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The nuevi 2x5 models all sport the slim design that Garmin introduced with the 200-series last year, so they all fit comfortably in your pocket or purse, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that makes them convenient for navigation by car or foot.All of the models include useful travel tools like a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. 
| Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D "birds-eye" view. | |
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New -- Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest
tching to try out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to locate the best toffee apples on the east coast? Now, it's easy to search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest, then transfer the addresses directly to your Garmin GPS navigator.
The process does require a small plugin, which you can get at Garmin's website at http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3739. You can send business addresses to your Garmin device from these countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. | ||
Search for the location you want. | Pick "Send to GPS". | Go! |
Traffic-Capable for Either FM Traffic or Enhanced MSN Direct Content
MSN Direct Enhanced Traffic and Content | With an optional receiver, you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nuevi. Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services. A 3-month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the receiver. After that, subscription fees are $49.95 per year, or $129.95 for a lifetime subscription. |
FM Traffic
 | With an optional receiver, you can get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. 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 nuevi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time. In most areas, TMC Clear Channel 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. A 3-month subscription to TMC Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network is included with the receiver. For more information on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin website. |
Widescreen -- See More of What's Around
| The super-bright, 4.3-inch (diagonal) 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% 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. | |
Wider screen lets you see more of what's around. Compare these actual size views of a 3-inch (diagonal) screen | and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen |
Where Am I?
On any nuevi (including this one), you can just tap "Where Am I?" to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates.First-Rate Map Data
 nuevi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger. | The nuevi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for all of North America, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nuevi 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, nuevi accepts custom points of interest (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. |
Garmin Lock
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
Beyond Navigation
Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer. | Navigation is just the beginning. The nuevi 2x5 models features travel tools including a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via microSD 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 nuevi for your travel needs. For Accessory Map Cards and Travel Guides the Units Feature: a MicroSD Card Slot on the 3.5 inch Units, and an SD Card Slot on the 4.3 inch Units. 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
 Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS. See more icon option | All Garmin nuevis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map. |
Notes
- Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nuevi to fit your travel needs
- Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nuevi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.
Which nuevi is Best for You?
Note: All nuevis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
| Screen Size inches (w x h) | Included Maps | Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names) | Traffic | Bluetooth | Media | 3D Terrain Maps | Photo Navigation | FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system) | Multi- Point Routing | Battery life (hours) | |||
| Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico | AK and Canada | Europe | |||||||||||
| nuevi 200 | 2.8 x 2.1 |  | Photos | up to 5 | |||||||||
| nuevi 200w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | Photos | up to 5 | ||||||||
| nuevi 250 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | Photos | up to 5 | ||||||||
| nuevi 250w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | Photos | up to 5 | ||||||||
| nuevi 260 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||||
| nuevi 260w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||||
| nuevi 270 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||||
| nuevi 205 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos | | | up to 4 | ||||||
| nuevi 205W | 3.81 x 2.25 | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos | | | up to 4 | ||||||
| nuevi 255 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos | | | up to 4 | ||||
| nuevi 255W | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos | | | up to 4 | ||||
| nuevi 350 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos, MP3s | up to 8 | ||||||
| nuevi 360 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | up to 8 | |||||
| nuevi 370 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | FM (receiver included) | | Photos, MP3s | up to 8 | ||||
| nuevi 650 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos, MP3s | up to 7 | ||||||
| nuevi 660 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | FM (receiver included) | | Photos, MP3s | | up to 7 | ||||
| nuevi 670 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | FM (receiver included) | | Photos, MP3s | | up to 7 | |||
| nuevi 680 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN (receiver included; 1-year free); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | up to 7 | ||||
| nuevi 750 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | ||||
| nuevi 760 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | |||
| nuevi 770 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | ||
| nuevi 780 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free) receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | ||||
| nuevi 850 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |||||
| nuevi 880 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free); FM (with opt. receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |||
| nuevi 5000 | 4.5 x 2.7 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) | | | external battery only | |||||
| Basic MSN Direct Content Features | |
| Traffic Reports
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 | Gas Prices
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 | Weather Reports
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 | Movie Times
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| Enhanced MSN Direct Content | |
 | Web Favorites (Send custom destinations to your GPS with Live Search Maps)
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 | Local Events
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 | Stock Quotes
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 | News Headlines
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| MSN Direct Coverage Map | |
Get detailed info for your Zip Code at the MSN Direct website.  | |
255W Nuvi Wiedscreen November 23, 2008Researched for a long time, then finally called Amazon tech info; person I talked with was very helpful, including assisting me in choosing this unit. It is everything I expected, and more. Great, full-featured, easy to use, GPS. Used it traveling from MI to AZ, and it worked flawlessly, including finding us a gas station where it appeared that there were none around. It also got us around a traffic jam, with a minimum of wasted time. Did not need bluetooth, so this was a perfect choice. I would highly recommend the Nuvi 255W.
Garman Nuvi 255W November 23, 2008I recently purchased the Garmin 255W after having used 4 different GPS's from 4 different makers. This is an outstanding unit-easy to program-very good graphics- super accurate!!! I had a Magellan unit that was excellent but the Garmin is better. Bob W Delray Beach, FL
Don't leave home without it November 23, 2008I purchased this model and brand after extensive research both here and on several different sites. I'm the type that loves to study anything before I buy it :) This is my first GPS so maybe I am not as particular as others may be.
I decided on it because it was rated very highly as a basic model that did everything I wanted but was simple to operate. During my research I read both positive and negative comments. The positives were correct and very few of the negatives were present. It is extremly easy to operate. If you have any problems you can go to the Garmin site and download a detailed operating manual or you can call Garmin customer service and they are very helpful and knowledgable and they speak English. If you would like additional tips on operating it just type the model number and Garmin in Google and you will find thousands of forums and sites that can tell you how to get the unit to do many things that Garmin doesn't mention.
Some of the negatives that were mentioned that I did not find to be true were that you can't understand the voice (not true); it doesn't tell you of an upcoming turn soon enough(not true, it tells you at least two tenths of a mile before your turn and then again when you are at the turn); it doesn't respond guickly if you get off route (not true it usually tells you immediately even if you pull of into a gas station just off the road); the volume level isn't load enough (not true I have it set at 80% and can hear it fine); it wants to route you off the route (not true, I have used it out in the country and in big cities and it never has); it doesn't tell you which side of the road your destination is on (not true it has told me every time) The possible list could go on and on but I think you get the idea. It is my opinion that many reviewers are way to critical and try to find something that is wrong or not as good as another manufacturers unit.
It is true that it doesn't have blue tooth and doesn't tell you of traffic backups. However, there are very few cities that have the system set up to be able to do this and for this function to work you have to have your radio set to a station that isn't in use which means you can't listen to the radio. It is also true that you can't preprogram multiple stops before you depart. However, you can create them and save them in your favorites section and them just click on them as you need them.
I have used it several times and it hasn't failed me yet. As an example I own some property down in Kentucky in the mountains that is way off the main road on a dead in gravel road. The unit took me to it without a hitch. I also used it to find a state park down there is also way off the main road and it never missed a beat (This place was so hard to find that the park sold tee shirts that said I servived the drive to Breaks State Park)
If you decide to buy this unit or another one I would recommend that you buy it either from Amazon or a local store. I first bought it from another site that was cheaper by $25 and they told me that I needed to buy a memory card to download map updates... not true. They took my order and said they had them in stock but the next day I received an email telling me that the unit was backordered. Another big name site did the same thing and told me that I would have to pay Garmin to update to the latest maps... not true, Garmin gives you the latest maps download for free.
So, the bottom line is that if you are looking for a basic unit that does almost everything that the other unis do that will get to where you want to go then I would recommend this unit.
Does what its suppose to do November 23, 2008As a first time owner of a GPS, I am very well pleased with this particular model (nuvi 255w). It does what its suppose to do but I would have liked to have a manual with the GPS, instead of having to download it from the Garmin site. I also think their map updates are a little pricey and that the updates should be offered free for at least 1 year from the purchase date. The Google Maps really work great with the ability to download any destination or business to the Nuvi by just clicking on the Google Map. Overall I am pleased with the unit and would buy it again.
Where am I now? November 23, 20080 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is my first GPS. I was trying it out because my mother usually gets lost and was thinking about getting her one soon. Turns out, this thing gets lost more than my mom. I didn't know the "where am I now" was actually going to be asked by the Garmin! On a major highway leading into downtown it lost all satellite coverage and told me to make a U-turn on the 6 lane highway! It likes to take roads that aren't there. If the "hot fix" satellite performance is supposed to be fast, I'd hate to see the older versions without it. I'd be at my destination before they located the satellites.
If this is the "state-of-the-art" in GPS, perhaps the GPS is just not there yet. Is the TomTom just as bad?