TomTom XL 340, 340S, 340S LIVE: REVIEW

TomTom’s value-packed XL 340 and XL 340S (wide-screen versions of the TomTom ONE 140 and 140S) offer an attractive upgrade to the XL 330 and 330S, competitively positioning them in the entry-level category of in-vehicle GPS systems, which includes Garmin’s popular 2×5 series. Most significant, TomTom has now included its Advanced Lane Guidance feature into the XL 340 series, a feature until now seen only on midrange and top GPS units. The new XL 340S LIVE includes a built-in receiver for TomTom’s LIVE Services, including live traffic, weather, fuel prices and Google Local Search. Cnet states,"The TomTom XL 340 S introduces a few advanced features to TomTom’s midrange lineup, while staying well below the premium price bracket."

 

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Garmin nuvi 265T, 265WT, 275T, 285WT Vehicle GPS: REVIEW

Garmin’s popular 2×5 series, building on the success of the 200 series, designed as a budget-friendly GPS, continues to blur the lines between "entry level" and mid-level with the 265T, 265W, 275T and 285WT models which sit at the upper end of this category. (These models are not fundamentally different from the other models in the 2×5 series but include richer feature sets, maps and other included options.) As we pointed out in our review of Garmin’s first models released in the 2×5 series (the 205, 205W, 255 and 255W), the result is a product that is marketed as an entry-level system but in fact has a solid mid-level feature set under the hood. Not surprisingly, the 265, 275 and 285 have won accolades from editorial reviewers and owners alike, the latter especially pleased at the perfomance per price. In its review of the 265T, PC World notes this, indicating, "…a reasonable price for a full-featured GPS–especially when you factor in the lifetime traffic service."

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TomTom ONE 140, 140S GPS: REVIEW

TomTom’s value-packed ONE 140 and ONE 140S offer an attractive upgrade to the ONE 130 and 130S, competitively positioning them in the entry-level category of in-vehicle GPS systems, which includes Garmin’s popular 2×5 series. Most significant, TomTom has now included its Advanced Lane Guidance feature into the ONE 140 series, a feature until now seen only on midrange and top GPS units. In its Editor’s Choice 4-star review, PC Magazine states, "TomTom’s One 140-S has more features than you’d typically expect from a $200 GPS device from a top manufacturer."

 

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Garmin nuvi 205, 205W, 255, 255W Vehicle GPS: REVIEW

If you’re a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices — really good choices — in the top-rated nuvi line, Garmin’s not about to make your decision any easier. The 2×5 series, including the 205, 205W, 255 and 255W adds so many features to the 200 series that the term "entry level" just might not cut it any more. In fact, the 205/205W and 255/255W incorporate both higher-end features as well as features not even seen in some of their higher-end siblings. The result is a product that is marketed as an entry-level system, but in fact has a solid mid-level feature set, earning the 2×5 series even stronger marks than the popular 200 series.

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Magellan Maestro 4250, 3250 GPS: REVIEW

Magellan is a long-standing leader in GPS, especially famous for its award-winning RoadMate series and the Hertz NeverLost car navigation system. Though not as dominant as it was several years ago, Magellan continues to produce quality GPS units for the field and the car. Demonstrating their ongoing commitment to innovation, Magellan has rounded out their popular Maestro line with the 3250 and wide-screen 4250, which were among the first aftermarket vehicle GPS systems with voice recognition capability to reach the consumer. Drawing from Magellan’s lengthy track record in the business and building upon the proven Maestro platform, CNET says, "Maestro 4250 is a solid mid-level portable navigation system." We agree.

 

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TomTom ONE 130, 130S: REVIEW

TomTom’s popular entry-level ONE 3rd Edition is updated with the ONE 130 and 130S, which vividly illustrate TomTom’s ongoing innovative spirit and clever approach to design of their highly-customizable GPS devices. Fortunately, TomTom hasn’t sacrificed any of the strong foundation of the ONE series, nor its solid reliability and appeal to first-time buyers. A leading consumer magazine states,"The TomTom One 130 and 130S are good choices for consumers seeking an entry-level device. They deliver the core features that matter most in navigators…[and] improve on the well-rated previous generation" and About.com calls it a " very competent navigator at a budget price."

 

 

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Garmin eTrex Legend Handheld GPS: REVIEW

We first reviewed the Garmin eTrex Legend GPS in 2005 and were delighted to see that this classic workhorse is now available in an economic bundle that includes a PC cable, car power adapter, and Garmin MapSource U.S. Topo Map CD-ROM. Though it lacks some of the features we’ve come to expect in newer handhelds, such as a color screen or next-generation GPS chipset, the eTrex Legend remains a capable and proven workhorse in the Garmin family, and a beloved one at that (we still use ours), still used by many for a wide range of outdoor activities, including geocaching, despite its lack of any special geocaching features.
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Garmin nuvi 350: REVIEW

Garmin’s StreetPilot c-Series introduced us to a welcome marriage of strong technical features with unprecedented ease of use. Just a few months later, with the nüvi 350, Garmin has taken its blending of form and function to a new level, offering an elegant yet essential travel tool to the traveler. Already receiving accolades in Europe (“It’s just brilliant,” says Global Positioning Systems in the U.K.) where its release has preceded that in North America, the slim 5-ounce nüvi 350 is sure to find its niche among frequent travelers who may find themselves finding their way through heavy traffic in Chicago on Tuesday and navigating the narrow sidewalks of Rome on Wednesday, with access to a spoken Italian Language Guide to boot (along with 8 other languages) along your stroll.

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Garmin nuvi 200, 250, 260, 270: REVIEW

Garmin’s nuvi series, introduced with the 300 series, began as began as a high-end unit targeting the business traveler and "gotta have it" gadgeteer. Its widespread appeal, even at a premium price, is a testament to the nuvi line’s ease of use, full functionality, and reassuring capability.With the 200 series, Garmin puts nuvi excellence in the hands of the rest of us.

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Tom Tom ONE 3rd Edition – REVIEW

Entry-level never looked so good in the vehicle GPS market. TomTom significantly improved upon its already solid-performing and crowd-pleasing ONE (2nd Edition), yet has priced the new TomTom ONE 3rd Edition only slightly higher than its predecessor. The 3rd Edition is well-worth the modest price increase. Like its predecessor, the TomTom ONE 3rd Edition is ultra-portable, easy to use, and sports a bright easy-to-read touch screen. As with the 2nd Edition, the ONE 3rd Edition includes an SD memory card with detailed maps of the United States and Canada. Maps for additional countries are also available for purchase.

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