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(More customer reviews)After using the popular TomTom One for six months (and being completely satisfied with it) I decided to give the latest in Garmin technology a try. Garmin's newest line of Nuvi's (the 200, 250, and 270) appears to be designed to combat the basic (and extremely popular) TomTom One, as they are designed with the utmost simplicity in mind. Garmin has finally done away with all the bells and whistles of their past GPS models and stripped down their latest releases to the bare essentials. But don't let the simplicity of the Nuvi 200 fool you, it still packs quite a punch.
The first thing I noticed upon purchasing this product is it's size...very, very small. The unit ways only 0.33 pounds (5.2 ounces) which I found very convenient. Also the Garmin Nuvi 200's wallet sized dimensions, 3.8 x 2.8 x .8 inches (W x H x D) make for easy transport from car to pocket once you have reached your destination.. Because the Garmin Nuvi 200 doesn't come with a carrying case I found the unit's basic rectangular design very handy when searching for a protective case to envelop the unit when not in use. Basically any small camera case at any department store will fit this GPS unit nicely. I found one for $7.00, a real plus considering the unusual design of the TomTom One and it's customized $30.00 carrying case, consumers (of course) had to buy separately.
The Garmin Nuvi 200 lacks the text-to-speech function of it's big brother, the Nuvi 350 and also has no MP3 technology (remember this is a basic unit). However the unit has managed to shed the little flip-up antenna that Garmin owners have been used to seeing on older models, such as the Nuvi 350. Everything is now neatly packed away and internal giving the Nuvi 200 an even sleeker look.
Enough about what the Nuvi lacks, on to what is has. Although the unit is simple in design Garmin has managed to pack in a few extras for it's customers. The Nuvi 200 has a JPEG picture viewer, a calculator, a currency converter, a unit converter, and a world clock just in case your wondering what time it is in Tokyo. Some users may use these features more than others, while others may find them plain redundant but hey...it's always nice to have extras.
The battery life is excellent compared to the TomTom One's weak 2-hour expectancy. The instruction manual brags it can last "up to 5 hours" so you won't have to scramble for the vehicle power cable as often as with other units. The Nuvi 200's 3.5 inch screen (with 320x240 pixel count) is beautiful, bright and detailed Very convenient for such a small unit.
Of course I have to mention the high-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS receiver that was able to locate it's position in under 30 seconds on it's first start up. I've even managed to get satellite signals while indoors, quite impressive.
The only fault I could find with the unit was (surprisingly) it's maps. Although Garmin uses NAVTEQ maps I found them very lacking compared to the TomTom (Tele Atlas) maps I'm used to. The clichéd' argument is that because Garmin is a North American based company their maps for The United States should be more accurate then the European based Tele Atlas maps which TomTom uses. This was quickly disproved by a simple drive around town. There were some streets in my home town which have been completed for over 5 years that still aren't registered by the supplied NAVTEQ maps the Nuvi 200 comes with. I never had this problem with my TomTom One.
The Garmin Nuvi 200 gets a well-deserved 4 stars. Although it's maps are sometimes lacking they were always accurate and managed to get me home safely. Garmin is a quality name in GPS and anyone looking for a simple yet powerful unit should give the Garmin Nuvi 200 a chance.
Here is what comes in the box:
- The Nuvi 200 unit that comes preloaded with maps of the lower 48 states (plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico)
- Vehicle Suction Cup Mount (instead of sticking this mount to the windshield, I break tradition and mount the suction cup to the driver's side window down near the rearview mirror then just turn it towards me. I find it is much easier to operate and it doesn't obstruct my view.)
- Vehicle Power Cable
- Dashboard Disc
- Set Up And Go Guide (not very detailed)
Click Here to see more reviews about: Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Navigate without breaking your budget with nuvi 200. This affordable entry-level personal travel assistant comes with preloaded maps for the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. For even more mapping options, nuvi 250 features preloaded maps for all of North America, while the transatlantic nuvi 270 includes preloaded maps for both continents. Like all nuvi 200-series members, the 200 features an easy-to-use colorful touchscreen and ultra-slim design--perfect for everyday navigation.
Which nuvi is Best for You?: Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators. Smart, Powerful Design The nuvi 200 is built with a high-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS receiver for extreme accuracy, as well as an SD card slot for storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB interface for loading data. All this is wrapped up in a package that measures 3.8 x 2.8 x .8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs just 5.2 ounces. The nuvi 200's 3.5-inch (diagonal) display is touchscreen-enabled, making it a cinch to control the device with your fingertips. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to five hours of battery life depending on use.
Navigate with Ease nuvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty database of more than 6 milliong points of interest (POIs), such as hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more, that are searchable by name or category. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nuvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. In addition, the nuvi accepts custom (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.
Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.
Easy To Use Interface 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.
Beyond Navigation
Navigation is just the beginning. nuvi features travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map.
This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nuvi for your travel needs.
Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI\'s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.
Trick Your GPS Ride
What's in the Box nuvi 200, preloaded City Navigator NT for the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico (no Alaska or Canada detail), vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, dashboard disk, and set up and go guide
Note: 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.
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