can lock it right after you start a run, so that it won't get tapped or stopped. The larger garmin would be my choice if I weren't looking for something less obvious. The menus are hard to scroll through due again to the over-sensitivity of the bezel, but after a bit of use, you can navigate through all the minor miss-taps. The rechargeable battery so far has held a charge over the course of a couple of days. Some reviews had said that the GPS being on drains power, but I haven't see that happen. Perhaps with the CX Garmin has included an auto-off function for the GPS. The virtual partner is nice, and you can set it so that the screens scroll between the virtual partner and the timer/distance screens. It isn't clear to me whether the size of the display numbers can be adjusted, but it is tough to see so small numbers, which would be a plus for the 305. Garmin Connect is excellent. The auto-transfer works great with my Mac on Leopard. After I go for a run, as soon as I get near the computer, it does the data transfer automatically (once I set it up). You can opt for using just the on-line Connect, or you can also download an application for Mac or PC that will sync with the on-line version. The mapping functions are great. I think Garmin has worked quite a bit on the software to make it user-friendly. You can easily share your data with a trainer or friend, as each workout has a specific http address associated with it. The GPS is very accurate, and so far hasn't had any problems reading my runs under a running path that is totally tree lined. I did a run out in the middle of nowhere last week, and it found satellites easily. So in wrapping up, I would say that if you don't mind a large object on your wrist, the 305 is cheaper and does the same thing as the 405CX. The 405CX looks like a watch, and can be used as such and no one would know the difference. If you have bad eyesight, the 405CX is definitely hard to see. With the bezel locked, I was unable to use the backlight while running through a really shady area. I don't know who runs at night, but if the idea is to improve being able to see the dial in shadey areas, it needs some work. If you would like to e-mail me directly, you can do so here: [...]
Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor (Blue) (Electronics)
BUY Now Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor (Blue) (Electronics)
Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
We have used our Nuvi 200 for the past six months travelling in our motorhome and in our Jeep. My wife (The Navigator) and I decided that on balance, the Nuvi has been a negative to helping us navigate. Many times, the Nuvi is spot on, and we glide to our destination. However, there have been enough ocassions where the gadget is wrong and misleading, delivering unwanted surprises and just plain erroneous information so that, at the end of the day, the negatives outweigh the positives. We cannot trust it's route calculations without double checking with Microsoft Streets and Trips and with the Highway Atlas we got at Walmart.
A good example was a recent trip thru Houston from a campground west of there. The night before we left, the Nuvi said we should bypass Houston via the Sam Houston Toll Road. The next morning, the Nuvi had changed it's mind and directed us to take I-10 through the middle of the city instead. We hadn't moved the motorhome during the nite, so we can only assume the Nuvi was suggesting the change in route because of the positioning of the stars, or maybe it knew something about gas prices that we did not, or maybe it just felt like seeing some different scenery along the way.
The Nuvi has tried to send us down two track dirt roads without warning, which might be ok if we are travelling in the Jeep, but certainly not in a Motorhome, and I would not have wanted to go down those roads with a regular car either. We have been led down narrow, winding streets in search of an address which turned out was a mile away on the opposite side of the Interstate.
Perhaps other Garmin Navigators are better and more useful than this one, but based on our experience with the Nuvi 200, we aren't planning to spend the money any time soon to find out.
Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
BUY Now Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Mio MOOV 310 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Mio MOOV 310 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
True, I have only had this item for a little over a week, but am finding it to be very easy to learn and use. The only "down" side is that much of the time it initially takes what seems to be lengthy time (2-3 minutes) to find the satellites. Once it has locked on to the satellites it works very quickly. It configures routes quickly and accurately. I can use it in the house to set up routes, etc., with no problem. (It doesn't always note the exact house address as the locale from which I am working, but is usually within a door or two.)
On the road the speech is clear,and the map in motion is wonderful to watch as the car is moving. Occasionally Samantha will cut it pretty close before telling me to turn, but she has warned of the upcoming turn far enough in advance for me to deal with it. I do wish it would routinely warn which lane to stay in when coming to a "y", etc. At this point I have used it for trips to places I know. I will be taking a 12 hour trip to unknown areas, and will report back about how it works for me then.
Before buying I researched the Garvin and the TomTom. I ran across the Mio Moov accidentally and liked what I saw. I was a little leary because of the extremely limited number of reviews available, but it is a new model. I had settled on the TomTom XL S before I decided to take a chance on this "new, unknown" model. So far, I am very happy with my choice. It is a great value for the money with all that it offers. (Let's see what I say six months down the road!)
JUNE 1, 2008:
I have now had the product for just over a month and I still love it! It has worked beautifully on two lengthy trips to unknown areas and on several trips to known areas. My husband has tested it by repeatedly taking his own out-of-the-way route and has been amused by Samantha's persistence in rerouting us. He said they should make one that says, "Look, Dummy, I keep telling you where to go!" She kindly and quickly reconfigures and gets it right every time.
It still takes two to three minutes to find satellites when it has been "rebooted" or often when I fire it up while in the house....but that is not an issue. Once on and running, there is no delay in routing. I still find the advance warning of upcoming turns to be adequate, even on the occasions when Samantha doesn't actually say "turn" until we are nearly on the turn. Also, remember...the visual is constantly in front of me. I know by looking at the arrow on the upper left if I will be turning left or right LONG before the turn comes.
My 32 year old daughter is directionally challenged and used my Mio Moov 310 for an extended day trip out of state. She and my granddaughter were sold! My granddaughter couldn't believe when Samantha said to turn right, my daughter didn't have to ask "driver's side or passenger side?" The visual was right in front to complement the verbals. She does a great deal of traveling to out of the way places and uses map quest constantly. She is thrilled with this GPS, and we have now purchased one for her for a college graduation present. The only thing I REALLY DON'T LIKE is the fact that my battery does not last ever over 1 hour.
My sister just purchased a TomTom 720go for significantly more than my Mio. When reading the "improvements" of the TomTom 720go over the TomTOm XL, I was pleased to see that my Mio Moov 310 has many of the features that the TomTom 720go considers "improvements".
I still rate this as a four (4) star item, and would recommend it to anybody.
Mio MOOV 310 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
BUY Now Mio MOOV 310 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Coby CA-745 Wireless FM Car Transmitter with Digital Display and DC Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter (Electronics)
Coby CA-745 Wireless FM Car Transmitter with Digital Display and DC Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter (Electronics)
This is my third FM transmitter in about as many years. I owned the Belkin and the iRiver prior to this one. I use it with an iPod during my commute, about 90 minutes total, every day. I have a sedan with a rear-window FM antenna, so signal strength is critical.
The Belkin didn't have nearly enough signal strength or a flexible enough station selection, so I didn't stick with it very long. What prompted me to replace the iRiver after about two years of use was the auto-shutoff "feature" of the iRiver and the tenancy for high frequency audio to break up and distort badly when the iPod was above moderate volumes. The auto-shutoff powers down the transmitter when it thinks there's no music. What really happens is when the music levels are low or between tracks, the thing powers down letting high-volume static come crashing through the speakers at until the music level picks up to the point where it thinks there's music again (or until I can kill the radio's volume). Annoying to say the least. It's signal strength was better than the Belkin, but I would still get interference periodically.
The Coby is always-on (when the car is on) so there was an immediate and welcome relief. That alone makes it a winner in my book. But when I spent time playing with the iPod and radio levels, I noticed that the Coby didn't distort the high frequencies, no more playing with levels. Cool! Then after listening to a couple of tracks it was obvious that the Coby has much better low end response compared to the other two I owned. The bass was more defined (not boomy) and the punch that I didn't even notice was missing, was back. What a huge improvement! Much more life-like. Not over-pronounced, just full, all the way to the bottom. To boot, I don't hear any interference at all during my Chicago area commute, signal strength is very good. Combine that with a price that is half that of the others, there's no way you can lose with this unit.
If you're considering an FM transmitter solution for your in-car MP3 player listening, give the Coby your full consideration. I know you won't be disappointed.
Coby CA-745 Wireless FM Car Transmitter with Digital Display and DC Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter (Electronics)
BUY Now Coby CA-745 Wireless FM Car Transmitter with Digital Display and DC Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter (Electronics)
Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 301 at first and returned it for the newer Garmin Forerunner 205. It seems to have a much stronger signal which isn't lost next to high buildings, tall trees, or under bridges. One negative seems to be that it takes longer (maybe a total of 3 minutes) than I expected to obtain the initial satellite signal. This may be a problem for me because of where I live. Once the signal has been acquired, it isn't lost very easily.
The Garmin Forerunner 205 is a little big for a woman's wrist and I've heard comments such as, "What's on your wrist? A mini computer?" I just smile an nod because I am more concerned about the abilities of the device than what it appears to look like to others. It's basically like wearing a man's large wristwatch. The 301 model is even more awkward looking and takes up more space from the wrist to the elbow than the 205 model.
This GPS Personal Trainer is great for keeping track of time, distance, pace, and personal goals. I use it daily to track my progress. The battery lasts several days before needing a charge. It takes less than 2 hours to charge it to full capacity.
I can't say enough about the satisfaction I have from this product. Although the Garmin Forerunner 301 is a great product as well, I like the 205 model better because of the watch-like shape and strong satellite signal. Both the 301 and 205 have similar features and abilities. They are user-friendly and come with clear, understandable directions.
Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
BUY Now Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
Mio C220 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Mio C220 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Had mine for a week now and really like it. It does a nice job. The reason for only four stars is the instructions are too basic even on the DVD, I am stumped on how to program in "MY POI's". The instructions need more step by step on certain procedures, otherwise I'm very happy with it. I find when driving, the position it shows me in is about 5-10 yards behind my actual position, I suspect this may be common to all GPS systems, don't really know, but once you learn all the little quirks its a great helper. I find the volume OK but I wouldn't want my radio on too loud or it would be hard to hear. It's really fast in picking up the satellites and re-routing you if you take a different road. I figure I got a $500 GPS for $200. My advice.. Get one.
Update... I read a lot of complaints on how "it uses local streets I would not use". This unit cannot know the way you would go from A to B but it calculates the fastest way the map shows and it gets you there. Would you complain if you were in a strange bad neighborhood at 2am not knowing where to go and this unit got you home using a street you may not have used if you knew the way home, I think not. Remember... There's more than oe way to skin a cat, and more than one road home.
Try this to add your own POI's.
Get to the "home" menu with the title "Mio Map v.3.2" in the top, and the door & hammer/wrench.
First option on left is "Address" with a little house. Select that.
Now you should see "Recent Cities" on the heading. If your town isn't already displayed, then use the "Other City" option in the right corner. Enter the Zip Code or City name.
Then it will ask you to <Enter Street Name>. Enter street Name. Select from list that pops up.
Then enter address. Press Done. This should put the flashing red cursor on the location.
If you were in "Cockpit" mode, you will need to go back to the "home" menu and select "Map". You should then be back at the address you just entered after selecting "Map". There's not enough room in the cockpit view to have the "Add POI" button.
Select the arrow in the lower right corner. This should bring up a menu along the bottom of the screen that will allow you to "Add POI" (on right). Enter the name of the location. Press Done. You will the be at the Edit My POI. Give it a group & icon. Now it should appear in the "My POI" menus.
While this process sounds and reads complicated -- after a few days of use, it isn't. It actually makes a bit of sense.
Mio C220 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
BUY Now Mio C220 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Garmin nьvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Garmin nьvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Update 1/21/11:
The unit is still giving excellent directions but there are three problems I thought were worth mentioning. The first is that the battery does not take a full charge anymore. This could, however, be due to the fact that we store the unit in the glove box and the heat in the summer may have diminished the battery capacity. The unit will still run for a couple of hours on an overnight charge and still works great from the car adapter.
The second issue is that it now takes several minutes to acquire satellites when first turned on. It keeps a signal lock once acquired and is very accurate but it seems as if its almanac may be faulty as it has to search a long time whenever it is turned on so we tend to keep it on when we stop at a gas station or restaurant on our trips to keep from having to wait for it to acquire again.
The last thing is fairly minor but I have noticed especially on the data entry screens where a keyboard is being used that the display kind of "fuzzes" out a bit. It seems to lose resolution or to fade out every other line on the display. This happens only momentarily and does not affect the function of the device but it is something to note.
===================================
My wife was skeptical about getting a GPS because we "don't travel that much" which is somewhat true. However, I kept asking and finally got this one as it is a brand I trust and was inexpensive. I couldn't be more pleased with the price / feature set ratio.
The touch screen is fast enough to respond that it's easy to quickly set via points and detours. It's not though and that can be felt with text entry. Not slow by any means but not instant.
The directions were excellent and dragged me around Los Angeles, CA almost as if I knew what I was doing.
Features I like: automatic rerouting is quick; lots of speed, cost, and remaining distance stats available on one easy access screen; directions can be seen in a "google" like format by tapping the top of the screen (this is very helpful in busy cities because you can quickly see when a left turn will be followed shortly by a right and begin merging quickly or start off from an outer left turn lane); easy switch between 3D and 2D maps; speed limit is shown for many roads; with it's extreme portability you can loan it to friends or family if you feel you're the type who doesn't "travel that much."
Features I didn't like: multiple turns in rapid succession are related as "turn left then turn right then turn right" and that gets confusing; navigation sometimes rapidly recalculates when you are approaching a via point (I just mute it until I'm back on my course); no speed limit display in 2D map (I found using the 2D map was easier in the city (where speed limit is important) as you could see the next few turns in street map form whereas you can only see the next turn in 3D mode)
Features I couldn't care less about: fuel cost estimation; eco challenge mode; GPS simulation mode
All in all this is a great item. We found food, shopping, gas, hotels and airports with absolute ease. We felt confident taking an unknown off ramp when the dog needed to potty knowing we would be redirected back onto the freeway regardless of where the off ramp took us. We also knew when we could afford to stop for a quick bite or leg stretch and still not be late due to the constantly updated ETA.
One word of warning is that when it's fresh out of the box and you're playing with it make sure you turn off any avoidances you may have activated. I saw one terrible review for this unit saying it told the person to take every single freeway off ramp they went by. It sounds to me like they had "avoid highways" selected. And if you have "avoid u turns" selected be prepared to be directed around a whole city block if you miss a turn. I chose to keep that on though since I wasn't going to trust the unit to know where U turns were legal or not.
Garmin nьvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
BUY Now Garmin nьvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
I ordered my 205 from Amazon.com in late October and started using it in early November. I have been using a Forerunner 201 since Christmas of last year (2006) and loved it.
The 205 has been an excellent upgrade. I am so pleased with it. It never, ever loses reception (I've only lost GPS signal a couple of times and that has been jogging through tunnels), is accurate, user-friendly and a powerful motivator.
It really helped me out running my first marathon by keeping me on a consistent pace and letting me keep track of so much information.
All in all, I have found that after running almost my whole life, the Forerunner's (first the 201 and now the 205) have helped me get to a new level of running (I've lost almost 25 pounds and run my first marathon). My 205 functions as an accountability partner and teacher. I love the fact that no matter where I am I can run out the door and know exactly how far I've gone and how fast I've done it. It really simplifies the planning process for runs. I also like the added navigation features of the 205 (over the 201). They look to be very impressive, but I have not used them thoroughly yet.
If you run more than once a week, you need a 205.
Pros:
-Provides great information (and tons of it: elevation, pace, best pace, average pace etc.)
-Accurate
-Easy to use
-Very comfortable (I was concerned that the plastic strap would be less convenient/comfortable than the 201's cloth/velcro strap, but the 205 has been great to wear.)
Cons:
-So far I really haven't found any, but I'm a pretty low-maintenance guy. I just get out and run.
-The only downside (just thought of this) is that the display is smaller than the 201's which makes reading it at a glance slightly tougher. It hasn't bothered me at all, but I'm 23 and have good eyesight. If you've got poor eyesight than you might want to go with the larger display of the 201.
Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
BUY Now Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
Garmin eTrex Summit Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)
Garmin eTrex Summit Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)
I just recently got this unit over the summer. This thing is great!! The barametric pressure watcher is perfect for camping, hunting, and other outdoor activities. This also shows the elevation profile. This is a neat little tool and most of the people who like the outdoors will love this.
Garmin eTrex Summit Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)
BUY Now Garmin eTrex Summit Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)
Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
I paid probably $180 for this unit, and I am still satisfied with my choice. Weaknesses: Booting it up is slow, entering in an address is painful (it doesn't gray out the unusable keyboard letters based on what letters you've already typed, which the good ones do), occasionally it takes you to an incorrect location (I entered in an address on "Boston" Post Rd in Darien, and it tried to take me the other direction, to Post Rd in Fairfield), and it often doesn't explain tricky turns that it should (and instead doesn't break them out at all, pretending that it's obvious how you should follow twisty roads into complicated intersections). Sometimes its POI database doesn't have some places that I'd hope. The 4 things that I wish it did (which it doesn't do at all, but which I've never seen any GPS unit do well): allow me to customize my route completely (like Google Maps), connect to my cell phone to allow me to make/receive calls, play MP3s via my car speakers, and inform me about traffic slowdowns. [Some other units advertise features like these 4, but if you read the reviews or test them yourself, I doubt they'll impress.] Strengths: it does have a lot of POIs, which I've found useful, and I think the color screen is good, and the voice prompts are helpful. I really hated using maps or printing out Google Maps directions (and would often get lost even when using them), so I'm happy to have a cheap GPS unit that pretty reliably gets me to where I need to be.
Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
BUY Now Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Garmin nьvi 650 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
Garmin nьvi 650 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
I read a lot of the reviews before buying and found them helpful. Most of the pros and cons are already stated but a few things that I would've liked to know ahead of time are:
Pros - Bought this for $200 new on Amazon and to get any other Garmin that has Text to Speech and the other features that this has is nearly double the price. After using the text to speech function I would not buy a nav without it. It is much safer to have the street names said instead of having to look down at a screen and read street names while driving. Also, the satellite reception is much better then my Nuvi 200 was. Much better. If I turn it on a couple minutes before I leave my house it already has reception before I get in the car. If I wait until I am already driving, it never takes more then 5 minutes to pick it up. My Nuvi 200 was probably 10 minutes prior to leaving and sometimes up to almost a half hour if I'm already on the road.
Cons - The charging system is different from most of the Garmins. You have to plug the charger into the mount and the mount into the nav. I thought it was missing the charger but that wasn't the case. I'm not sure if it is a con or a preference but I thought it would've been better is it was designed for use through the mount or directly as many people do not use the mount.
I am very happy with the Garmin Nuvi 650. For $200 this is a great deal and to find a widescreen text to speech reliable navigation system comparable to this is $300+. I would highly recommend this item.
Garmin nьvi 650 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)
BUY Now Garmin nьvi 650 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Electronics)