Sanyo Easy Street NVM-4370 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Buyer Beware: Know what you are getting into:
I wish it was possible to give a producet a 0 rating
Cons:
FM transmitter is terrible
Speaker is terrible
There is absolutely no support on the web for this product. You cannot download drivers, software, or manuals .
You have to exit navigation mode to do anything else, like listen to music, view pictures, or change any settings such as adjusting the brightness.
The maps are on the CD ROM, my CD ROM was defective, and kept receiving data read errors on every PC in my house when I tried to read from the CD ROM.
MUSIC: There is not playlist or auto add. You can only play the files in one folder, if you have multiple folders you cannot go to the top level folder and play all of the files in the sub folders...so using it as a music player is not really a viable option, unless you have all of your music in one single folder and almost no desktop music player (i.e. windows media player, itunes) arranges music files into a single folder
Video Player: is ok if you can figure which mp4 video files it will play, because it won't play most of them...don't bother looking in the instructions for details because you won't find them. Just like the music player you will have to have all of your videos in a single folder if you want to be able to have anything similar to a playlist. This doesn't represent as big a problem as the audio player as long as you are watching TV shows or movies because they are longer so you are trying to find a new track every 3 or 4 minutes.
Navigation Screen: The maps are little plain, pretty plain, there isn't a lot of difference between the 2D maps and the 3D maps. You won't find anything for trips like you find on the manufacture's devices like GARMIN, so there is no Odometer, Tripometer, or Speedometer. That is a pretty depressing point for me
Bluetooth connected pretty easy on my AT&T Tilt phone, but was unable to use the contacts function via bluetooth; also the SMS messages function does not work either.
Pros:
It has video
It has audio
Navigation works pretty well. It is pretty easy to use, but you need to spend some time getting to know the setup.
Voice is clear and pronounces most street names pretty well, although the speaker is so poor it is hard to hear a highway speeds.
Overall:
I would not recommend this product, it's a shame because it has a lot of features but none of them work well enough to be a selling point. Really disappointing is the fact the speaker is so poor and that the FM transmitter is pretty much worthless because that is something that should have been pretty obvious during product testing.
If Sanyo comes out with a firmware/software update, I might change my recommendation; until then I would navigate away from this GPS.
Reviewer Background:
*34 year old male
*Masters Degree
*10 + years in computer electronics industry
*Previous GPS owner
UPDATE:
After 3 days the unit suddenly stopped working. It will power on with a "SANYO" logo and that is it, did all of the resets that the manual called for. Nothing.
Tried calling customer support----unable to get through. Sanyo has a very simple phone tree that gives you two options. 1 for if you purchased walmart cameras and 2. for all other Sanyo products, when you press 2, it starts the phone tree all over again.
Update 2: Finally got in touch with the Sanyo Helpless Desk, told the them all of the troubleshooting I did and the pretty much told me to take it back where i got it.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT !!!!


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4.3" touch screen display with stylish thin bezel designPre-loaded 50 U.S. Puerto Rico and Canada mapsBluetoothenabled (built-in microphone) SMS and data transfer video input for back up camera SDcard slotText-to-specch (TTS)Built-in 4.0GB internal memory 7 million points of interest (POI) and JPEG photo viewingVoice guidance turn-by-turn navigation and Li-Ion battery that last up to 4 hoursOptional TMC antenna kit English/Spanish/FrenchWorks as a rearview camera display (camera not included)Includes AC adaptor DC car charger car mounting kit USB cable DVD storing US and Canada map and video cable

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Sanyo Easy Street NVM-4070 Bluetooth 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Sanyo NVM-4070 "Easy Street" Portable Navigation System, Piano Black
We have had this item now for almost a month. It is feature rich, and the features really work. The special features of note are:
- blue tooth
- fm transmitter
- plays mp3, wav, wma files (but not wma with DRM security)
- real time traffic updates with automatic or manual re-routing
It is very fast, re-routes quickly without announcing, "off route." You can generate route alternates by clicking three buttons from the map view for an alternate route. Address selection is easy. Creating Via's is easy.
You can switch between functions relatively easily - there is a menu button. From there you can open other functions each with a soft menu button on the screen. Yes, you can control the music while you navigate, and it will lower the volume to give you directions. It will not give audio directions if you are in a phone call but the onscreen navigation will continue. Some features are mutually exclusive, but you can navigate and call, or navigate and listen to music easily. It does not include access to the book services, and my library offers free book downloads with DRM - the unit does not support DRM security.
Car FM transmitters are touchy, but the FM transmitter works fairly well. If you are not familiar, the idea is that the GPS transmits to you car radio so that you can hear the music, navigation, and phone through your car radio. In my Prius, it works best when mounted directly over the radio. It easily allows you to select the frequency to use, but it some frequencies work much better than others.
The Blue tooth imported my phone book - it does not do voice dialing, but has lists of recent numbers called. Once uploaded, the phone book (contacts) is easy to navigate. The blue tooth recognizes the phone, and automatically links - unless your phone is already actively linked with another device - you must then intercede to disconnect one and reconnect the other. The blue tooth set up was a bit touchy to start, but once set up it worked well. It can store configurations for several phones, and will identify on the screen which connection is active. (it can connect to only one phone at a time but if you have more than one phone, it will store the setup for each).
We just started using the Navteq realtime direction service. You can see the routes covered at http://www.navteq.com/rdstraffic/index.html
I have not yet determined the threshold for when it will reroute you - but it does put up a message that the route is being changed because of traffic conditions, and you can view the traffic alerts. It comes with a 90 day free trial and I have not yet determined the actual cost.
It is head and shoulders above the Garmin iQue 3600 we have used till now, but there are a few things the much older Garmin did better.
The Garmin POI's are more expansive, but the Sanyo shows rest areas. I miss the ability to view POI's along my route - a selection option in the Garmin. But the Sanyo with Blue tooth, does something really nice - while viewing the POI - you can touch a button to call the POI. (I suspect that the issues reported here are common to all newer GPS units).
The Garmin had a very nice interactive - real time - turn by turn display - the Sanyo shows the waypoints, but it is less clear.
I found that it is easier to use if I use a pencil eraser to navigate the screen.
It is easy to move the map display by touching the edge of the screen to change the center of the map. It is a bit touchy about zooming out and in.
The mounting kit attaches to the windshield easily and comes down easily. (Garmin used a bean bag to anchor on the dash - I had liked that a lot.)

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The SANYO NVM-4070 Easy Street Portable Navigation System makes using navigation simple. It includes a large 4-inch touch-screen LCD display, intuitive user menu design and pre-loaded maps of the US (including Alaska, Hawaii, & Puerto Rico) and Canada. SANYO NVM-4050 features turn-by-turn, text-to-speech navigation; announces approaching street names and the number of feet or yards until your turn like having your own personal guide riding with you in the car. It incorporates Bluetooth technology, allowing convenient, wireless connectivity and hands-free use with Bluetooth enabled cell phones even while navigating.You can wirelessly transfer data such as phonebook contacts and MP3 music files between your Bluetooth enabled device and the Easy Street¿ navigation system, as well as send/receive SMS text messages. NVM-4050 also allows you to navigate and play MP3, WMA (non-protected) and WAV music files stored on SD flash cards or from its internal memory. Unit color black matte finish.

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Garmin nüvi 765/765T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished) Review

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(More customer reviews)Garmin with NavTeq maps is the way to go. Nearly perfect routing. Reliable maps. Very solid combination generally. This particular unit is an excellent combination of features and, as a refub, a stunning value.
The features that allow this device to stand out from most other Garmins are these: (1) Instant on and instant navigation when turned back on where it was turned off. (2) Lane assist in major cities in some intersections. (3) Multiple stops (Via Points) from your starting point to your destination (many Garmins don't do this). (4) Lifetime traffic. You have to put up with small, rather inconspicuous ads now and again, but it's really no big deal. (5) There is no antenna to extend. It's built into the base unit. (6) It's really, really sensitive. Really. Sensitive. Works great. (7) There are transparent images of large buildings and structures that aid somewhat in navigation but even more, are entertaining and interesting.
You really can't go wrong.
What does it lack? (1) Most notably, voice recognition. (2) MSN services, but that is scheduled to be shut off for lack of interest anyway.* (3) A way to turn off the navigation to carry it around listening to the MP3 player when you're out of the car. It's constantly finding GPS signals in the grocery store and announcing when it's lost the signal in the store. I certainly don't need that and certainly don't need the battery being drained trying to GPS while I'm in Barnes & Noble. It would be nice to be able to turn the GPS off while using other features, like the MP3 player and Audio Book player. (5) The FM transmitter that assists using the GPS and MP3 player with the car stereo is apparently as strong as the FCC permits, but it's still not strong enough to overcome competing stations in the city. It's just not a good connection. Too much noise. Some FM transmitters do better, and I've actually plugged my Garmin GPS's audio output into Belkin FM transmitters that seem to do a better (but still not great) job. (6) It doesn't have Europe on it. Just all of North America.
These really are niggling complaints. It's a great unit. I'm loving the instant on. didn't realize how much I'd like that until I got it.
[...]
Since I liked the first one so much, I bought two more. One for my wife and one for another vehicle. My views have not changed. This is really, really the right product for me. Highly recommended.

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This is a refurbished GPS. Refurbished generally means that the unit has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the navigator back to like new conditions. Some GPS may contain cosmetic blemishes.
Garmin continues to build up its nuvi 7xx series portable GPS navigators with its nuvi 765T, which adds a number of handy routing and communication features to an already impressive list of specs, including a 4.3-inch widescreen display, text-to-speech capabilities, media player, and FM transmitter for transmitting audio--including directions and MP3 music and audiobooks--from the device to your car radio.

New to the nuvi 7x5 lineup is Garmin's HotFix satellite prediction (which locates your position quickly and precisely), Lane Assist (which provides lane guidance and junction views when possible), automatic time zone transitioning, and 3D Building views as well as Garmin Connect Photos to help you visually ascertain your position. Additionally, the nuvi 765T includes Bluetooth connectivity to your cell phone and free real-time traffic updates from Navteq (for the life of the device) via the included GTM 20 traffic receiver.

As with all nuvis, you get Garmin reliability, the fast satellite lock of an integrated high-sensitivity receiver, a slim, pocket-sized design with a gorgeous display, an easy, intuitive interface, and detailed NAVTEQ maps for North America (United States, Canada and Puerto Rico) with more than 6 million name-searchable points of interest. The Garmin nuvi 7x5 line features three other models--check out their spec highlights at the right and click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators.

The bright, 4.3-inch touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views. The widescreen format gives you 70 percent more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.

The nuvi 765T comes preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT road maps from Navteq for the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. Garmin's interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.

Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location.

Important Product Information: This device features a "screen lock" feature. This is a standard feature on all nuvi 2x5 and 7x5 Garmin units. If you slide the "Power" key to the right, it will lock the screen and prevent any accidental touches. Once the screen lock feature is engaged, the screen will go black/gray after about 15 seconds to save power on the device. To unlock the screen, just slide the "Power" key to the center position. This feature is really targeted for "Pedestrian" mode so that a user can put the device in his or her pocket/purse and quickly unlock the screen instead of powering on/off continuously. For more information, see page 5 of the product manual.

Lane Guidance With the new Lane Guidance feature built into the nuvi 7x5 series, you'll never question which lane you should be driving in again. It provides you with a view of what lane you should be in for upcoming turns. And with the 3D Lane Assist Junction View, you'll be able to see a photo-realistic screen that shows you both the road detail as well as the signs as you will see them on the road. The signs that aren't needed for navigation are faded compared to the appropriate lane signage.

Integrated Traffic Receiver Steer clear of traffic with an integrated GTM 20 FM traffic receiver designed to receive alerts about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. No subscriptions or additional hardware needed. Just open the box, turn it on, and get instant access to traffic information--the traffic updates are free for the life of the device.

All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nuvi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time. Watch informational video

In most areas, the traffic broadcasts are continuous--there's no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a "silent" FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.

Hands-Free Calling In more and more places, it is becoming illegal to use cell phones while driving without a hands-free kit. WIth Bluetooth capability, microphone and speaker, you can match your nuvi to any Bluetooth-capable phone to make hands-free mobile phone calls. Simply dial the phone number with the nuvi's touch screen keypad to make a call on a compatible phone. To answer an incoming call, just tap the screen and speak into the built-in microphone. Making and taking calls on the road has never been easier, or safer. In addition, Garmin makes it a breeze to look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or even tap into your cell phone's call history log.

HotFix Satellite Prediciton Garmin's HotFix capability automatically calculates and stores satellite locations, greatly reducing satellite acquisition time so that you can turn the unit on and get going. With HotFix, your nuvi remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off.

Multi-Destination Routing This lets you enter several spots into the device (day care - supermarket-cleaners - office - day care, for example) and it will plot the fastest route. And once you've found the best router, the "Route Planning" feature lets you save up to 10 different routes, Garmin touts the feature for providing, "the most efficient route for errands, deliveries and sales calls." The feature also makes this an instant essential accessory for anyone who shops garage sales (you know what we're talking about). A trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you've been on the map.

Where Am I? Where's My Car? The nuvi 7x5 series is the first to answer two common questions: "Where am I?" and "Where\'s my car?" At any time, with a single tap of the screen, drivers can display their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. And to help drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or vast parking lot, all nuvi 7x5s automatically mark the position in which they were last removed from the mount.

Navigate by Photo with Garmin Connect Photos

Other Features

The 3D Buildings feature is able to reference the buildings displayed on the map as well. Some buildings will be grey images "extruded" from the map, other buildings will be life like representations of the actual property.
With Automatic Time Zone Transition, you'll never have to remember to set the time as you travel. When the unit acquires a position fix, it automatically sets the unit to the correct time zone.
MP3 player compatible with audiobook playback
JPEG picture viewer
FM transmitter plays voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle's stereo system
Compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide, which provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts.
Add custom points of interest (POIs) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras
Travel tools: World travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more

What's in the Box nuvi 765T preloaded with maps of North America (United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico), vehicle suction cup mount, Vehicle power cable, USB cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual
Notes:

Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nuvi to fit your travel needs
The FM transmitter feature is only available in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Like most USB mass storage devices, the nuvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.


Which nuvi is Best for You? Note: All nuvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
Device

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Garmin nüvi 850 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Voice Command and FM Transmitter (Soft Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Well my original monochrome Streetpilot was called back into action but I couldn't get new maps for it. That unit still works perfect after 10 years and is used frequently on canoe trips since it's waterproof to 3ft and can use batteries.
So I needed a GPS that could handle 100hrs of usage per week and have a replaceable battery with good routing and a music player that transmits to the car stereo would be nice.
After 4 months/1600hrs usage I have not been disappointed. Maps are great, it's found 895/900 addresses in the Chicago suburbs and never complained of sitting in the direct sun all day. I have a deep voice and the voice recognition works surprisingly well for me with the windows up in a noisy van. A nice feature would be able to increase the priority of highways, quite often it suggests me taking a more direct route that is slower, since traffic usually moves well over the posted speed. I am happy that the unit offers Flat Map Viewing with the option of Track Up or North Up, the 3D view just isn't for me. The FM transmitter sends my music nicely to the radio and has a volume mixer that will announce directions while playing the music and gives me a heads up about when approaching heavy traffic (MSN Direct receiver). Another nice feature is that you can use the button on the steering wheel to control all the functions of the gps including changing the volume or skipping to the next track or play list. My dashboard is fairly free of clutter since there is only one wire that plugs in the cradle. Another routing feature I use frequently is the ability to avoid Tolls. You Can detour by roads in the route or by distance, a few reviews posted said that it wasn't an option. Apparently Garmin listened and implemented it for free with it's painless updating.
You can change the vehicle that moves across the map (changed mine to a canoe lol) and the voices for free. Tom Tom wants money for it. The MSN Direct Receiver pays for itself by showing gas prices in the area. The games even the demos are good enough to keep the kids busy for a while. The calculator comes in handy at times but the best feature about this GPS is it's reliable. :-)

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Simply speaking, nuvi 850 is one advanced navigator. It features voice-activated navigation, a widescreen display, preloaded maps, an FM transmitter and more. Like the rest of the wide nuvi 800-series, just speak a menu option and nuvi obeys your command. Speak Commands nuvi 850 not only tells you where to turn but listens to your spoken commands. With nuvi\'s innovative speech recognition, you safely control nuvi\'s interface with your voice — allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel. Simply press the button on the remote (which attaches to the steering wheel) to activate speech recognition and begin speaking menu options. nuvi even recognizes shortcut phrases for popular functions. Tell nuvi "Find Address" and speak an address to start navigating.
View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color.

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Garmin nüvi 855 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Speech Recognition Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an unusually long product review, but I just couldn't help but brag about the Nuvi 855, as well as express several complaints about Garmin shortcomings.
Pros and Cons of the Garmin Nuvi 855
PROs: Custom routing; ease of setting unit options; responsiveness to my spoken commands; quick map scrolling via finger movement; Lane Assistance arrows are helpful; map detail is better than on the 755/765; place names appear on screen as you drive; extensive and easy use-to-use Points of Interest database, and POIs can be displayed on map if you choose.
CONs: Volume needs to be louder; warnings of upcoming turns should come sooner; inadequate online manual provides insufficient detail about unit operations;; cannot actually turn unit fully OFF; Lane Assistance displays are very limited; significant learning curve required to confidently program ANY Garmin to respond as the user intends.
Primary GPS Purpose and Recent Nuvi Ownership
I highly recommend the Nuvi 855, but my perspective is primarily based on three road trips, using its Custom Routing feature, plus recent experience with two other Nuvis. My main purpose was to create specific routes before trips, such as eight driving days averaging 500 miles each, on unfamiliar highways and city streets (and also finding McDonalds when we wanted). I have benefited tremendously from the unusual experience of using a Garmin 760 for a month last year, then recently driving 4,000 miles with a more advanced 755...but returned it to get this outstanding value in an 855. I have since used the 855 on a one week trip (and fully expect the bulk of its features to work as they have on the earlier 760 and 755).
We do not need Bluetooth (due to our pre-installed car option), nor the free Traffic alert service (found it mostly useless in 755), nor the 3-D buildings or Eco Route features in other Garmins. Perhaps commuters would enjoy the Traffic service in other Nuvis, but our limited highway trip experience found it alerted unnecessarily, and offered unhelpful detour advice: We thought it an interesting gimmick, but which Garmin may well improve over time.
Low Volume
Many reviewers complain the 855 volume is so low as to warrant returning their units. Actually, low volume may be the most common complaint seen online among all Nuvis. My wife and I agree that volume on the 760/755/855 is too low, but we have never missed a turn because of it: We usually anticipate when an important voice instruction is coming, and turn down the stereo and close windows to "listen harder." It's a slight inconvenience, but that main flaw is worth overlooking. Everyone should be certain to check both possible "Volume" settings: the main one should be at 100% volume, but also set "Mixer" to have all three volume adjustments at 100%. One other learned trick is that users can press the "Next Turn" arrows (upper left corner), and hear again the upcoming turn instruction, as well as have it display the upcoming intersection at the same time. [I almost always check the "next turn" instruction well before upcoming turns; I also find it helpful to press the green text line at the top of the map screen to display a summary of several upcoming turns on my route. This practice should prove useful with many other Nuvi models.]
Low volume is a distinct Garmin flaw, but we enjoyed the 755 for 4,000 miles despite it. We usually had some wind noise with the sunroof and rear windows open, but would close them (IF necessary) when we anticipated receiving an instruction, such as at the .8 mile mark before a turn; we frequently pressed the screen to re-hear an instruction, as well as to view the turn well beforehand. I urge others to work to overcome the volume issue...and move on to enjoy all the other benefits of an 855. We believe the 855 volume is just as usable as our previous units. However, I do intend to download a popular voice editor, which other Nuvi owners have bragged about, because it lets them increase the volume of spoken instructions.
Lane Assistance and Junction View
855 buyers should also be aware that Lane Assistance and Junction View are VERY much complained about Garmin features, due to the fact that they are primarily available only in major metropolitan areas and on interstate highways. Despite that, we enjoyed the 755 Lane Assistance multiple turn lane arrows appearing many times during our trip through Salt Lake, Phoenix, Tucson, and San Diego, and found it very helpful. We wished Junction View pictures of the green interstate highway signs appeared more often, but thought them mostly unnecessary (except passing through Portland area @ I-205 and I-5 interchanges, where they were very helpful). I expect 855 service to be identical,
Remote Control Voice Command
My wife and I are tremendously pleased with the 855 Remote Command function and expect that it will be very useful in future driving, as well as a pleasant diversion to play with. The remote has responded FAR better in our road testing than I could have imagined; it is much safer than the manual adjustments I was previously making while driving (stupid guy tricks at 70 MPH are a thing of the past!).
I have compiled my own list of the remote Voice Commands, and was surprised to find several that are not in the manual. Almost any menu instruction can be given by voice, making the 855 even more functional than expected. You might be surprised to learn that the following commands also work: Yes, No, Back, Page Up/Down, Scroll Up/Down, Clear, and Delete. I have also discovered that "Next Turn" will repeat the spoken instruction for the upcoming turn; this is handy to check many miles before your turn. Once the "Next Turn" graphic is displayed, the user can command successive upcoming turns to be displayed and spoken. Among my favorite commands are "Zoom In" and "Zoom Out," instead of reaching and pressing on the screen while driving. Any sound problems in making ourselves understood are easily overcome, as my co-pilot wife can always intervene with manual operation when we are moving.
I find it easy to use the Voice Commands, but only because I have played with the menu settings manually in three Nuvis. Thus, I can usually interact freely with the 855 Voice Commands, and flow from one screen to another while driving, without letting the remote shut off before I'm finished with it. On the other hand, I do wish that the green "On" icon would stay active longer than it does: Keeping an eye on the icons and flicking one's vision back-and-forth from the road to menu options is a significant distraction, and potentially dangerous. I think it important to try and limit Voice Command use to situations where traffic is light, and oncoming vehicles are not present. I try to perform extensive menu operations (by voice) for situations where I feel safe diverting my attention from driving; on the other hand, my wife is becoming more comfortable at searching through the menus by herself, and enjoys the 855 as much as I.
Routing Accuracy and Points of Interest
Accuracy of our Nuvi instructions have generally been excellent, as is the extensive Point Of Interest (POI) database and operation. We have had some Garmin map goofs and occasional mis-routing, but also have extreme confidence that we will be rerouted quickly and correctly to fix mistakes we make in taking wrong turns. Based on our previous extensive Garmin experience, I expect the same wonderful service with the 855 model.
In contrast to occasional Nuvi annoyances, one of its best features is the confidence it gives us that whenever we goof up (such as missing a turn), when it will speak up almost immediately with a "recalculation." Similarly, whenever we are uncertain if we have made a correct turn, the fact that NO "recalculation" occurs gives us confidence that we are still "on track." Even when not on a route, we love being able to drive anywhere unfamiliar, and know that we can just search for a major landmark street or POI...and get ourselves "back to civilization."
The POIs come in handy in several situations that one might not ordinarily consider. For instance, when in a strange city, one can locate gas stations by brand or chain restaurants, find the way back to your motel, locate a nearby park to relax after a tiring daylong drive, as well. It is also useful to search for locations of interest before a trip, and learn how far they are from your overnight lodging (as well as establish a route to them). I find the GPS far easier to find POIs than following instructions from well meaning strangers.
We were frustrated using POI's to locate one McDonalds: Voice command and manual controls via several search methods failed to identify a McD along our route, and we finally gave up...despite being certain there was one nearby. Twenty miles later, upon arrival in the parking lot of a McD, the 855 still could not find it via "Where I Am Now." We have also experienced slight mistakes in POI locations for two other burger places, but both were close enough that we found them anyways. Thus, we have learned that Nuvi isn't perfect, and have learned to compensate...and "grin and bear" its boo-boos.
Learning to Use Any Nuvi
It seems that all major gps brands lack a detailed, printed manual; instead, they provide an online manual. However, even online instructions (especially Garmin!) are inadequate to fully demonstrate all unit capacities and efficient use. I have read the online manual for each of my Nuvis, but hate the fact that they are so incomplete. Garmins also have a fair amount material in the onboard "Help" feature, which is handy when you are away from your computer. These Help references are very brief, however, and...Read more›

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Stay ahead of the curve with nuvi 855. This premium navigator features voice-activated navigation and lane assist with junction view. Now you can keep both hands on the wheel, tell nuvi where to go and maneuver complicated interchanges with ease. Like the rest of the 805-series, it comes with a widescreen display, preloaded maps and more.
Voice-activated navigation and lane assist with junction view.

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Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)I actually could not decide between the Garmin Nuvi 255w or the 750 model, so I decided to buy them both for comparison. I mounted them both to my car windshield and gave them various addresses to find together. I found that both models took the same routes and announced upcoming turns and street names at practically the same time. One thing I noticed about the 255w was that it was updating my position on the road more often, I'd say about 3 times as often as the 750. This made for smoother graphics on the 255w of the vehicle moving along displayed roads, where the 750's display was more of a "jerky" movement. I also found that the display on the 255w was a bit brighter, clearer, and more vivid than on the 750 in both daylight and at night. Another feature I like on the 255w is the graphic turn indicator in the upper left corner, which the 750 lacks. This is a small arrow which shows upcoming turns and the distance to that turn. It also show things like a fork in the road, (ie: a Y intersection), and which fork you will be taking. The 750 just displays text on the top line for upcoming turns without the arrow. It's just a little extra feature on the 255w which I happened to really like. The 255 also automatically adjusts the font size of displayed text so that even lengthy text will fit.
Another feature on the 255w is a display of the posted speed limit on the road which you are currently on right above your current displayed speed. I found myself not even looking at my car speedometer as I could easily see my current speed and the speed limit of my route at a glance. The 750 doesn't have this feature. I also like how they moved the zoom in (+) and zoom out (-) buttons on the 255w to the same side of the screen which makes it a bit easier. On the 750 the zoom buttons are on opposite sides of the screen.
Now there are some features on the 750 that the 255w does not have. The 750 can broadcast it's sound over your FM radio with the supplied cigarette lighter cable, and it has a headphone jack, which I found to be nice features. The 750 also has an MP3 player and an Audio-book player, which the 255w does not. Another really nice feature of the 750 is the car locater. This is a great feature if you are parking in a really big lot, such as at an amusement park or a fair. The 750 marks your location when you remove it from the car, then you take it with you and it remembers where you parked and takes you right back to your car. The 255w doesn't have the car locater.
I also thought the the voice prompts of the 750 where more pleasant sounding than the 255w's. The 750 sounds more like a real female voice, where the 255w sounds more robotic.
Another thing to consider was that I paid $50 less for the 750 and it came with the FM transmitter cable and a USB cord to connect it to your computer for updates and downloads.
My final decision was to keep the 255w and return the 750 because I really liked the graphic turn indicator and the posted speed limit and current speed indicators. I didn't find a need for the 750's MP3 player and Audio book player, but that is up to personal preference. Since the USB cable was not included with the 255w, I purchased it on this site for $10. I also intend to purchase the MSN direct cable when it is available in August 2008.

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Go wide and get peace of mind with nuvi 255W. This affordable, widescreen navigator leads the way with voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions that speak street names and optional MSN Direct® services to get you there on time and keep you informed. It's packed with millions of destinations and maps for North America or Europe. Like the rest of the sleek nuvi 2x5-series, this portable navigator is priced right and ultra-easy to use. See More With nuvi 255W's widescreen display, you'll always get the big picture. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, 4.3" (10.9 cm) display is easy to read, from any direction.
With the nuvi 255W's widescreen display, you'll alwasys get the big picture

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LINSAY LSY-750 4.3" The UNIQUE Portable GPS 7 in 1 with Multimedia Text to Speech, USA, Canada Maps , Build in FM Transmitter, Mp3 Player, Video Player, Photo Viewer, Data Storage up to 8 GB SD Card Review

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(More customer reviews)First a couple specifications of interest that weren't on any pages when I tried to find reviews:
- Sticker on back says Windows CE Core 5.0
- GPS Application Information: LINSAY Car Navigator, 2008 R5.0, Map Data from Navteq
I haven't played with a lot of car GPS units, but as far as I can tell you can plot your route and adjust things as well as any other. There are various color sets to use and the option to have different ones during the day and night. Units can be changed between miles/feet and km/m. The language of the text and the speech can be different I found out. When it arrived it was set to English for text and Spanish for spoken directions. :D
Sometimes the zoom in and out and other option buttons aren't visible on the navigation map so you have to drag the pointer a little and then they appear. It seems to be right after visiting a menu that it occurs.
I got it half for the ability to play MP3s and videos with built in FM transmitting. The FM frequency can be set in .10 MHz steps from 88.10 to 107.90. You will more than likely want to heed the rather cryptic (less than optimal English translation) recommendation to have some ear phones or some type of audio extension (maybe a 10-25 foot one from the 99 Cents Only Store would be even better) connected to enhance the FM transmission. It is a little weak without the extension/phones connected. But with something good and long and on a low interference frequency you might broadcast around your house as well. :)
There is only 1 spoken voice to choose from (as far as I can tell).
The Mexico map comes on a separate CD that you are told to copy the information off of onto another SD card. (NOT onto the same 2 GB SD card that comes with it with the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands map data.)
The video player will play regular AVIs that you can get via everyone's favorite Pirate Bay or IsoHunt bittorrent search. That is good, because having to convert video files to play on a portable device is for the birds!
MP3s can be set to play randomly or repeat. They seem to continue to play in the background during every other application (navigation, picture viewing, text reading, settings adjustments).
The only thing I wish it had the ability to do in the ebook (text file) reader is to be able to add in some extra notes via a screen keyboard. But you can use it to check some notes you already have saved I guess, just no modifications or additions.
I'm happy with it. I hope the person that will receive it will be too. :D

Click Here to see more reviews about: LINSAY LSY-750 4.3" The UNIQUE Portable GPS 7 in 1 with Multimedia Text to Speech, USA, Canada Maps , Build in FM Transmitter, Mp3 Player, Video Player, Photo Viewer, Data Storage up to 8 GB SD Card

Here is the unique device could help you navigate anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, while offering travel tips, Build In FM Transmitter, storing your favorite tunes, E-Book, Music Mp3 and photos, watch your favorites Videos with Capacity to 8 GB!! The LINSAY LSY-750 4.3" is set to Revolutionize what we expect from a GPS navigation device, or from any device for that matter. Designed for portability, the LSY-750 offers just the right balance of power, portability, functionalities and price. The LSY-750 provides clear and accurate Turn-by-turn voice instructions, so that you don't have to take your eyes off the road while your vehicle is on the move. Voice instructions are available in over 18 languages. If you miss a turn along the route, the LINSAY LSY-750 automatically recalculates a route. You can choose to see a 2D or 3D map adjusted specifically for day time or night time conditions. When you begin a selected journey, the LSY-750 provides an overview of your complete route, the total driving distance to your destination, the estimated travel time, and the complete destination address. It comes with everything needed to use the unit, including both Car and AC Power, USB Cable, and 2 GB SD CARD with USA Canada Maps , Car Mount, CD manual. New Design Ultra Slim Gloss Black color. TEXT-TO-SPEECH

Click here for more information about LINSAY LSY-750 4.3" The UNIQUE Portable GPS 7 in 1 with Multimedia Text to Speech, USA, Canada Maps , Build in FM Transmitter, Mp3 Player, Video Player, Photo Viewer, Data Storage up to 8 GB SD Card