Garmin nuvi 500, 550 Crossover GPS: REVIEW
July 25, 2008 by Rated4Stars · 2 Comments
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We get many questions about finding a single GPS that does it all, taking you from car to trail to the lake or offshore. Oh, and geocaching would be nice, too. And, of course, it needs to be waterproof and have great battery life…oh and how about a removable battery to boot? Well, Garmin’s been busy on your behalf and the nüvi 500 series may be the ideal solution in the emerging "crossover" class of GPS systems. Like its nuvi relatives, the 500 and 550 models are sleek and easily fit into your pocket or pack as well as your hand for comfortable handheld operation with an impressive battery life of 8 hours.
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Garmin nuvi 205, 205W, 255, 255W Vehicle GPS: REVIEW
July 23, 2008 by Rated4Stars · Leave a Comment
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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.
Garmin Colorado 400t, 400c, 400i, 300 Handheld GPS: REVIEW
July 14, 2008 by Rated4Stars · 2 Comments
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The past few years have seen dramatic advances in the GPS units we use in our cars, with intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and an ever-growing number of features. Though handheld units have certainly benefited from new, more sensitive GPS chips and other advances deep in their electronics, they haven’t realized the same sort of game-changing advances as their vehicle-based cousins…until now. Garmin’s Colorados series ushers in the next generation of handheld GPS units, offering a rich feature set while incorporating the ease of use you’ve grown accustomed to in the car, within a rugged, waterproof shell. Outside Magazine sums it up, "The Garmin Colorado 400t was born for serious backcountry time, and you won’t find a more user-friendly or durable handheld GPS" while About.com concludes that the "400t lives up to its promise of being a next-generation handheld GPS."
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TomTom GO 930, 730 GPS: REVIEW
July 12, 2008 by Rated4Stars · 2 Comments
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In our reviews of TomTom’s popular entry-level ONE series, including the ONE 130 and 130S and the ONE XL 330 and 330S, we’ve praised TomTom’s "ongoing innovative spirit and clever approach to design of their highly-customizable GPS devices." We’re impressed to see TomTom offering strong innovations in its mid- and upper-range offerings, too, with the GO 730 and 930 series (which replace the highly-rated GO 720 and 920 respectively), which offer a range of useful new features at even greater value. Laptop Magazine states, "the GO 930 is one of the best GPS values we’ve seen in the mid-range space," while, as About.com says the 930, "combines highly competent navigation and fast signal acquisition and route calculations with all of the latest technical goodies TomTom has to offer."
Magellan Maestro 4250, 3250 GPS: REVIEW
July 5, 2008 by Rated4Stars · 2 Comments
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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.
TomTom ONE XL 330, 330S: REVIEW
July 2, 2008 by Rated4Stars · 1 Comment
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TomTom’s successful wide-screen version of the popular ONE series, the ONE XL and XL-S is updated with the ONE XL 330 and 330S, wide-screen versions of the ONE 130 and 130S. As we indicated in our 4-star review of the 130 and 130S, the new ONE series vividly illustrates 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."
Garmin nüvi 750, 760, 770, 780 - REVIEW
June 18, 2008 by Rated4Stars · 5 Comments
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Garmin has not stopped to rest following its successes with the immensely popular (and deservedly so) nuvi line. With the introduction of the 700 series, Garmin has redefined its top-shelf category, borrowing the sleek good looks of its entry-level nuvi 200 series, but packing it with its high-end features of the 600 series, and then some. The 760 has earned top honors from a number of reviewers, including Editor’s Choice from PC Magazine, which states, "The 760 sports a trimmer, slicker design and adds a number of cool new features and welcome refinements to the top-rated 600 series."
Garmin nuvi 360, 370: REVIEW
June 18, 2008 by Rated4Stars · 2 Comments
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When you get it right, you get it right, and Garmin really got it right with the nüvi 360, the successor to the popular and highly-rated nüvi 350. It’s not often that we award a 5-star rating, but the nuvi 360 has achieved a sensible yet powerful blend of features and implemented them masterfully. In addition, the nuvi is as portable as GPS units in this league get, and a real looker at that. The 360 inherits all of the 350’s features and adds Bluetooth capability.
Garmin nuvi 650, 660, 670, 680: REVIEW
June 17, 2008 by Rated4Stars · 5 Comments
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We were still breathless after our 5-star review of Garmin’s nuvi 360 when Garmin announced what is much more than just a wide-screen version of the 360. Yes, Garmin has managed to do itself one better with the nuvi 660, with several new features that are smart and elegantly implemented, so much so as to inspire some owners to call it “the iPod of GPS navigation systems.” CNet’s editors say, “the Garmin Nuvi 660 is the ultimate traveler’s tool” and PC Magazine calls it, “the best in the shirt-pocket GPS category.”
Garmin StreetPilot c550: REVIEW
June 16, 2008 by Rated4Stars · 3 Comments
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The second generation of Garmin’s popular StreetPilot c-series brings key upgrades to already top-rated products, leading Time Magazine to say, “The new Garmin StreetPilot c550 is the best portable navigation product on the market.” PC Magazine states, ” …the bevy of new features make the price premium a no-brainer.” We agree. We credit 2005’s Garmin StreetPilot c330 with ushering in a new era in consumer in-vehicle GPS systems. Why? The StreetPilot c-series brought what the GPS world at the time lacked the most — ease of use.
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