Garmin nuvi 265WT Features

The Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator with traffic, of course, has the 4.3-inch widescreen. If you’ve never owned a GPS before, and if you’re thinking about getting one of the smaller screen sizes, be aware that the 4.3-inch screen gives you a whopping 60% more viewing area! When you’re in unfamiliar territory and you’re looking for a road sign and glancing at your GPS at the same time, that extra 60% can be really meaningful.

In addition to the screen size, the nuvi 265 WT also has Bluetooth™ connectivity, so you can use it in conjunction with your cell phone. Another feature I really like is the fact that the Garmin 265 WT comes with a lifetime subscription to traffic updates from Navteq. You might have noticed that the Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator with traffic has a “T” after it’s name. That means that the normally optional traffic receiver comes with the device. There’s nothing else to buy.

Of course, you get the super slim design that all of Garmin’s 2X5 series has. You can take the GPS from your dashboard and slip it into your pocket or purse. It’s rechargeable battery makes it really convenient for pedestrian use.

When you get your Garmin nuvi 265 WT, it will come pre-loaded with Garmin’s City Navigator NT maps for all of North America, lifetime traffic subscription, FM traffic receiver with power cables, a suction cup mount, USB cable, and a dashboard disk.

Here are the technical specs:

As I said, the TomTom XXL 550 5-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator is mid-range in terms of price. Right now it’s selling for a little more than $150 USD. In addition to the larger screen with the XXL 550, you get what TomTom calls IQ Routes. This is basically a way of calculating times given traffic conditions at different times of day. In other words, rush hour, etc, is taken into account.

The TomTom XXL 550 5-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator can say the names of the streets you’re to turn on. It also has lane guidance. I really like the lane guidance. If you’ve ever been in a busy, unknown, intersection and wondered what lane to get in, then I’m sure you’ll agree.

It has maps of the US, Canada, and Mexico, pre-loaded. Also the TomTom XXL 550 5-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator has over 7 million points of interest, also pre-loaded. Perhaps the best feature, besides the screen size, is TomTom’s new, easier to use, interface.

Borrowing from the success of the TomTom EASE, the XXL 550 has the same very easy to navigate user interface. You just tap the screen to get started. Also, the number of things to tap and decisions to make between turning on the device and actually getting on the road with it is minimal. To my mind, this is certainly a plus that TomTom has over Garmin.

You can click this link to learn more about the XXL 550.

Oh, one more thing.

There’s an XXL 550, an XXL 550T, and an XXL 550TM. These are all the same device. The 550 doesn’t come with lifetime traffic or map subscriptions. The 550T comes with lifetime traffic, and the 550TM comes with lifetime subscriptions to both traffic and updated maps. There’s about a $50 difference between the 550 and the 550TM. If you’re planning on keeping the device for a few years, then I would probably go with the 550TM. You’ll save money and hassle in the long run.

You can learn more about all three of these, here.

I actually love maps…real maps. You know, paper maps that tear along the creases. I love compasses. I used to do orienteering when I was a Boy Scout. Now, although I have a collection of zillions of maps, I don’t use them anymore. Why not? Well, my GPS is so much easier to use. (There could be a problem with this, which I’ll talk about in a moment.)

It’s only been ten years since President Clinton opened up the GPS satellite system to commercial, civilian use. At first, the satellites, which power the GPS grid were for military use only. Like the deregulation of ATT years ago, this access to GPS technology spawned a whole new industry. Now, we have GPS’s in cars, after market GPS’s, GPS’s for golf, running, boating, flying, and fishing. We’ve got GPS technology in our phones. Heck we can even put it under the epidermis of our dogs. (What’s next? Our kids?)

I love GPS’s in particular and technology, in general. So, I’m not trying to be some sort of luddite, here. All technological advances, however, carry the seeds of loss of privacy, and with that loss of civil rights. And we have to keep this in mind with GPS technology.

It wasn’t but a few short months ago, that our current President (Obama) suggested that we install GPS’s in everyone’s car in order to control gasoline usage. That’s certainly a “green” thought. But it’s also a dangerous thought. I just read an article about the amazing amount of data that Facebook compiles and sells on its users. Just think what Uncle Sam could do with detailed knowledge of where you drive, when you drive, how long you’re parked in various places. Couple this with the fact that census workers are supposed to get the coordinates of the front doors of the residences they visit, and…you have the stuff that conspiracy movies are made of.

Science fiction aside…(or is it sci-fi?) …GPS technology is really cool. I especially love the trend that Garmin is taking lately of merging GPS’s, cell phones, and mobile Internet browsers. My dream would be to have a device that single-handily took care of all of my information technology needs. I don’t know what you would call it. (Let me know, if you have any ideas.)

What can we expect in the near future for GPS technology? Personally, I think we’re headed in the direction of single device integration. I hope, however, that this is more than just one device with a zillion icons, just sort of a portal where you choose the app you need. I hope that we can get this down to the point where we have apps that do more and handle more. Think spreadsheet, word processor, PowerPoint, Internet browser, media collector/player combination. One app that does more. I think it’s going to be a while before we get there.

BTW, here’s an article I read in PCMag that sort of launched me on this track.

Enough playing around. I’ve got to crank out a few more product announcements and reviews.

Lee

The Garmin ASUS M10 Nüvifone is it! With this product, Garmin has seamlessly combined cell phone technology with mobile computing with GPS receivers. There’s really not much the Garmin ASUS M10 Nüvifone can’t do. Imagine having access to Garmin’s incredible GPS maps and technology, the Internet, even Facebook and YouTube, also to plenty of other apps via Window’s Marketplace! With the Garmin ASUS M10 Nüvifone you get all of this and a 5 MP camera.

You can basically do everything that needs doing right on this one unit. You can use the Garmin ASUS M10 Nüvifone just as you would a normal GPS device in your car. It comes with a car kit and power cables for such use. Just plug it in and start driving. You can even sync the Garmin ASUS M10 Nüvifone with your own computer over the air. The GPS part of the device has voice prompts, text-to-speech, Garmin’s award winning maps, lane assist and millions of points of interest. For the moment, you can consider the Garmin ASUS M10 Nüvifone to be the complete smartphone/GPS combo.

I’m biased towards the Magellan Maestro 4040 4.3-inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator. As a matter of fact, I’m biased towards virtually all of Magellan’s products. I know they’re not the industry leader—Garmin is. I know that Magellan’s not coming out with cutting edge GPS devices every other day like Garmin is. I also know that Magellan builds a really quality product and has some features that Garmin will never have, like the AAA Tour Book right on the device. I’m not saying that I don’t like Garmin. And I’m definitely not some sort of Garmin hater—you know how certain people are Bill Gates haters? Nothing like that. I actually prefer Garmin, in general, over Magellan. But I’m just pointing out that Magellan’s GPS’s have a lot going for them. Including the Maestro 4040. So, with all of that said, let’s look at the Magellan Maestro 4040 4.3-inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator in some more detail.

First off, if you’re a member of AAA, then you’ve got a good argument to buy a Magellan over anyone else. With your membership, you get access to AAA’s Tour Book right on your device and also to their road side assistance. In addition to AAA, the Magellan Maestro 4040 4.3-inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator also has Bluetooth capability. This means you can use your GPS for hands free calling. I don’t do a lot of cell phoning while driving, so frankly, this feature doesn’t mean as much to me as it does to others. What does float my boat is text-t-speech.

Text-to-speech means your GPS actually tells you the names of the streets you need to turn on as opposed to just saying “Turn Right.” That particular capability means a lot more to me than Bluetooth does. Not that there’s anything wrong with Bluetooth. Just that it’s a personal preference.

The Magellan Maestro 4040 4.3-inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator relies on a SiRFstar III chip to do its actual work. The SiRFstar III is a fast chip, and in my experience, Magellan’s devices which use this chip perform very well.

There are a couple of other features that I like. 3D maps and traffic updates. I drive a lot in a congested area and having reliable traffic updates really helps.

For more information about the Magellan Maestro 4040 4.3-inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator, check out Amazon today!

The StreetPilot 7200 has more going for it than just size, however. It’s got tons of great features, many of which will appeal to people who spend a lot of time behind the wheel of a vehicle.

For instance, in addition to the excellent maps of the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and the over 6 million points of interest (gas stations, atms, and other places you might need on the road), the StreetPilot 7200 has XM satellite reception capability. You’ll need to get an optional antenna for this, but with the antenna, you’ll be able to get not only XM satellite broadcasts (without advertisements, of course), but also XM traffic and weather. I’m sure you can see how this would benefit the professional driver.
Other features that the StreetPilot 7200 has, which I sometimes discount on the car devices, are things like audio books. I don’t know about you, but when I’m driving long distances, it’s nice to listen to a good book. The StreetPilot 7200 automatically adjusts the volume of the book when it needs to give you driving directions.

The Garmin StreetPilot 7200 7-inch portable GPS navigator is not inexpensive. You’re paying a lot for the big screen. If you’re a professional, or even a retiree crusing the country in your RV, it might easily be worth the money.

To learn more about the Garmin StreetPilot 7200 7-inch portable GPS navigator, check out Amazon, today!

Garmin 465T Problems: Features

The Garmin 465T is designed especially for truckers. Specifically, it’s designed to choose your route based on your truck type, its load, and physical restrictions. I’m sure you can see how helpful this would be for any type of trucker. And, I’m sure you could see how a regular, automotive GPS just wouldn’t work for a number of types of truck due to weight load, size, etc. You can even work hazardous materials into all of this.

In addition to all of these trucker specific features, you’ve got several features that are the same as car GPS devices, such as Bluetooth, lane assist, and FM transmission.

Garmin 465T Problems

In general, it seems that the trucking community has embraced the Garmin nüvi 465T. One very important aspect of GPS devices for truckers is signal availability. You don’t want to be relying on the device, then suddenly loose the signal and get lost. Fortunately, Garmin’s devices rely on one of the best chipsets on the market. Trucker’s report excellent signal strength in all of the 48 continental states.

Another issue is the screen size. Here results are a little mixed. In a truck, there’s generally a little more distance between you and the GPS, than in a car. The nüvi 465T’s widescreen helps, but I’ve come across a few reviews where truckers have trouble positioning the device for best use. This is certainly a problem with a solution, but you might have to experiment with the placement of the device. Another source of Garmin 465T problems is with the data in the device. I suspect this will be improved as time goes on, since this is a new model, but right now, a lot of reviews from truckers say that the points of interest are mainly car oriented, and that the weigh stations and other points of interest to truckers are not nearly as accurate as they should be.

Bottom Line on the Garmin 465T problems is this. I’m not a trucker. I’m a consumer technology writer. But it seems to me that the Garmin 465T has a few problems. If you’ve already got a car GPS which you like, then maybe you should stick with that until Garmin gets a few of the bugs worked out. If these Garmin 465T problems don’t bother you, then go ahead, buy one and take it on a trip. It’s not inexpensive, but you won’t know unless you experiment.

To learn more about the Garmin 465T, check it out here, at Amazon.

Best Garmin GPS 2010: Entry-Level Models

Right now, the top seller at Amazon is the Garmin nüvi 260w. The nüvi 260w has the wide, 4.3-inch, screen with either a 3D or 2D view. It’s also got text-to-speech, which means that it actually tells you the names of the streets you’re to turn on. It comes preloaded with maps of the U.S. , Canada, and Puerto Rico, along with over 6 million points of interest. A point of interest, or POI, is the location of hotels, gas stations, and other useful landmarks. Right now, you can at the Garmin nüvi 260w for slightly more than $100 at Amazon.

Best Garmin GPS 2010: Mid-Priced Models

The top selling mid-priced model from Garmin right now is the Garmin nüvi 765. Like the 260w, the 765 is a widescreen model. It’s screen is 4.3-inches on the diagonal. Again, like the 260w, the nüvi 765 comes pre-loaded with maps of North America including Puerto Rico. Unlike the 260w, you get Bluetooth capability, so you can use your GPS device for hands-free calling. (I don’t think this will necessarily get you around any laws about using cell phones and driving, so be careful, here.) The maps come with lane assist, which tells you which lane to get in when you pass through busy intersections. And, you get real time traffic information for the lifetime of the device. All of this is going to set you back slightly more than $200.

Best Garmin GPS 2010: High-End Models

This is going to sound really weird, but the best Garmin GPS 2010 high-end models haven’t even been released to the market yet. Of course, I’m talking about the nüvi 3700 series. I’ve written pre-reviews of each of these products already on this blog. You can access them here, here, and here. Suffice it to say that the 3700 series has tons of great features, and if you want to spring for the state of the art, you should certainly consider one of these. Prices are currently from $300 to $450.

Garmin Approach G5: Built with Golf in Mind

The Approach G5 only weighs about 6.8 ounces. I like that because I can’t stand for stuff to be in my pockets when I golf. I always take my keys and wallet and put them in my bag. I like to keep my golf GPS with me, however, because I can readily get to it and check where I am, what the next shot it, etc.

Garmin Approach G5: Display

I love the Approach’s display! It’s easy to read. It takes up most of the “real estate” on the device. So, there’s not much wasted space. As you walk around the golf course, you can watch the display change to keep up with where you are.

Garmin Approach G5: Favorite Golf Courses

My favorite golf courses are included in the courses that normally come with the Garmin Approach G5 GPS-Enabled Golf Handheld. I live in Atlanta, and both of the courses I play were on the list. One of those courses is a public course. It’s not Augusta! And, I was surprised to see it available. But there it was. So, if my course was there, I’m pretty sure your’s is, too. You can check, though, here at this address.

Garmin Approach: Focused on the Green

I like the way the Garmin Approach G5 GPS-Enabled Golf Handheld is so focused on getting on the green. I’m not that great of a golfer, and my GPS has improved my game a lot just by making me plan my shots.

If you’re interested in the true cutting edge, state of the art GPS device, then the

Here’s a few of the phenomenal features you’ll get when you buy the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

Now, I’m not going to mention all of the “normal” stuff that the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator can do. Suffice it to say that this GPS device is an excellent example of Garmin engineering and quality.

What I would like to talk about, briefly, are the features of the 3790, which I’m totally fascinated by. (And, which I hope will fascinate you.)

One really cool feature is the fact that the nuvi 3790 has less thickness than a pencil. It’s only 9 mm wide. Another thing I like about the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator is the fact that you can use it either horizontally or vertically. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes just take my GPS and put it in my pocket. Not that it really matters, but it’s cool when walking around to be able to look at your GPS in “portrait” view, rather than “landscape” view. In the portrait view, the nuvi 3790 will feel more like an iPhone than a GPS. (And, who knows, this might be where Garmin is ultimately headed.)

Probably one of my favorite features of the nuvi 3790 is voice recognition. I’ve used GPS systems with voice recognition before, and I prefer this. I’m not saying that you need to be doing a lot of talking and other stuff while driving, but it’s really useful to be able to give your GPS commands without touching all those icons.

As far as maps, the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator comes with maps of the US, Canada, and Mexico. Another thing I like about the maps is the 3D maps that the nuvi 3790 comes with.

There are a ton of other features this device comes with. To learn more, click here. To find out what the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator sells for, check out the price on Amazon, today.